The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-02-09
THE EVE OF APPOMATTOX.
How the Night Before Lees Surren.
der Was Spent.

In Harper's for February, Ma
jor A. R. H. Ransom gives an inter-
esting account of the scene at Gen.
Lees headquarters the night before
the surrender, when he was still de-
termined to strike one more blow.
When / arrived at headquarters,
Gen. Lee was In tent, sitting with
Gen. Longstreet on some bundles of
rye straw (the ground being wet
from the rain,) at the upper side of
the tent, with one candle for light.
l made my report, and the general
told me to wait, as he wished to see
me. He asked me if I had had any
thing to eat, and l told him no. He
said he was sorry he had nothing to
offer me. He gave me a bundle of
straw and told me to sit near the
door. It had been raining all after
noon and l was quite wet. l was
also very tired, so 1 put my foot
through the bride rein of my mare
standing outside, and lying down on
the bundle of straw, was soon asleep.
81 was awakened by voices, and
looking up, saw the colonel had left
in charge of the troops at the bridge
standing in the tent. He reported
that the rations had not arrived, and
the starving and discouraged troops
had all deserted in the darkness,
leaving their arms in the trenches.
Gen. Lee heard him to the end of his
account, and then with a wave OF
his hand dismissed him. Turning to
Gen. Longstreet, he said: This is
very bad. That man is whipped. 1t
is the first time I have seen one of
my officers who had been whipped.
1t is very bad The conversation be-
tween the generals was then resumed
in low tones, and I again fell asleep.
must have slept for some length of
time, when l was awakened by Gen.
Lees voice speaking in loud tones,
louder than I had ever heard from
him. He was saying, Gen. Long,
street, 1 will strike that man a blow
in the morning. Gen. Lee some
times spoke of Gen. Grant as that
man, and of the Federal army as
those people.
Gen. Longstreet replied in low
tones, giving the strength and condi-
ton of his command, and the
strength and position of the enemy,
and concluded by saying, But you
have only to give me the order, and
the attack will be made in the morn
ing Again the conversation was
resumed in low tones, and 1 fell
asleep. 1 must have slept for an
hour at least, when I was awakened
by the loud almost fierce tones of
Gen. Lee, saying, I tell you, Gen.
Longstreet, I will strike that man
blow in the morning. Gen. Long
street again recounted the difficult
ties, ending as before, General, you
you know you have only to give the
order and the attack will be made,
but 1 must tell you think it will be
a useless waste of brave lives
thinking I had been present long
enough at such an interview, l
coughed and got up fom the straw,
and drawing back the flaps Of the
tent, looked out into the darkness.
Gen. Lee said: Capt. Ransom, I beg
your pardon. I had forgotten you.
Go now and get something to eat
and some rest. l will see you in the
morning.
81 found my poor mare lying fiat
on her side in the rain and fast
asleep. 1t was past midnight and
very dark, but I reached our camp,
though neither I nor my mare got
anything to eat that night.
"The morning came, and I listen
ed for the sound of our attack, but
all was still. There was no attack;
o,,r Gobt;no dove u,ara ovor