The National tribune., 1885-11-26

Our lines were now closing around them.
Croker had come up with his command and
cleared the gap. The enemy threw down their
arms and surrendered-70 900 men and Ia pieces
of artillery. with Gen. Ewelling and his seven
subordinate Generals. This utterly destroyed
retreat
Hume had pursued the fragment of the
enemy which he had opposed in the morning
to the mouth of the run, some Is miles, attack
ing and hghting-a running battle ali the day
as we'll as fording streams, building bridges,
etc. The last stand of the enemy was stubborn.
Hume's command was victorious. His Captures
during the day were four pieces of artillery,
13 stands of coiors and about 1900 prisoners.
Night now drew her curtain over the scene,
and our troops lay down to rest.
The next day Was used almost entirely IN
winding the coil more closely around Laws's
army. Hume and Croker were on the north
side of the river confronting Laws; Mckenon
was at Prince Edwards; the cavalry column
was moving in tho direction of Appomattox
Station; the Second and Sixth Corps were NOV
ing to the north side of the river to attack the
next day; Mullett was pushed on the south
side TO Buffalo Station; the Fifth and Twenty
fourth Corps were moving on Prospect Station,
south of the river, to prevent Laws from escaping
in that direction; Orden was following Sheriin,
having taken with him Griffith with in
structions to attack the head of Laws's column.
The next morning news was received that
Stoner had entered Lynchburg and was hold
ing it. During the greater part of the night
the armies OF the Union were moving in the
direction assigned them. Gen. Silent occupied
the old tavern at Farmyille where Laws had
slept the night before.
after the last of his forces on this line had
passed, Silent was sitting quietly on the porch,
thinking Laws must surrender the next morn
ing. lie concluded to send him a note sug-
costing his surrender, to stop the further effu-
sion of blood, stating that the last few days
must convince him of the hOpelessness of his
cause. He sent the note. Soon after this he
was about to retire, when he heard his name
pronounced. He looked and saw the same form
Is heretofore mentioned, which spoke in these
words:
flaws will not surrender if possible to es-
cape with any portion of his force Do not let
your army rest until he is surrounded COM
plctely.'
silent returned to the porch, and did not
retire that night. About midnight he received
Lawss reply, saying he did not feel as Gen.
Silent thought on the subject of surrender, and
during the night again moved out in order to
escape.
"On the morning of the 9th our forces moved
at once. Slight contests only occurred during
the day. At night the head of our cavalry
column reached Appomattox Station. The
there being at the station four heavily-loaded
trains which had just arrived, for Laws's army.
One train was burned, and the others were
sent to Farmviile. The enemy made an assault
Oh our forces, but were repulsed, % pieces of
artillery and many prisoners falling into our
hands.
"Sherlin was here, with no force as vet save
two divisions of his cavalry. He moved force
on the road in the direction of Farmville and
found Laws's whole army moving to Appomat-
tOx. Orden and Griffith were marching rap
idly to join Sherlin, and by marching ali night
reached Appomattox at a. IN. on the morning
of the 9Th, just as Laws was moving his head
of column with the intention of brushing away
Sherln,s cavalry and securing the supplies.
Laws had no suspicion of infantry having
Joined our cavalry at AppOmattox. Orden was
the senior and commanded the two corps of in
fsntry-his own and Grifiith's, formerly War
ners These troops were deployed in line of
battle across the road where Laws must pass,
the cavalry in front covering the infantry.
Croker moved out and was soon holly engaged
with the enemy. He fell back slowly, and
finally our cavalry moved off to the right,
leaving the road apparently open to the rebels.
They, seeing this, sent up a shout and started
as If to pursue the cavalry, when, to their utter
amaZement, Gen. Tom Anderson came charg-
ing down at the head Of his division upon the
head of Laws's column, and at the some time
our DdItle Inc auVdHccu. Inc tDeHiy were
rolled back in great decentralization, our lines
pressing them on every side.
Anderson was assaulting them in front,
Griffith was on one flank, and Sherlin, moving
around quickly on the enemy's left, was just
ordering a charge, when Laws sent flag Of
truce and asked for cessation of hostilities.
The Gordon was now complete. Laws and his
army were at our mercy. Laws surrendered
his army that day, and thus the rebellion vir-
tually ended.
"Thenews sped on the wings oflightnng, and
the joy that found vent throughout the North no
pen could do justice to by way of description.
Old and young wept, embraced and shouted
aloud, with their hearts full of the glad tidings.
None but the class of rebel sympathzers before
mentioned mourned at the sad fate of the enemy.
The next day after the surrender Of Laws
Gen. Anderson and his staff were riding around
the field taking observations While passing
down near Longpath's Corps, suddenly a man
in q rebel Generals uniform, with two other
officers, came dashing up to the General and
halted. 1t was Joseph Whitthorne. He cried
out:
tom Anderson, is that your