The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-09
SEATTLE. sATURDAY, APRIL o.
THE ANNIVERSARY OF Apo
MATTOX.

THE ANNIVERSARY OF APPO-
MATTOx.
Twenty-seven years ago the bleeding
remnant of Lees heroic Army of North
ern Virginia" surrendered to Grant at
Appomattox. The result of this last great
campaign was doubtless no surprise to
either Grant or Lee. Sherman was at
veterans facing not more than $4,000 men
under Joe Johnston. Grant with 10000
faced Lee, who had but 70,0O men to de-
fend his entertainments, thirty miles in
length, before Richmond and Petersburg
Lee, as shown by his correspondence
published since the war, knew that fur
Their fighting was hopeless. after Sherman
reached Columbia, s. c.. without opposi-
ton. and he knew that his men were hope
less OF success. The wreck of Hoods
army and the advance of Sherman had left
the entire Confederacy defenseless, save
where Lee, in Virginia. and Johnston in
North Carolina, were still making heroic
stand against superior numbers. Febru-
airy "a. 1865, Lee reported to Davis that
hundreds of his best North Carolina troops
were deserving nightly, and on the I'd of
March he wrote Grant, proposing
TO meet him to discuss the clos
ing of the war by military
convention. On the 25th of March a
formidable sortie was made against
Grants right, but was repulsed with Sc
we're loss. Sheridan, with 10000 cavalry
and 1900 infantry, struck at Lees right
and rear, and on April 1, 1865, after two
hours hard fighting. fairly bit off Lees
right flank at Five Forks under Pickett.
As Lee sadly remarked when he got the
news: "The lines have been stretched SO
thin that they have broken at last"
The next morning, April 2, at daylight,
general assault was made all along the
line before Petersburg. The Sixth corps,
1900 strong. and but 700 yards distant
from the enemy's works, carried the works
in its front for half mile. This success,
supported as it was by the success of the
Twenty-fourth corps under General Glib
bon, decided the fate of the day. Humph-
reys with the Second corps and Parke with
the Ninth corps successfully assaulted on
the extreme left and right, and Lee at
once informed Davis that he would be
obliged to abandon his lines that night.
The Confederate General A. P. Hill fell
this day under the fire of the skirmishers
of Getty's division, which led the charg-
ing column of the Sixth corps.
The Southern Confederacy really fell
this day, for the rest of the campaign was
mere hunt of the gallant quarry that,
crippled and bleeding at every pore, reso-
lutely faced its pursuers like wounded
stag braveIy standing at bay. Lee, on the
9Th of April, found Sheridan and the Fifth
corps entrenched across the railroad at
Jettersville, Va. cutting off his retreat to
North Carolina. Turning in his
tracks on the 5th and retreat
ing westward his rear guard under
Ewell and Kershaw was overwhelmed
: the next day, April 6. by Sheridan's cav
airy supported by the infantry of the
Sixth and Second corps. Sheridan's cav
airy again cut off Lees retreat at Apo
mattox station, April 8. A rapid
night march brought up the infantry of
the Fifth and Twenty-fourth corps to
Sheridan's support and at daylight, April
8, Lee found himself with the road barred
TO Lynchburg by Sheridan, while Meade,
with the Second and Sixth corps. was
pressing his rear. Without food, without
artillery, without hope of rescue, Lee was
Obliged TO surrender.
OF the eminent actors of this last great
campaign on either side all are dead save
Wright, Gibbon, Parke, Merritt, Miles.
I4ongstreet Gordon and Kershaw. This
campaign, which ended at Appomattox
April 9, 1865. really began at the Wilder
ness May 3, 1854, and cost Grant from first
TO last probably over $4,000 men killed
and wounded, including Sheridan's losses
for the Army of the Potomac, but il
ended the fight, and its total losses
during six months of actual fighting
did not equal the losses that had
been incurred in those fearful but
fruitless battles under Grants predeces
sors, followed by retreat or paralysis or
the part Of the army of the Potomac. Tn,
losses OF tie army OF the IotOinaC IN Its
year of defeat. from May 5, 1852. to May 9Th
1868, by battle and disease, were not les.
than i2O, 900 men. under Mcclellan. Pope.
Burnside and Hooker, while Grant
sneered at as butcher, had something Il
show at the end Of his year besides :
grave yard. hospital and disingenuon:
apologies for failure; he had the stars anC
stripes at the masthead OF the reeapturet
ship of state; he had the Confederat,
pirates in the hold and the matches bat
tened down, while he and Lincoln, arm
in-Arm as yictors, walked the quarter
deck. bringing into port grandly the grea
prize they had won.
The only criticism that can fairly b,
made upon Lees conduct Of the final cam
raign Of April. 1855 is that he erred il
Judgment in staying too long in his line
before Richmond aud Petersburg. His onl,
hope was 20 have withdrawn at an earle
date and Joined Joe Johnston, smashe,
sherman. II there was chance, or failing
that to have rctreated TO the mountains
In letter written to Governor Mssrath
OF South Carolina. in February, ISIS, lie,
says distinctly that he did no
At all despair of success, even II driver
to leave Riehmondi that he contemplate,