The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-02
LEES SURRENDER.
Senator Daniel TelIs How He Got the
News on That EVentful April 9, 1865.


News on That Eventful April 9, 1865.
Washington correspondence Richmond
Times-Dispatch
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the
surrender at Appomattox" said Senator
Daniel, in his committee room at the cap
itol. I'VE who followed the fortunes of
of the Confederacy for four years cannot
help feeling sad as we recall the day, 3"
he continued. I'VE can not forget the
cause we loved, and love still, though it
was lost.
Il had been at my home in Lynchburg
for some months getting well of wounds
when the end came said the senator. Il
was able to hobble around little on that
9th of April. The old darkey who woke
me up when he brought In my breakfast
was dreadfully scared. His face was
ashy and his voice trembled. Marse
John. amt dem cannons what's boomin'
down the rivery he asked.
Il listened a moment and could dis
tinctly hear artillery firing, though it is
twenty-six miles from Lynchburg to APP
pomattox. They are cannon, sure
enough 1 told him, and he went out
highly excited and scared. dressed as
quickly as l could and got outdoors,
where the sound of guns could be heard
with great distinctiveness.
about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
went out into the street. l could not get
along very well, but l managed to get
to the top of the hill overlooking the
river, where 1 met a Baptist minister
hurrying towards me. I asked him the
news He was greatly disturbed
Eminently unsatisfactory, sir; emil
nently so, he replied. 1t is reported that
Gen. Lee has surrendered to Gen. Grant
down at Appomattox courthouse And
he hurried on, evidently in great distress.
Il made my way toward the bottom.
When not far from the railroad l saw a
group of Confederate soldiers, who evil
IDENTIFY had a prisoner. When 1 drew
closer recognized that they were guard
ing an old friend of mine, Lieut. John
Stockton of the Monticello Guard of AL
bemarle county. l was astonished, and as
soon as l got to the men l asked why
they had arrested my friend. Lieut..
Stockton.
Il got reply at once. One of the men
said he was a deserter. For Gods sake,
John, how is this?' l asked. Well, just
told them Gen. Lee had surrendered said
Stockton. coolly, 'anGN they thought
must be a deserter.
'The men took up the donversation and
argued that there could IN no doubt that
their prisoner had deserteS& OF course,
Gen. Lee had not quit fightings' | asked
Stockton to explain, and he SAID that
while the actual ceremony of surrendg
had not taken place when he left the
field, yet the white flags were out at that
time. He had managed to slip into the
bushes and get away. Like number OF
others who had fought under Lee he
could not witness the surrender. OF
course, we saw then that the news of the
surrender was true. That night we had
full confirmation.
II determined at once to join Gen. Jo-
seph e. Johnston in North Carolina, and
began to arrange for the departure said
the senator, with a reminiscent smile,
"but when l found l would have to travel
in a buggy. being unable to ride, | con-
cluded that my joining any army would
be a Joke, so l gave up the idea and faced
the music with the rest of the boys.
did you ever hear how Fitz Lee sur
rendered? You know he managed to es-
cape from the field at Appomattox. He
and several companions got down to
Farmville, and Fitz went into the hotel
where Gen. Meade had his headquarters.
Fitz said he found out the room in which
Gen. Meade was, and when he discovered
that it was unguarded, he thought 1t
would be a good time to capture the
Union commander and make off with him.
But he soon saw this could not be done,
so he walked boldly in and introduced
himself OF course Gen. Meade was
greatly surprised, but l imagine he was
glad to receive the surrender of a man
whose cavalry had been hitting him such
hard blows Fitz sat and talked with
Gen. Meade for some time, and | expect
they enjoyed each others conversation.