The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-10

q surrender Of tho army Of Northerh
Virginia.
When this letter was received
there was some difference of opinion
among tho general officers rs to the
nature of tho reply to be made 10
Gen. Grants letter, some thinking it
WAS yet possible to save tho remnant
OF the army. Finally, however, Gen
Lee decided to meet Grant, and |
was directed to draw up communi-
cation to that effect. This is ire
letter Gen. Lee signed:
April 7, 1SG5.-General: l hnvc
received your note Of this date.
Though not entertaining tho opinion
you express Of the hopelessness Of
further resistance on tho part of the
army of Northern Virginia, recipro-
cate your desire to void useless efru.
sion Of blood, and, therefore, before
considering your proposition, hsA
the terms you will offer on condition
of surrender. Very respectfully,
your ofedient servant,
II. E. LEE, General
1t was not until the next day that
a reply was received to this lettor.
Grant stated that he would insist
upon but ono condition; this was
that the men and officers surrender.
ed should be disqualified TO take no
arms against tho United States un-
til properly exchanged.
HOPE NOT ABANDONED.
Even after this correspondence
Gen. Lee did not abandon hopes of
successfully extricating himself from
the dilemma. The army had been
in straits almost as deplorahlc.
The march was continued during
April, s, with little interruption from
the enemy. In the evening wo halt.
cd near Appomattox Court House,
Gen. Lee intending to march by way
Of Campbell Court House, through
Pittsylvania County, toward Dan.
vile, with a Wow Of opening com
municatious with the army Of Gen
Joseph e. Johnston, then retreating
before Gen. Sherman through North
Carolina. Gen. Lees purpose was
to unto with Johnston to attack
Sherman, or call Johnston to his aid
in resisting Grant, whichever might
be found best. The exhausted troops
were halted for rest near Appomat,
toX Court House, and the march was
resumed at | a. IN. I can convey [,
good idea Of tho condition OF affairs
by telling my own experience.
A NIGHT IN THE WOODS.
When the army halted Gen. Lee
and staff turned out Of the road into
ii dense wood to receive some rest
Lee had conference with somo oi
the principal officers, Mt which it was
determined to force our way the noxt
morning with the troops of Gordon
supported by tho cavalry under Con
FitZhugh Ice, the command O.
Longstroct bringing up the rear
With my comrades of the staff ant
staff officers Of Gems. I.ongstreet ant
Gordon | sought Il little rest.
We lay upon tho ground with on
saddles for pillows, our horses pick
eted near by, eating the bark of tree
fol want of better provender, an,
our faces covered with the capcs O
our overcoats to keep ont the nigl,
air. Soon after Il. m. was arouse,
by the sound Of a column of infantr
marching along tho road. At first
though. they were the Federal sol
diors
| raised my head and listened in
tently. My doubts wuro quio1tI
dispolled. 1t was Hoods old Texu
brigade, and | recognized tho con
mand by hearing one Of them ropcu
the version of passage Of Scriptur
with which I was famiiiar-I mea
with tho Texas version:
6 The race is not to them that's got
The longest legs to run,
. Nor the battle to that people
j. That shoots the biggest gun.
@ Soon aftor they passed we we
y all aBtir and our bivouac was mt {