The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-05-02
LEE AND GRANT.
THE SURRENDER ATAPPOMAT-
TOX COURT HOUSE.
Official Report Made by General Lee
to President Davis-The Army of
Northern Virginia Reduced to a
Mere Skeleton.

HIS EXCELLENCY, JEFFERSON DAVIS:
Mr.. PREsIDENT.-It is with pain
that announce to your Excellency
the surrender of the Army of Northern
Virginia. The operations which pre-
ceded this result will be reported in
full. | will, therefore, only now state
that upon arriving at Amelia Court
House on the morning of the 4th with
the advance of the army, on the re-
treat from the lines in front Of
Richmond and Petersburg, and not
finding the supplies ordered to be
placed there, nearly twenty-four
hours were lost in endeavoring to col
lect in the country subsistence for men
and horses. This delay was fatal and
could not be retrieved. The troops
wearled by continual fighting and
marching for several days and nights,
obtained neither rest nor refreshment,
and on moving on the 5th on the
Richmond and Danville railroad,
found at Jetersville the enemy's cav
airy, and learned the approach of his
infantry and the general advance of
his army toward Burkeville. This de-
prlved us of the use of the railroad,
and rendered it impracticable to pro-
cure from Danville the supplies ordered
to meet US at points on our march.
Nothing could be obtained from the
adjacent country. Our route to the
Roanoke was, therefore changed, and
the march directed upon Farmville,
where supplies were ordered from
Lynchburg. The change of route
threw the troops over the roads pur
sued by the artillery and wagon
trains west of the railroads, which
lmpeded our advance and embarrassed
our movements. On the morning of
the 9th, General Longstreet's corps
reached Rice's Station, on the Lynch
burg railroad. 1t was followed by the
commands of Generals r. H. Ander-
son, Ewell and Gordon, with orders
to close upon it as fast as the progress
of the trains would permit, or as they
could be directed on roads farther
west. General Anderson, command
ing Pickett's and B. R. Johnson's di-
vision, became disconnected with Ma
homes division, forming the rear Of
Longstreet. The enemy's cavalry
| penetrated the line of march through
the interval thus left, and attacked the
wagon train moving toward Farmville
This caused serious delay in the march
of the center and rear of the column,
and enabled the enemy to mass upon
their flank. After successive attacks,
Anderson's and Ewell's corps were
captured or driven from their positions.
The latter General, with both of his
division commanders, Kershaw and
Gusts Lee, and his brigadiers, were
taken prisoners. Gordon, who all the
morning, aided by w. H. F. Lees cav
airy checked the advance of the enemy
on the road from Amelia Springs and
protected the trains, became exposed
to his combined assaults, which he
bravely resisted and twice repulsed,
but the cavalry having been Withdrawn
to another part of the line of march,
and the enemy massing heavily on his
front and both fanks, renewed the at
tack about 6 p. M, and drove him
from the field in much confusion. The
army continued its march during the
night and every effort was made to re.
organize the divisions which had been
shattered by the days operation; but
the men being depressed by fatigue
and hunger, many threw away their
arms, while others followed the wagon
trains and embarrassed their progress
On the morning of the 7th ration:
were issued to the troops as the,
passed Farmville, but the safety of the
trains requiring their removal upor
the approach of the enemy, all coulc
not be supplied. The army, reduced
, to two corps under Longstreet anc
Gordon, moved steadily on the roae
to Appomattox Court House; theme
its march was ordered by Campbell
Court House through Pittsylania toware
Danville. The roads were wre,chee
l and the progress slow. By great eff
forts the head of the column reache,
Appomattox Court House on the even
ing of the Sth, and the troops wer'
: halted for rest. The march was or
q dered to be resumed at a. M, OF
;, the 9th. Fitz Lee, with the cavalr
s supported by Gordon, was ordered t
drive the enemy from his front, whee
a to his left, and cover the passage c
d the trains, while Longstreet, who
n from Rice's Station had formed tn
rear guard, should close up and hol
the position. Two battalions Of artil
lery and the ammunition-wagon wer
directed to accompany the army, tn
g rest of the artillery and wagons t
e move toward Lynchburg. In the earl
d part of the night the enemy attacke
st Walkers artillery-train near Appoma
y tox Station, on the Lynchburg raj
,e road, and were repelled. Shortly a
as terward their cavalry dashed towar
lie the Court House till halted by our lin
During the night there were indie
a tions Of a large force massing on OF
10 left and front. Fitz Lee was directs
to ascertain its strength and to susper
&c his advance till daylight if necessar
If About S a. M, on the 9th with Go
be don on his left he moved forward ar
opened the way. A heavy force
ou the enemy was discovered opposi
ur Gordon's right, which, moving in t
direction of Appomattox Court Hou:
ii. drove back the left OF the cavalry al