The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-29

lemr1a. The army had been in straits
ALMOST as deplorable.
The march was continued during
April g. with little interruption from
the enemy; in the evenino we ha't 4
near Appomattox court house, Gen.
Lee intending to march by way of
CampDeu Courthouse, tarough PittsyI-
Vania county, toward Danville, with d
view of opening communications with
the army of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston,
then retreating before Cen Sherman
through North Carolina. Gen, Lees
purpose was to unite with Gen. Johns
ton 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 Apo
mattox Court House, and the march
was resumed at / a. m. l can convey
a good idea of the condition of affairs
by telling my own experience.
When the army halted Gen. Lee and
staff turned out of the road into a dense
wood TO receive some rest. Lee had a
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. Fitznugh Lee, the
the command of Longstreet bringing up
the rear, With my comrades of the
staff. and staff officers of Gems. Long
street and Gordon. L sought little rest.
We lay upon the ground with our
saddles for pillows, our horses picketed
nearby, eating the bark of trees for
want of better provender, and our faces
covered with the capes of our over
coats to keep out the night air. Soon
after l a. m. l was aroused by the
sound Of a column of infantry marching
along the road. AT first I thought they
We're the federal soldiers. l raised my
head and listened intently My doubts
were quickly dispelled. 1t was Hood s
/ old Texas brigade.
Soon after they passed we were all
astir and our biVouac was at an end.
We made our simple toilet consisting
mainly. of putting on our caps and sad
ding our horses. Somebody mad a little
| tin can, such as is used to hold water
for shaving. A fire was kindled, and
each man in his turn, according to rank
and seniority, made a can OF oatmeal
Cruel and was allowed to keep the can
until the Cruel became cool enough TO
drink. Gen. Lee, who reposed, as we
had done, not far from us, did not. as l
remember, have even such refreshments
as have described.
This was our last meal in the confed-
eracy. Our next was taken in the
United States, and consisted mainly of
a generous portion of that noble Amer
can animal whose strained relations
with the Chancellor of the German en-
pire made it necessary at last for the
president of the United States TO send
an Ohio man to the Court of Berlin. AS
soon as we all had our turn at the shaw
ing can, we roae toward AppomattoX
Courthouse. when the sound of guns an
nounced that Gordon had already be-
gun the attempt to open the way. He
forced his way through the cavalry of
fl,fA
infantry far superior tohis own wearied
and starving command. He informed
Gen. Lee that it was impossible to adj
vance 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 g. on the old
stage road to Richmond Attended by
{ myself and one orderly Lee proceeded
down this road to meet Gen. Grant. AS
/ we advanced through the rear guard
composed of the remnants of Long
streets corps, the men cheered their
I ehieftain as he passed. Their conf
dence and enthusiasm were not one
whit abated by defeat, hunger and dan
ger. 1t was lucky for the secretary of
the treasury that this rear guard was
not permitted TO try it's hand at in
! creasing the pension roll with which he
is now struggling. Those men made nc
/ fraudulent pensioners, When they were
(. done with man, he or his represent
tatives had an indisputable claim TO a
pension under any kind of a pension
law.
Gen. Lee. with an orderly in front
bearing a flag of truce, had proceeded
but "a short distance after passing
through our rear guard, when he came
upon the advancing enemy. | rode for
ward to meet a fe7eral officer, who
turned out to be Lieut. Col Whittier of
/ Gen. Humphreys staff, and who deliv-
cred to me Gen. Grants reply to Gen.
Lees letter. declining to discuss terms
OF a general pacification. I took this
letter to Gen. Lee, who at once dictated
to me letter to Grant, asking an inter
view for the purpose of discussing
/ terms of surrender. Col. Whittier took
! this letter to Grant
| Gen. Lee then returned TO the front.
and with Gen. Iongstreet, proceeded
to small orchard, and there waited
Tor Grants reply. AS he was much
fatigued a rude couch was prepared un-
der an apple tree upon which he re-
eIlned until the appearance of a flag of
truce and Grants affirmative repIy.
Col Babcock who brought the reply.
told Gen. Lee that he had been sent ia
make any arrangements for the meet
ing that Gen. Lee desired within the
-chFt al VI tOHLcucfdte llneS. Gen. Lee
! directed me to accompany him with
one orderly, and Immediately mount
] ing his horse, rode with Col. Babcocl
| toward Appomattox Court House. We
passed through an infantry force in
front of the village, and Gen. Lee di-
rected me to find a suitable place for
I the meeting. I rode forward and asked
the first citizen l met to direct me to
a house suitable for the purpose 7
learned afterward that the citizen was
4 Mr.. Mclean, who had lived on tbe
I battlefield of Bull Run, but rad re-
/ moved to Appomattox Court House to
get out of the way of the war. McTaan
conducted me to an unoccupied and nm
furnished house in a very bad state
OF repair. | told him that it was moi
suitable, and he then offered his own
! mouse to which he conducted me.
Z found room suitable for the mr.
pose IN view and sent back the orderly
i VINO mad accompanied me to direct Cen
Lee and Col. Babcock to the Eouse
lhey came in presently and Col. Bah
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