The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-09
CHAPTER XIX.
The Surrender.

The Surrender.
 RT was a lovely Sabbath morning
 of springtime-the 2d of April,
 1865. The church bells of Rich
 mond had rung out the summons to divine service.
 At St. PauTs Episcopal church the usual large and aristocratic congrega- tion listened attentiveIy to the earnest discourse of the Rev. Dr. Minnigerode. Jefferson Davis, the chief executive of the southern Confederacy, occupied his pew in the middle of the central aisle, nearly opposite the now vacant one belonging to General Robert B. Lee.
 An orderly in uniform entered the church somewhat precipftateIy, yet without disturbance, and delivered a telegram to MT. Davis, who quietly rose and went out, The occurrence was noticed, but attracted no special attention among a congregation who during the four years past had grown accustomed to sudden alarms and un- timely notice of threatened attacks. It was the day after the battle of Five Forks.
 The dispatch was from General Lee announcing his withdrawal from Pc tersburg and the consequent necessity for the immediate evacuation of Rich mond. Immediate evacuation" meant getting out by 8 o'clock that night. The news spread as only such news can. Women prayed, men wept and cursed and defed; children wondered, negroes rather enjoyed the excitement, especially after the issue of a proc1a- nation to the effect that all who wish ed might come to the commissary de- partment and get free provisions.
 As for the soldiers, they had their orders from General Lee: Troops were to leave their lines everywhere at 8 o'clock that evening and take up the line of march for Amelia Court House, a small Virginia village on the Rich mond and Danvil1e railroad, some for ty miles southwest Of Richmond.
 Early in the afternoon Colonel Rob- ert ElIingham hastily dismounted from his horse in front of a house in Frank lin street and sprang up the front steps. Before he reached the door it few open and Gertrude, freshly dress ed in white lawn, extended both hands in eager welcome. Beside her, in black civilian clothes, stood what looked like the ghost of Kerchival West. In the background appeared another familiar phantom of the far past-none other II. white haired and more aged looking than the lapse of years alone should have called for.
 ''Sister! Kerchival, old boyi Unclep' panted Bob, full of excitement. Were you prepared for the news? What do you think you'll do?"
 "RercE1val and I are going to be married right away" answered Ger trude, with the astounding imperturba- biIity of one who had arranged and settled everything.
 ''MarriedP' gasped Bob, insdncuvely clutching the air, as if for support "Now-at such a time? Don't you know that I am under marching or ders and that President Davis and the cabinet are to leave for DanviMe by the evening train and that the Fed eraI army will be occupying Richmond by this time tomorrow?'
 ''Yes, Robert. We were in church this morning when the news came Kerch1val and have figured it all out, and the doctor agrees with us-that as Richmond has fallen and Kerchival has been released from Libby on pa role and uncle is here from Charleston the only way for us two to guard against separation again is to get mar ried now so that I can be with-with my husband, whatever happens. So we have sent for the Rev. Dr. Min nigerode, and, now that you are here, the ceremony can be performed and you be off to join General Lee in half an hours time, for I suppose he will need you now more than ever"
 So they were married, Kerchiva1 and Gertrude, and Colonel Ellingham left them immediately after the ceremony radiantly happy together in the midst of the climatic converging of all the storms of war.
 President Davis and his cabinet had left Richmond by special train for DanviIle. Colonel Robert EIlingham had hurried away on horseback in the opposite direction immediately after the marriage ceremony to join the army of General Lee, now marching out of Petersburg up the north side of the Appomattox river toward Amelia Court House
 CTo Be C0ntInued)