Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-05

startled by several rapid yolleys Of mus
kerry, accompanied with few reports OF
artillery in our immediate front, which
foretold another such day as Thursday
had been. We made an early halt,
within mile and half OF Apo
mattox Courthouse. We received
a days rations, and Immediately went to
work cooking, which had to be done
without cooking utensils. We sat by
our huge camp-fres waiting impatiently
for our food TO get done and discussing
the probable exciting events of tho
coming morrow. We devoured our meal
of ash-cake and broiled bacon half raw
with as much relish as the most fastidi-
Gus epicure would his feast of choicest
delicacies that the culinary art can con-
coct. After replenishing our fire with
more wood we stretched ourselves out as
near it as we could with safety to sleep,
perhaps. we thought. for the last time
in our lives How little we thought that
this was our last day as soldiers of the
Army of Northern Virginia that to-
morrow's sun would rise on us prisoners
OF war that the cause for which We had
struggled 80 long was dead, and that we
had fought our last battle in its defence.
THE MEMORABLE Orb.
The sun of the 9th of April rose
brightly, and the cool, bracing spring
morning atmosphere had awakened us
10 welcome his genial rays as he began
the journey Of that Inflated day. We
made our little preparations for the days
march inspected our rifles and ammu-
milton in expectation of day of hard
fighting. We moved down the road
about a half mile and then halted,
stacking arms. Gordon was laundering
away in front the wagons were coming
back and parking on tho roadside. On
the hill on which Appomattox Court
house was situated battery of artillery
was firing at intervals. AT this time
battery OF Federal artillery, with its
horses and men, was brought in, which
we were told had just been captured by
Gordon. This cheered us very much
and we began to feel anxious TO got to
work.
THE LAST voLLEY FIRED.
The firing on our front began gradu-
ally to cease, aud only occasional shots
could be heard, but Talcott's engineers
seemed to be having a lively skirmish on
the hill to our left for a very short time.
Suddenly all ceased, and q voliey from
the engineers was the last fired by the
Army Of Northern Virginia. A courier
riding by informed us that General Lee
had surrendered, What blow this was
to US There was not dry eye in the
ranks. The troops who had been en-
gagged near the Courthouse were march
ed back to this side of small stream
called Spout creek, which seemed to be
the dividing line between tho two ar
mics, as line of pickets was thrown out
TO prevent communication between the
lines.
THE SURRENDER.
On Spout creek, then in Appomattox
county, the surrender of General Lees
army virtually took place. Going to-
wards the Courthouse, there is, on the
right hand side of tho road within one
hundred and fifty yards Of the creek, an
DID, dilapidsted farmhouse surrounded
by few old out-houses. In the yard Of
this house is the famous apple-tree under
which General Lee stood when he re-
ceiyed and answered some communica-
tons from General Grant, from which
the title "the apple-tree under which
/ General Lee surrendered The formal
surrender and signing the articles of
agreement took place at the Courthouse.
NOBLE LEE.
In the aforesaid yard there was a
gathering of all the general officers Of
| the army. There was our beloved Gen
eral Lee, looking nobler and grander
than We had ever seen him. No one
could look upon him without reyering
| him. and where is that soldier that ever
| followed him who looked upon him on
| this morning without shedding tears ?
He had led us faithfully and effectively
for three years, and his great genius had
! at last to succumb to the weight OF num-
bers atone 1t is true he had been forced
to yield chiefly by the skill and dash OF
Sheridan and h-s cavalry, yet ii he could
have had at his command one half
the numbers Of his opponent he would
not to-day be n paroled prisoner. We
do not wish to detract one iota from the
fair fame OF General Grant-for il a
Confederate soldier has any officer in the
United States army to admire and be
grateful to that officer is above all others
General Grant-but If the genius OF
Mcclellan was unable to cope with Gen
raj Lee in 1862, when he had large and
well-disciplined army, what could Cen
eral Grant do to-day if our army had
anything like its former numbers
GRANTS MAGEANIMITY.
General Grants magnanimity and
kind treatment to General Lee and his
soldiers demands our lasting admiration
and respect, yet We cannot place him as
greater general than Mcclellan.
Among the other general officers present
on the morning of the surrender were
Gordon, Longstreet, Fields, Malone,
Pickett, W. II. +. Lee. Stonewall,
Walker, and II. A. Wise. General Field
tall, splendidly-formed officer, was
lately promoted to the command OF
Hoods division, having been since the
campaign Of 1862 disabled by Il severe
,,orrJ rocaivod ~ Mopogqas His old