Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-04-09

The roads were wretched and the
progress slow. BY great efforts the
head of the column reached Appomat-
tox Courthouse on the evening of the
Sth, and the troops were halted for
rest. The march was ordered to be re-
sumed at a. m. on the 9th. Fitz Lee,
with the cavalry, supported by Gordon,
was ordered to drive the enemy from
his front. wheel to the left, and cover
the passage of the trains, while Long
street, who, from Rice's Station had
formed the rear-guard, should close up
and hold the position. Two battalions
of artillery and the ammunition wag-
ous were directed to accompany the
army, the rest of the artillery and wag-
ons to move toward Lynchburg. 10
the early part of the night the enemy
attacked Walkers artillery-train near
Appomattox Station, on the Lynchburg
railroad, and were repelled. Shortly
afterward their cavalry dashed toward
the Courthouse until halted by our line.
During the night there were indications
of a large force massing Oh our left and
front. Fitz Lee was directed to ascer-
tain its strength, and to suspend his ad-
vance till daylight, if necessary. About
5 a. m. on the 9th, with Gordon on his
left, he moved forward and opened the
way. A heavy force Of the enemy was
discovered opposite Gordon's right,
which, moving in the direction of Ap-
pomattox Courthouse, drove back the
left of the cavalry and threatened to
cut of Gordon from Longstreet, his
cavalry at the same time threatening to
envelop his left flank. Gordon with
drew across the Appomattox river, and
the cavalry advanced on the Lynchburg
road and became separated from the
army. Learning the condition of af-
fairs on the lines, where | had gone
under the expectation of meeting Gen
eral Grant, to learn definitely the terms
he proposed in a communication re-
ceived from him on the 9Th, in the
event of the surrender of the army, I
requested q suspension of hostilities
until these terms could be ar
ranged. In the interview which
occurred with General Grant in COM
pliance with my request, terms having
been agreed on, surrendered that por-
ton of the army of Northern Virginia
which was on the field, with its arms,
artillery, and wagon-trains, the officers
and men to be paroled, retaining their
side-arms and private effects. l deem
ed this course the best under all the
circumstances by which we were sur
rounded. On the morning of the 9th,
according to the reports of the ord
officers, there were 1892 organ
lied infantry, with arms, with an aver
age of fseventy-five rounds of ammuni-
ton per man. The artillery, though
reduced to 6S pieces, with SO rounds of
ammunition, was sufficient. These
comprised all the supplies of ordnance
that could be relied on in the State of
Virginia. have no accurate report of
the cavalry, but believe it did not ex-
ceed 2,1O0 effective men. The enemy
was more than five times our numbers.
If we could have forced our way one
day longer it would have been at a
great sacrifice Of life, and at its end
did not see how surrender could have
been avoided. We had no subsistence
for man or horse, and it could not be
gathered in the country. The supplies
ordered to Pamplin's station from
Lynchburg could not reach US, and the
men, deprived of food and sleep for
many days, were worn out and ex-
hausted.
With great respect, your obedient
servant, R. E. LEE, General.