The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-22
STORY OF APPOMATTOX.
AS Related by Gen. Robert e. Lees Chief
of Staff.
Washington Post.
HOPE NOT ABANDONED.

Even after this correspondence zen.
Lee did not abandon hopes of success
fully extricating himself from the
dilemma. The army had been in
straits almost as deplorable.
The march was continued during
April s, with little interruption from
the enemy. In the evening We halted
near Appomattox Court House, Gen.
Lee intending to march by way Of
Campbell Court House, through
Pittsylvania County, toward Danville,
with view Of opening communica-
tions With the army of Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston, then retreating before
Gen. Sherman through North Caro-
lima. Gen. Lees purpose was to unite
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 Appomattox Court House,
and the march was resumed at l a. m.
I can convey a good idea of the con-
dition of affairs by telling my own ex-
perience.
A NIGHT IN THE WOODS.
When the army halted Gen. Lee
and staff turned out of the road into
dense wood to receisc some rest.
Lee had conference with some of
the principal officers, at which it was
determined to force our way the next
morning with the troops of Gordon,
supported by the cavalry under Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee, the command Of Long
street bringing up the rear. With my
comrades of the staff and staff officers
Of Gems. Longstreet and Gordon [
sought little rest.
We lay upon the ground, with our
saddles for pillows, our horses picket
ed near by, eating the bark Of trees
for want of better provender, and our
faces covered with the capes Of our
overcoats to keep out the night air.
Soon after a. m. I was aroused by
the sound Of a column Of infantry
marching along the road. At first [
thought they were the Federal SOL
diers.
raised my head and listened in
teutly. My doubts were quickly dis
PEELED. It was Hoods old Texas
brigade, and I recognized the command
by hearing one Of them repeat the
version Of passage Of Scripture with
which I was familiar mean with
the Texas version:
The race is not to them that's got
The longest legs to run,
Nor the battle to that people
That shoots the biggest gun.
Soon after we were all astir and our
bivouac was at an end. We made our
simple toilet, consisting mainly Of
putting on our capes and saddling our
horses. Somebody had little corn
meal and somebody else had a tin can,
such as is used to hold water for
shaving. A fire was kindled, aud
each man in his turn, according to
rank and seniority, made can of oat-
meal cruel and was allowed to keep
the can until the cruel became cool
enough to drink. Gen. Lee, who re-
posed, as we had done, not far from
US, did not, as I remember, have even
such refreshments as I have described.
LAST, MEAL IN CONFEDERATE STATES.
This was our last meal in the Con-
federacy. Our next was taken in the
United States, and consisted mainly
of generous portion Of that noble
American animal, whose strained re-
lations with the Chancellor of the
German Empire made it necessary at
last for the President of the United
States to send an Ohio man to the
Court of Berlin.
"Tantas cOmpODere lites."
AS soon as we all had our turn at
the shaving can we rode toward Apo
mattox Court House, when the sound
of guns announced that Gordon had
already begun the attempt to open the
way.
He forced his way through the cav
airy of the enemy only to encounter
force of infantry far superior to his
own wearied and starving command.
He informed Gen. Lee that it was i'm
possible to advance further, and it
became evident that the end was at
hand.
Gen. Lee had written Grant, stating
that he would meet him at 10 o'clock
on the morning of April 8, on the old
stage road to Richmond. Attended
by myself and one orderly Lee pro-
cceded down this road to meet Gen.