The National tribune., 1904-08-25
'Patronize One Another
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Continued from first page)


rived and during the night Lee again re-
treated
While these events were in progress.
Sheridan dispatched two of his mounted
divisions to Prince Edward CourthhoESa.
and third, that of Crook TO Farmyllie
The bridges having been burnt ut this
point the horSemen crossed with great
difficulty by wadng: though the sixth
Corps. which was moving on the same
line. was delayed that 1t was not aDie
to make the passage until night Cfook
struck n train on the north side OF Ap-
pomattox: but it was too well defended
by infantry: and after Il sharp sklrmlsh
the cavalry was driven off. Gen. Gregg
commanding one of the brgades, beng
captured.
The night of the 9TH Gen. Lee received
the following communication:
April Z, 1865.
GENERAL: The result of the last week
must convince you of the hopelessness OF
further resistance on the part OF IN"
Army of Northern Virginia in this strus-
gle. feel that it is and regard 1t as
my duty to shift from myself the reSpon-
sibility of any further effusion OF blood. by
asking of you the surrender of that portion
of the Confederate States army known as
the Army of Northern Virginia.
L. s. GRANT. 1.ieuteaant-Generai.
GEN. II. +. LEE.
wrote this message and he was prompted
by the belief that Gen. Lees chances OF
escape were now utterly hopeless. Lee
indited his reply that same night. but be-
fore Gen. Grant received it. the COnteder-
ate commander had again put long night S
march between his army and Its purSuers.
1t was in these words:
GENERAL: have received your note of
this date Though not entertaining the
tha hon N
further resistance on the part of the Army
of Northern Virginia, l reclprocate your
desire To avoid useless effusion of blood,
and therefore. before considering your
proposition. ask the terms you will offer on
condition of its surrender
ROBERT +. LEE, General.
LIEUT.-GEN. L. s. GRANT.
To this Gen Grant Immediately replied ::
April 8, 1860
GENERAL: Your note of last evening, in
reply to mine of the same date, asking the
condition on which / will accept the sur
render of the Army of Northern Virginia,
is just received. In reply. / would say
that peace being my great desire, there is
but one condition l would insist upon,
namely: that the men and officers sur
rendered shall be disqualified for taking up
arms again against the Government OF the
United States until properly exchanged.
meet any officers you might name for the
same purpose, at any point agreeable TO
you. for the purpose of arranging definitely
the terms upon which the surrender of the
Army of Northern Virginia will be re-
ceiyed.
L. s. GRANT. LieutenantG General.
Gen. Il. f. LEE.
Meanwhile, Lees night march of the 9TH
having again left the Union forces consider
ably behind. it was necessary TO renew pur-
suit on the morning of the Sth.
The Second and Sixth Corps of the Army
of the Potomac moved by the north bank
of the Appomattox, while Sheridan adj
yanced by the south bank. and. followed by
Ord's command and the Fifth Corps, struck
out for AppOmattoX station on the Lynch
burg Railroad. Lees line of retreat was
now by the narrow neck of land betwixt
the Appomat ttox and the. James, If its
outlet towards Lynchburg was closed, all
was lost for Lee. Sheridan was Fastening
to close this outlet.
Desperate as the situation was, Lee de-
termined to put the best face on matters,
with kind of grim hulnor, wrote, but fly
ing as he wrote:
April 8. 1865.
GENERAL: / received at a late hour
your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday
] did not intend TO propose the surrender
of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to
ask the terms of your proposition. To be
frank. do not think the emergency has
arisen to call for the surrender of this
army; but. as the restoration of peace
should be the sole object of all, l desired to
know whether your proposals would lead
to that end. / cannot, therefore, meet you
with view to surrender the Army of
Northern Virginia. but as far as your
proposal may affect the Confederate States
forces under my command, and tend to the
restoration of peace, / should be pleased to
meet you at 10 a. M, tomorrow, on the old
stage road to Richmond, between the picket
lines of the two armies.
ROBERT r. LEE, General.
LIEUT-GEN. L. s. GRANT.
This note Grant received about midnight,
and mkt morning he replied in these terms
April 9, 1865.
GENERAL: Your note of yesterday is
received. l have no authority to treat on
the subject of peace: the meeting proposed
for 10 a. m. to-day could lead to no good. |
will state. however, General, that l am
equally anxious for peace with yourself
and the whole North entertains the same
feeling. The terms upon which peace can
be had are well understood. BY the South
laying down their arms they will hasten
that most desirable event, save thousands
of human lives, and hundreds of millions Of
property not yet destroyed. Seriously hop
ing that all our difficulties may be settled
without the loss of another life, / subscribe
myself. &c.
l.. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-G G eneral
GEN. Il. +. LEE.
But, before Lee received this, the time
for parIey had passed The evening of the
8th, after a march of above 80 miles, Sheri
dan reached Appomatox Station on the
Lynchburg Railroad, five miles south oil
Appomattox Courthouse The rear-guart
of Lees army had just arrived, and -four
trains of cars. loaded with supplies for the
starving Confederates, were approaching
Sheridan. by throwing a force in rear oil
the trains, captured them, and then assail
Ing the vanguard. drove it back to Apo
mattox Courthouse. Here he planted his
force directly in front of Lee and on hi,
line of retreat. and resolved TO hold fast 70,
the night, knowing that the Army of tn,
James would join him in the morning
whilst the Army OF the Potomac would
strike the rear of the Confederates
But one escape now remained to Lee
which was to cut his way through Sheri
dams lines, and this attempt at dawn
The once proud array of the Army o
Northern Virginia now presented thi
sorry spectacle. 4 thin line of battle
made up OF Gordon's troops in front; an
other scant line composed of the wrecl
OF Longstreet's Corps in rear-in all abou
SONt mon Rafwpan tho two u.nro -