The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-04-17
,AaAers'a,s gntetligeneer,
, ---,-r-r- s---a-s-~s - 49, =
The Anniyessary Of the surrender.
sE Atsansa Consultations, april 9.

= . az Z =
The Anniversary Of the Surrender.
Atsansa Gonstsxttonh April 9.
THenty.fye years ago to-day General
Leasnrrende dered Iat Appomattox.
Then ended the greatest struggle the
world ever Witnessed.
&ItRas q time that tried the: souls Of
heroes as, they had never been tried.
Strong men wept like women, and the
Sound sof heartrending sobs and deep
sIamentations filled the air.
The history Of the days Immediately
preceding the sLh Of April, 1865. read
like 4 ordnance. Itmay be that genera.
tion of Southern men was generation
Sofs heroes, ,9or it may be that the trials,
dangers and hardships with which they
contended for four years had turned
them into men Of steel, for it is certain
that General Lees army performed deeds
(which now seem superhuman.
On the night of the 25th of March, the
last attack Of the Coniederates on the
Federal lines at Petersburg was made.
General John B. Gordonssled the at,
tack, and, before daylight captured Fort
sstsadman, 1000 prisoners, nine cannons
and eleven mortera. Among his prison.
sers was General cGloughlin, who com.
manded that part of the Federal lines.
This attack, though successful, failed
.to accomplish the desired result, because
of the failure Of Pickett's division to
)sscome up In time, and because of the loss
% fthe guides, who were in the dark, to
Rss6age conducted the Confsderates to the
sIear Of the forts overlooking Fort Stead.
mann, which had alread fallen into Gen.
sseral Gordon hands at his first direct
assault.
On the night of the 1st of April Gem
aral Grant began night assaults on various
psrts of the Confederal lines.
The Confed derate numbers had been so
greatly reduced by disease and starva.
Efsttion that their battle line behind the
trenches made little more than line of
1sskirmishers.
On the morning of the End of April
numbers conquered, and General Grant
broke Lees lines at two or three points,
and poured his army over the breast.
Workv torrents where A.P. Hills corps
had been in position.
General Hill was among the first to be
and his men were steadily driven
back, although they stubbornly contested
sYery foot Of the ground.
Just before Fnightfall General Lee no.
tilted General Gordon to cease fighting
sand prepare to ,eyacuste Petersburg.
That night he also directed General Cor.
dom TO hold his position until the balance
b Of the army could cross the river behind
thatSpars Sof the line held by General
I|sGmdon,a troops.
hen the other commands had crossed
stha river, and all the artillery and the
wagon trains had also safely crossed,
Generals Gordon Withdrew his men and
thus they were the last to leave the
bfeastWorks and the city Of Petersburg.
The army retreated the balance of
sthstnight, but were briskly pursued the
|snext morning by General Grants forces
Sol: cavalry.
The rear of General Lees army, held
by General Gordon. Was soon. engaged
and hs was forced to form his lines again
and again give battle.
|8 Theses constant delays permitted
Grants infantry to overtake the repeat
ipg forces and engage them in battle.
The same thing occurred day after day,
sthe Confederate soldiers fighting as long
gas daylight lasted, and then retreating
ESssduriDg the darkness, until the night of
the 9Th OF. April.
Some espondence had passed be.
E tween General Grant and Lee during
those terrible days, and on the night of
the 9th General Lee held his last council
ofwar around his bivouac fire one mile
from the little town of Appomattox
Courthouse. In tbis meeting Generals
Longstreet.and Gordon, commanding the
two wings, General Fitz Hugh Lee,
Commanding the cavalry, and General
Pendleton, commanding the artillery,
took part.
The question submitted to the council,
9:was what; should be done in view of
Grants demand for surrender.
I'm order to ascertain what prospects
there were for further resistance. reports
were made of the sizes of the different
commands.
EIt ,was ascertained that from losses in
battle around Petersburg and on the
smarch, and from the large numbers who
had dropped on tbs wayside from ex.
Eshaustion, the entire infantry Of both
1gLongstreet's and Gordon's commands
Numbered about 5000 muskets. The
scaYalry under Fitz Hugh Lee had
also been reduced to the size of a few
rsgiments, and the artillery was in like
proportion.
It was estimated that General Grant
had Isl, 900 men, and it vas also known
that heavy Federal force was across
the Confederate's front, ready to dispute
every step of the passage toward Lynch.
burg, to which point the Confederates
EsWere moving.
After full discussion, it was deter
mined that General Gordon, with his
wing at the army, consisting of infantry,
Fitz Hugh Lees cavalry, and Colonel
Tom Carter's artillery, should attempt to
-. y