The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-22

From several letters written by members OF
| the Second and Sixth Corps who came in on
| the Farmville road following Lee hut which
! we have not space to print in full, we gather
/ cumulative testimony that the main Army Of
the Potomac halted generally on the east side of
the small stream called Rocky Run while the
Confederate army, except the force under
Gordon, halted in the groves and fields north
OF the town between Rocky Run and the North
Fork of the Appomattox River. But they
parked their trains between the North Fork
and the town, and also stacked their arms in
the field west of the town and south of the
LyUChburg road in consequence of the First
Division of the Fifth Corps, which held that
part of the ground. being appointed to receive
them. After stacking their arms and parking
their guns the men of the Confederate army
marched back TO their positions of the morning
and were there rationed by order of Gen.
Grant, as soon as our trains could get up. Some
rations may have been distributed about dark
on the 9th, bnt full supplies were not up before
noon on the 10th, for either army. Tho rail-
road train from Lynchburg, which Sheridan
had captured at Appomattox Station on the
| oth- was supposed TO contain $4,000 rations as
that term was understood by the Confcdcrates; {;
which at that time meant half pound of bacon
and pint OF Cornmeal per man. This train also
bad one carload of clothing. with some boots
and shoes. Some writers speak of this train
- tsANihS hNIh MS - stli ti Abi' nv
doubt due 10 coufoundng it with a wagon
train captured at BuTkesville Junction on tho
fh, which was destroyed. But the railroad
train from Lynchburg after its capture at Ap-
pomatt0x Station by some of Clusters Divis-
lon-Pennipgion's and CapehaTts Brigadcs, l
belicve--was sent on down the railroad to Ever
green Station and was there when the infantry
came up late at night. A good many flakes
OF bacon were thrown out of the cars, and
many of the infantrymen helped themselves,
but We
COULD NOT USE THE CoRNMEAL,
for want of time to cook it. believe what
WAS left Of tha. trainload Of supplies was
afterward issued TO Lees troops. But il was
not destroyed.
do not think there was any considerable
shifting of positions by the troops of the
rlous commands OF either army alter noon on
the 9Th of April. until they started To leave
the place during the 11th and 12th. Those
who happened 10 be in low or wet ground at
the time hostiities ceased. moved to higher
points. but IN the main they remained. OF
course the Sixth Corps and part OF the cavalry
moved of Immediately toward Dapville, while
the rest of the cavalry followed FitZ Lee to-
ward Lynchburg. But with these exceptions,
/ think il safe to say that all the troops Fed
eral and Confederate, bivouacked substantially
in the positions they held at the moment of the
surrender, until they finally left the field TO
take up the line Of march for home.
In conclusion Is may be well enough to re-
mark that all the historians have slighted the
details of the Appomaitox campaign, both rs TO
the marching aud fighting from April ID TO
April 9Th, and as 10 the movements of the troops
at and about Appomattox Courthouse itself.
One Of our own historians who is generally
considered accurate, states that "Gen. Grant
had under his command about $4,000 men
when Lee surrendered etc. Now, Gen. Grant
bad under his command good many more
than "i24,0O0 men at that time. because he
WAS IN command of all tho armies of the Union.
But the s!ipshod phrase above quoted would
carry the idea that there were $4,000 present
At Appomatox. Ia fact. that seems 10 be about
the commonly y-received notion. Ii s, however,
AN ABSURD ERROR.
The last field return before the surrender was
that Of March 20, 1865. IN order TO get at the
real strength present Mt Appomaltox il will be
necessary 10 take only those divisions which
were actually present. aud then deduct the
losses OF the battles during the pursuit Of Lee
and the assaults on the lines on tic south front
OF Petersburg.
There were present at Appomattox the nine
divisions Of the Second, Fifth and Sixth Corps
two divisions OF the Twenty fourth. one divis-
ion Of the Ninth isome distance backl and
probably part Of division Of the Twenty -ffth
Corps, with three divisions of cavalry under
Sheridan and two small brgadcs from the Army
OF the James under Mackenzie.
The strength and losses of these were as fol-
lows: