The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-09

division in Jackson's corps. As soon as
he saw me. General Hin exclaimed,
"Weu, IL IS just as usual. rms cOIp9
does all the nghting Those fellows on
the left haven't fired a shot all day. eH-
cept some little artillery firing OF
fored with great respect. TO bet the cen
eral a very large apple that the iello"a
on the LETT could show two dead an
their front for every one that the iei-
lows on the right could snow Near
Isl fifteen hundred Federal dead Jay IN
front of Marye's Hi. and General hii
did not know that there had been any
fighting there
with the full knowledge Of this Ten
dency 10 error ] now present TO you as
accurately as I can the facts OF the sur
render Of General Lee at Appomattox'
aoout which you have asked me TO talk
% YOU on this occasion, when we are
met to celebrate his birthday.
Had YOU not designated the subject OF
my remarks. / might have chosen anoth-
or for this occasion. but ! confess that
| know Of no other event in his lie
which more strongly illustrates some OF
the great qualities that adorned his char-
acter ] shall present our great chief
tain 10 you. as well as | can. as ne ap.
reared under adverse fortunes and shall
'cndoavor 90 show yol how ne bore MINI
SELF.
ID
opening Of the correspondence between
General Lee and General Grant
THE p1Rsr CORRESPONDENCE.
After the disaster Of Sailors Creek he
army. reduced 10 .wo corps under the
command OF General Longsireet ara
General Gordon. moved through Farm
vile. where rations were issued 10 some
OF the starving troops. A close pursuit
he Ia1 rnf General
Grant made u ecsssary 10 remove the
wagon trains before all the men cculd
be supplied. and the remnant Of the great
Army OF Northern Virginia, exhausted by
fight and starvation, moved In the ROAD
10 Appomattox Courthouse. on tn
afternoon Of the TIN of April, 1865, Gen
elal Grant sent TO General Lee TIE frs'
April Z. 1865:
Cen r. +. Lee. Commanding {. ). A:
Gcneral.-The result Of the last week
must convince you of the hOpelcssness OF
further resistance on the lart OF the
Army Of Northern Virginia IN this strug-
gle / feel that it Is so, and regard 1t az
my duty 10 shift from myself the re-
sponsibility of any further effusion OF
blood by asking of you the surrender OF
that portion of the Confederate States
Army. known as the Army Of Northern
Virginia. Very respectfully, your ODE
client servant.
L. s GRANT. Ileutenant-General
There was some difference of opinion
among the general officers as 10 the ma
turs Of the reply TO be made to General
Grants letter. some thinking that IL was
yet possible TO save the remnant of the
army. Finally. General Lee decided to
send the following answer to General
Grants letter:
April T. 1865.
GeneTal,-I have received your note Of
this date. Though not entertaining the
opinion you express. Of the hopelessness
of further resistance on the part Of the
Army Of Northern Virginia, | reciprOcate
your desire TO avoid useless effusion OF
blood, and therefore, before considering
your proposition. ask the terms you Will
offer on condition of its surrender. Very
respectfully. your obedient servant.
r. T.. LEE, General.
To Iieut.-Gen. L. ). Grant. Commanding
Armies of the United States:
The next day General Grant replied as
follows:
April 3, 1865.
General r. e. Lee. Commanding c. $. A.:
General,-lour note of last evening in
reply 10 mine OF same date, asking the
conditions on which ! will accept the
surrender OF the Army of Northern Viz
GINA. IL just received In reply. l would
/ say that, peace being my great desire.
there Is but one condition that / insist
| upon. namely. that the men and officers
surrendered shall be disqualified for TAX
ing up arms again against the Govern
ment of the United States, until properly
exchanged.
l will meet you. or viii designate Of
hcers TO meet any officers you may
nawe for the same purpose. at any point
sgreeafle to YOU. fer the purpose of ar
rai ging definitely the terms upon which
the surrender of the Army Of Northern
Virginia viii be received. Very respect
fully. your obedient servant.
l.. $. GRANT, Northumberland
To viii be observed that General Grant
I'm his letter manifested that delicate con-
sdcration for his adversary which mark
cd all his subsequent conduct toward him
Tie offered to have the terms of the capt
tulation arranged by officers to be ap-
pointed fer the purpose by himself and
General Lee, thus sparing the latter the
Pain end modification of conducting per-
sonally the arrangements for the surren-
der Of his army
TO SPARE LURs FEELINGS
have no doubt that this proposition
proceeded from the sincere desire of Cen
cral Grant TO do all In his power TO spare
the feelings OF General Lee. but II is not
unworthy Of remark that when Lord
Cornwallis opened his correspondence
with General Washington, which ended
IN the surrender al Yorktown. his lordship
proposed i'm his letter Of October IL. ltSl,
/ "a cessation Of hostilitics FOR p hours.
and that two officers may be appointed
by each side to meet AT Mr.. Moore's house
10 settle terms for the surrender OF the
posts OF York and Gloucester
In view Of this letter. and of the fact
that CORVALLIS declired to attend the ce-
rcmony Of the surrender Of his army.
deputlng General O'Hara 10 represent
him on that occasion. IL is very plain that
his lordship shrulk rom sharing with
his army the humiliation of surrender.
General Grants letter offered General
Lee an opportunity to avoid the trial TO
which the British commander felt him
self unequal. But General Lee was made
OF different stun. II is not without in
terest 70 recall what General Lees father.
Light Horse Harry Lee. says Of the con-
duct Of CORVALLIS at Yorktown.
In Lees 0ight Horse Harry's) Me-
moirs OF the War" the author. who was
a witness Of all that occurred says:
Every eye was turned searching for
the British Commander-in-Ch Chief. anxi-
Gus TO look al that man, heretofore so
much the object Of their dread. All were
disappointed CORVALLIS held himself
back from the humiliating scene. obeying
emotions which his great character ought
TO have stifed. He had been unfortunate;
not from any false step or deficiency on
his part but from the infatuated policy
OF his superior and the united power OF
his enemy brought 10 bear upon him
alone. There was nothing with which he
could reproach himself; there was moth
ing with which he could reproach HIS
bravo and faithful army. why not then