The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-02
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O9 the @FU91n& 0k Ap&A 0S0e npo1 little eeninenee in tho woods brush Gre vas burning bzigAsly. Reclining at full length ca the ground beside it Vas thas noblesold hero. General Robert E. Lee, his head testing apoa bis saddle, his eyes vainly seeking . few Aomeafs' Eepose, but his brain was too busy with thoughts of the responsibility thrown upon his shoulders As he laid there 1t could be observed that he ,WAs clothed in . well worn gray sack blouse, with ordinary gray pan,aloons, while by his side was the black felt hat, which had grown to be a part of "Uncle Bob" himself. A figure of a stalwart man approached walking slowly, as if fearful ef the place. When the firelight fell across 1t, it dis. closed the face of General Longstreet, the bulldog of the army. His flashing eyes, his full, black beard, his Hitting uniform of lieutenant general, all presented a 6gure as sturdy as the giant sak against which he leaned, unwilling to disturb his old commander. From opposite direc- tions then came General Gordon, who, with Longstreet, commanded the two confederate wings, and General Fitxhugh Lee. A manly, royal pair they were, looking moie like men who should be leading their soldiers into . new born conflict than being the mourners of an expiring campaign. The addition of General Pendle,on, commanding the artillery. completed the council. By this time General Lee was reclining upon his right elbow, and at once dis. closed the object of the council. With firm voice, yet giving evidence of the suppressed emotion under which he labored, he asked for the decision as to whether the four years war should then come to an end. For four hours the dis cussion lasted, the fullest liberty of sx. pression being given. 1t was the unani- nous decision that one desperate at tempt should be made to cut through the obstructing federal works, and by the de- lay thus gained, secure a new front, and under the prestige of the temporary sue cess gained, secure better terms from the federals. The generals, some of whom had been lying upon the ground, others sitting upon the roots of trees and others standing, were then ordered to prepare for the last struggle of the confederacy. As they turned away from the council fire, and were lost in the darkness, the fire burned more dimly, while for a long time by its light Lee could be seen in a sitting posture, his head resting upon his hand, in profound meditation.
 As General Gordon's wing was the one upon which devolved the battle which daylight would bring. he thus became the central figure around which the events of the day should revolve. "The attack'was made" said General Gordon the old hrelight flashing in his eyes, i've took the works, and had pressed the enemy back, when a letter, signed by General Lee, was borne to me. 1t stated that under flag of truce he was in nego- tiation with General Grant, and that might inform the federal commander whom supposed was General Ord-of the fact. Calling up my chief of staff, ordered him to carry flag of truce into the federal lines with the informat on."
 Did he carry itS"
 "Well," said General Gordon, with a grim smile, mot flag of truce exactly we had no flag, and it was impossible to procure one. told him to get a stick ana tie a white handkerchief to it."
 "' There is not handkerchief in the whole command he said.
 Then tear of piece of your white shirt
 "I have no white shirt
 "'Then get some one else's white shirt , "'There is not a white shirt in the whole army he replied, in utter despair. q Finally he got hold of something white, rode into the federal lines, where he found General Sheridan Ia comm and, instead of General Ord. General Sheri- dan immediately sent an officer into my lines to demand our immediate and un- conditional surrender.
 "'Cive General Sheridan my compli- ments,' was my response, and say to him the existence of the flag of truce, and was not prepared to surrender
 In a few moments observed cloud of dust encircling a dozen horsemen. With my staff rode out to meet the party, and found it to be General Sheri- dan and staff who had ridden within our lines. Again Sheridan demanded of me in person that we surrender. Upon my exhibiting to him General Lees letter, it was agreed that firing should cease that no advance should be made in either line, while we should await the result of the negotiations under the flag of truce between General Grant and General Lee. After that there was some desultoIy fight ing, but it was soon checked. In few hours came the final message that terms of surrender had been agreed upon" "How were the terms of surrender agreed upon p
 "General Lee appointed General Longstreet, General Pendleton and my self to meet officers similarly appointed by General Grant, who should agree upon the language of the parole, and the datails for the surrender of arms, etc. We met in the brick house in which Lee and Grant had met, and had no diff. culty in putting into shape the business upon which we had met"
 casion ?5
 "Oh, yes" was General CoTdon's re- ply, as he stretched his arms out over the k>~ nf q a~<<a~ ssnn~. -.ks~k | ss4