The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-16

would succeed in making junction with
Gen. Johnston, with at least a fraction
of his army, somewhere to my front. |
at once altered the foregoing orders, and
prepared on the day appointed, viz,
April 10, to move straight on Raleigh,
against the army of Gen. Johnston,
known to be at Smithfield, and supposed
to have about $4,000 men. Wade
Hampton's cavalry was on his left front
and Wheelers on his right front, simply
watching us and awaiting our initiative.
Meantime the details of the great
victories in Virginia came thick and
fast, and on the Sth | received from
Gen. Grant this communication, in the
form of a cipher-dispatch .is as<51
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES oFTHE UsITED)
STATES, WILSON'S STATIoN, April .,
1865. +~,s }
Mi Zen. SHERMAN, Goldsboro', n. c.:
All indications now are that Lee will at
temp to reach Danville with the remnant of
his force Sheridan, who was up with him
last night. reports all that is left with him
horse, foot, and dragoons-at 10000, much
demoralized. We hope to reduce this num-
ber one-half. | will push on to Burkesvile,
and, if q stand is made at Danvilie will, in
very few days, 90 there. If you can possibly
do so, push on from where you are, and let
us see if we cannot finish the Job with Lees
and Johnston's armies. Whether it will be
better for you to strike for Greensboro or
nearer TO Danville, you will be better able to
Judge when you receive this. Rebel armies
now are the only strategic points to strike at
L. 5. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
| answered Immediately that we
would move on the 10th, prepared to
follow Johnston wherever he might go.
Promptly on Monday morning, April
10, the army moved straight on Smith
field the right wing making a circuit by
the right, and the left wing, supported
by the center, moving on the two direct
roads toward Raleigh, distant so miles.
Gen. Terry's and Gen. Kilpatrick's
troops moved from their positions on the
south or west bank of the Neuse River
in the same general direction, by Cox's
Bridge. On the 18th we reached
Smithfield, and found it abandoned by
Johnston's army, which had retreated
hastily on Raleigh, burning the bridges.
10 restore these consumed the remainder
of the day, and during that night | re-
ceived message from Gen. Grant, at
Appomattox, that Gen. Lee had sur
rendered to him his whole army, which
| at once announced to the troops in
orders
Especial Field Orders, No. 81.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF
THE MISSISSIPPI, IL THE FIELD SMITH
FIELD, \. c., April II, 1865.
The General commanding announces to the
army that he has official notice from Gen.
Grant that Gen. Lee surrendered to him his
entire army, on the 9th inst, at Appomattox
Courthouse Va.
Glory to God and our country, and all
honor 10 our comrades in arms, toward whom
we are marching
\ little more labor, little more toll on
our part, the great race is won, and our
Government stands regenerated, after four
long years of war.
w l. '9hfhhhN, 4hdJoi-btHcidl coihllailti-
ing.
OF course, this created a perfect
furore of rejoicing, and we all regarded
the war as over, for knew we'll that
Gen. Johnston had no army with which
to oppose mine. So that the only ques-
tions that remained were, Would he sur
render at Raleigh? +? or would he allow
his army to disperse into guerrilla bands,
to die in the last ditch, and entail on
his country an indefinite and prolonged
military occupation, and of consequent
desolation | knew well that John
ston's army could not be caught; the
country was too open and, without
wagons, the men could escape us, dis
perse, and assemble again at some place
agreed on, and thus the war might be
prolonged indefinitely.
ITO be continual