The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-23

narrowing outlet-the only outlet 10
Lynchburg-ali would be lost
Lee realized the danger. and hurried
as fast as possible, and that ne evidently
hoped to get out that way Is shown,
think, very plainly by the letter which
ne sent back TO Gen. Grant in which he
said that he had not proposed TO sur
render the Army Of Northern Virginia,
and said: To be frank, l do not think
the emergency has arisen to call for the
surrender of this army. Grant got this
note about midnight and replied TO it, but
before morning Gen. Sheridan had settled
the whole question. He had ordered a
forced march and travelling at great
speed for about thirty miles his advance,
under Gen Custer, had reached APP
pomaJtOx station on the Lynchburg rail-
road and had captured four trains of cars
laden with Lees supplies. Just as the
Federal troops got them the vanguard OF
the ConfedeTates came in sight. Custer
pushed back this vanguard, supported by
Devin. clear back to AppOmattoX Court
House, five miles northward, and captured
on the way twenty five guns, a hospital
train d lot of ammunition, and any num-
Der of prisoners.
Sheridan hurried forward the rest OF
ter, and thus, on the evening of the Sth
OF April he stood as barrier directly in
the path Of Gen Lee and thus closed his
last avenue of escape.
ITO go forward was impossible for Gen.
Lee; to retreat seemed equally so with
Gen. Grant at the rear. However, he
ordered an attack on Sheridans lines, and
the charge was so furious that Sheridan S
first line. who had dismounted to meet
the rush, were forced gradually back.
Gen. Sheridan had just reached Apo
mattOX station, and he ordered his men
to fall back slowly. but continually 10
offer resistance until the infantry could
come up. Quickly the infantry fell into
line, and when, at last, everything was
completed and Sheridans cavalry moved
of quickly to the right, it was as if a
curtain had been withdrawn, showing 10
the Respondent Confederates a solid pha-
lanX of our men only too ready for battle
For a moment the COnfederates re-
COiled. then started to come on again. but
by this time Sheridan's cavalry had been
reformed on the left of Gen. Lees shat
tered army, and was just ready to charge
when the white flag appeared. in token OF
surrender.
AT the meeting Of Grant and Lee al
the house of Wilmer Mclean 1 was pres
ent as an aid to Gen. Sheridan-not IN
the house. you know, We youngsters had
to stay out on the porch
How did Gen. Lee look?"
Very much better than any Of our meT
did" was the reply. He was in d brand
new uniform. and was spick and span
while Gen. Grant had on an old blouse
but you see Lee had known what to ex-
pect and had prepared for it. 1t was a
mighty interesting meeting. After it was
over we went after souvenirs, and / got
the inkstand used in signing the treaty
Of peace. / had It for a number of years
but in moving about a bachelor soldier
is not any too careful of his things, and
somebody got it away from mel don't
know who.
My brother Philip continued Gen
/ Michael Y. Sheridan. was present al
/ two great surrenders-that of Gen. Lee
and the Confederate army, and afterwarC
at the surrender of Napoleon III al
Sedan. He was there as the United
/ States military attache"
And what about your brother at Win
CHESTER Gen. Sheridan was asked.
/ Il was on hts staff at the time" re-
I Joined Gen. Sheridan. We had come tc
Washington together to visit our rela-
! tivcs and had gone on to Martinsburg
| We were there when we heard of the
/ lighting at Winchester. and Philip start
ed for the scene at once. I could not &c
with him as had to stay behind to look
after the election commissioners frcm
New York. You see. Il was just about
| the time Of the election and il had beer
decided that the soldiers should be giver
a chance to vote in the field. I. of course
was anxious to get to the front, but
! did not get the election commissioners.