Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-05-26

over it three or four times before
the war finally ended but that we
would now be able to do it, as they
could no longer resist us.
He expressed it as his earnest hope.
however, that we would not be called
upon to cause more loss and sacri-
! five of life. I then suggested to Gen
eral Lee that there was not man
in the confederacy whose influence
With the sOldiery and the whole peo-
pie was SO great as his, and that if
he would now advise the surrender
of all the armies, | had no doubt his
| advice would be followed with alac.
rity."
General Grants management of the
Union troops in the pursuit had
thrown them around General Lees
retreating forces in almost a COM
plete circle, and General Lee then
and there looking down upon his en-
comprised army, admitted the hope
| lessness of retreat. He calmy talked
over the situation and declared the
rebellion virtually ended When they
parted there was no definite promise
ion the part of General Lee, who said
| he could not do so without consult
| ing the president of the confederacy.
/ General Lee returned to his lines
and read his farewell address to the
onnfQ6nrqtp frnnnc.
| Headquarters army Northern Virginia,
April 10. 1865.
After four years of arduous service,
marked by unsurpassed courage and
fortitude, the army of Northern vir-
ginia mas been compelled to yield to
| overwhelming numbers and resources.
| | need not tell the survivors of so
| many hard fought battles, who have
remained steadfast to the last, that
| have consented to this result from
| no distrust of them, but feeling that
yalor and devotion could accomplish
| nothing that could compensate for
the loss that would have attended
the continuation of the contest, have
determined to avoid the needless sac
rifice of those whose past sacrifices
have endeared them to their country
men. With an increasing admiration
of your constancy and grateful remem-
brance of your kind and generous
consideration of myself, | bid you an
affectionate farewell
r. E. Lee, General
Two days later the Confederate
soldiers, officers and men, stacked
their arms, were disbanded, and set
out for their homes. General Grant
went to Washington, and the same
day General Lee went to Richmond
where his family had remained. He
had sent a message to Mrs. Lee to
leave the city when it was evacuated,
probably feeling that the President
of the confederacy would aid Mrs.
Lee in going. But he did not. Both
the president and vice president or
the confederacy looked out for their
yet fighting to keep life in their ex-
piring government. Mrs. Lee re-
manned in Richmond and the build
lngs fired by the confederate soldiers
burned around. her home; the expIo-
sion of a magazine near by caused
imminent danger. However when
the union troops took possession of
Richmond there was mo further dan
ger; and when General Lee returned
to his own house he found his fam
lily and home protected by union
sentry pacing before the door
From the portico of the White
House, among the last words spoken
to rejoicing people, were: mo part
of the honor for plan or execution
is mine. To General Grant, his skill
full officers and brave men, all be-
longs"
Time has softened the bitterness
and sorrow-forty-five years-lessened
pain and strengthened acceptance of
suffering through our civil war. If
Grant and Lee were alive today, they
would see a united people, even the
spirit of Appomattox, holding together
great nation, blessed by the man
whose stand was first, last, and al
ways for the ON:-THE MAN,
LINCOLN.