The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-04-14
APRIL 9, 1865.
The Anniversary of Lees Surrender.

The Anniversary Of Lees Surrender.
At Appomattox Court House, Va. ,32
years ago the 9th of April, General
Grant received the sword Of Robert
+. Lee as a token Of the full submis-
sion to the arbitrament of arms Of the
veterans of the Army of Northern
Virginia. Although the 10000 troops
present with Lee at that time consti-
tuted less than fifth of the organ
lied Confederate forces in the field,
their surrender was signal to the
soldiery and people of the South that
their cause was lost.
| General Lees retreat from Peters
burg was delayed the whole day of the
7th Of April, 1865, by the activity of
the troops of the Second Federal
corps, which harassed his army along
the Appomattox route westward.
During the night he put his men in
motion for their last march to Apo
mattox Court House. He reached it
with the advance about 8 o'clock in
the evening of the 9th, and soon af-
terward dash of Federal cavalry
from the south gave warning that a
force was across his front and new
plans were necessary. Sheridan was
on his front with the cavalry divis-
ions of Generals Merritt and Crook.
Generals Ord, Griffin and Wright had
three Federal corps strung along the
Lynchburg railroad south Of him, and
Humphreys corps was closing up from
the east.
Generals Grant and Lee had been in
correspondence for "a hours relative to
the surrender. On the 7th Grant had
written to Lee asking ''the surrender
Of that portion Of the Confederate
States army known as the Army of
Northern Virginia" That night Grant
received a response from Lee asking
him what terms he would offer on
condition Of surrender. Grant replied
on the 9th, naming no hard conditions
and stating that peace was his great
object.
The opposing armies were then NOV
ing steadily to Appomattox Court
House on parallel routes. At dusk
on the 9th Lees second note reached
Grant. 1t stated that he Nee) did
not intend to surrender the Army Of
Northern Virginia, as he did not think
the accession called for it. He init
mated that he would treat for peace.
Grant replied on the morning of the
9th that he could not treat for peace.
Peace could only be had by the South
laying down its arms. Hostilities had
not been suspended, and the several
Federal corps took positions for battle.
Meantime events behind the scenes
had hastened Lees decision to go back
to Grants original proposal and treat
for the surrender of the Army Of
Northern Virginia. On the evening
of the 9th he had called council OF
corps commanders to consider Grants
terms, as stated in his letter Of the
9th. It was decided not to accept un-
less it should be- demonstrated that the
whole Federal army was up. Sheridan
with his cavalry corps and Ord 8 in
| fantry command had outmarched the
| Confederates and stood across their
pathway at Appomattox. Lee sent
forward his cavalry under General
Fitzhugh Lee, and General John B.
Gordon infantry, to fall upon Sheri-
dan at daylight on the 9th and open
road toward Lynchburg, and, failing to
do SO, to send word to Lee, who would
20 back toward the picket lines, with
the expectation of meeting Grant to
treat for peace. Gordon and Fitzhugb
Lee advanced at sunrise, striking and
driving off two of Sheridan's bri-
gades, with the loss Of guns and pris-
oners.
Three divisions of infantry were
sen to relieve the cavalry, which was
retiring in confusion. A new line was
formed, and the whole moved out at
double quick to be met at once BY a
white flag. The bearer asked for
cessation of hostilities pending the ne
gotiations between Lee and Grant.
Bugles sounded halt. Sheridan rode
off toward the left front, where Cor
| don had passed the Federal outposts
| and was forming for battle around
Appomattox Court House. Sheridan
sent Gordon demand to surrender,
and he answered:
"Ctive my compliments to General
Sheridan and say that | will not sur
render"
"But General Sheridan will annihi-
late you," said the bearer of the sum-
mons, with an expression of alarm.
II am perfectly aware of the situa-
ton" responded Gordon.
Information now became general
that there was truce and that Grant
and Lee were in communication.
Sheridan asked Gordon and other lead
ers an assurance that the negotiations
intended, surrender, and this was Civ
en-. It vas arranged between Sheri-
dan and Gordon to await events, and
both dismounted, and the men learned
for the first time the exact state OF at
fairs.
Grant had had instructions through
Secretary Stanton to have no confer
ence with Lee except for the capitula-
tion of his Uee's) army, and after
sending Lee the answer to this effect
he had ridden off to the left and south
to get around to the head of the col
umn. On reading Grants last note,
Lee, who had by this time heard from
Gordon and Fitzhugh Lee that the
Federal cavalry and infantry were con-
fronting them, sent another dispatch
to Grant asking for an interview to
discuss his (Grant's) original offer.
Lee wrote at 9 o'clock in the morn
ing, and his note was sent ahead to
overtake Grant. He was found about
eight miles from the Court House,
and he wrote at once that ne would
push forward and meet Lee.
The generals met about l o clock at
the house of William Mclean, in the
village OF Appomattox, and the details
for the surrender Of the Army OF
FortIlern Virginia were arranged. The
terms were parole of officers and men,