The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-06-29

~ EES army was surrounded al
n AppOmattOX on the morning o.
g April O. 1860, but its lion heart
ed commander refused to yield
until convinced that the situation vas
hopeless. Several letters had passed
between Lee and Grant during the
previous twenty-four hours with ref
erence to surrender. Grant asked the
surrender of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia to avoid further effusion of
blood Lee offered to treat for peace
The COnfederates were hemmed in
as the lines stood, but there had been
doubt in the minds of Lee and his Off
GERS the night of April as to whether
the Army of the Potomac was all on
the field. 1t was decided at a council
of war that General John b. Gordon
and General Fitz Lee should attempt
to hew a path through Sheridan's
ranks on the west and lead the march
to Lynchburg.
Robert T. Lee in person repaired to
the picket line the morning of the 9th,
hoping to meet Grant there for a CON
ference under a flag of truce He
found awaiting him a note from Grant
stating definitely that he Grant would
not treat for peace. Grant at the mo-
ment was eight miles distant, and Lee,
having learned meanwhile that Gordon
and Fitz Lee reported strong columns
of Federal infantry on their front as
well rs Sheridan's cavalry, wrote ask
ing for an interview with Grant to dis
cuss terms of surrender.
The generals met about / O'Clock at
the house of Wilmer Mclean. in the
village of AppomattoX, and the details
for the surrender of the Army of North
ern Virginia were arranged. The terms
were parole of officers and men. with
the privilege of going home. The pri-
vate property Of officers paroled was
not to be disturbed and soldiers who
claimed horses were allowed to keep
them. They will need them to do
their spring blowing" said Grant. The
surrender embraced about $4,000 men,
but only about 5000 delivered up mus
kets. Fitz Lee Withdrew his cavalry
before the surrender and reached
Lynchburg
The historic Sunday. April o. 1860,
closed with a friendly meeting between
the officers and soldiers who had fought
one another 50 Zealously for four years.
The I ederaIs shared their rationS with
the sOuthernerS, who at times upon this
last march had lived upon raw corn
On the 10th Lee made Il farewell adj
dress and started for Richmond. Grant
set out for Washington the same day
to see the president, who had reached
there the day before, having left Rich
mond on the 9th.
On receiving the news of the surren-
der of Lee, jefferson Davis abandoned
Danyille, the new capital of the Con
federacy, and started south under a
light escort with considerable treasure
in specie He was captured at Twins
vile, Ga, May 10 and imprisoned at
Fortress Monroe The very last hope
of the Confederates, the army under
General Joseph L. Johnston, confront
ing Sherman in North Carolina, sur
rendered April %. Other surrenders
followed, the last of Importance being
that of the transmiSsissippi forces May
20 In all 10000 Confederates were
released on parole.
While the surrender of Lee, virtually
the end Of the war; was hailed with
the widest rejoicing all over the north,
there was no unusual demonstration
among the victorious troops. General
Longsreet said that Grant refused to
allow an artillery salute to signaliZe the
event Lees surrender had long been
expected as result of the Petersburg
campaign and was Il fOregone conclu-
sion after the fall of the city. And yet
it took many days for the soldiers to
realize that all was over. Grants troops
remained in their old camps around
AppomattoX, maintaining the usual dis
cipline, with outpOsts guarding against
possible forays by partisan bands.
News of the assassination of Lincoln
cast a pail over the army. No one
would believe it until it was confirmed.
1t has been stated that in after years,
even in old age, adults of that period
remembered distinctly the time of day,
the spot where they were, their COM
panions and what they We're doing
when that awful shock came.
DISARMAMENT of government forces
began April 30, detached parties, rail
way and rendezvous guards being mus
tered out first The troops around APP
pOmattoX marched to the seaports and
were transported by water to Wash
ington. Sherman's army marched from
Goldsboro, n c., to the banks of the
Potomac by way of Richmond, Freder-
icksburg and Manassas. A grand re-
view took place on May % and "a, the
armies parading on Pennsylvania ave
nue., where they were reviewed by the
commanding generals, President John
son and his cabinet. 1T was on this oc-
casion that Sherman publicly snubbed
the secretary of war by refusing to
take his proffered hand when greetings
were exchanged by the officials at the
close of the review
Meanwhile the Confederates were
walking home all over the south and
along the border Thousands of them
didn't tarry for the formality of giving
the parole and thousands hid their muS-