The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-11
Daring Land Exploits of Union and Confedera

ward. The soldiers of Ord's column rec
oGnized him as he passed along ant
greeted him with cheers. and remarks
of ''the Old Man is here-that mean
business" We'll smash 'em now. sure.
and the like.
1t was about noon when Gen. Gran
arrived at Farmville and established
headquarters on the piazza of the littl'
brick hotel on the main street. As HI
sat there. in the early evening. the Sixth
Corps. which had been brought up Il
Join the Second, marched past to thu
light Of bonfires In the street.
Grant. inconspicuous as a corporal. ex
cept for the three stars Of lieutenant
general on his shoulders. leaned over the
rail and watched the marching men in
silence. Few of them recognized him
but some did. and cheered.
Grant, pensively leaning over the rail
was turning over In his mind an act he
had recently performed-the opening OF
a correspondence with Lee. looking to
his surrender. A Confederate ohicer
formerly in the United States army, who
had been brought In a prisoner. had in
formed Grant that Gen. Ewell, before
his surrender at Sailors Creek, the day
before. had remarked that the Confed-
lost from the time Grant crossed the
James River.
At o'clock Grant had called for writ
ing materials and penned a letter to Lee.
Grants Letter to Lee.
The letter was as follows:
Headquarters Armies of the United
States. April :, 1865. p. m.
Gen. r. E. Lee. Commanding c. 8.
Army:
"GeneralLThe result of the last week
must convince you of the hopelessness of
further resistance on the part Of the
Army OF Northern Virginia in this strug-
gle. feel that 1t is So and regard IT as
my duty to shift from myself the re-
sponsibility of any further effusion Of
blood by asking of you the surrender of
that portion of the c. S. army known as
the Army OF Northern Virginia. Very
respectfully. your obedient servant.
~. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General. Commanding
Armies of the United States
This message was given to Gen. Seth
Williams. of Grants staff, to deliver un-
der flag of truce at Lees lines. Will
liams rode out with II but. owing to fir
ing on the lines. in spite of the presence
Of the flag. was obliged to return. his
orderly who accompanied him having
been killed.
of truce came in from Gen. Malone. of
Lees rear guard. asking for an hour in
which to remove his wounded. When
answer was sent to this. granting the
truce, Williams again rode out with
Grants letter.
Pine torches cast a ruddy glare on the
flag as the officer went forward. The
officer sent by the Confederates to meet
the flag was Capt. A. II. Perry. OF Sor-
rers brigade. Longstreet's corps. He
wrote thus Of the meeting:
81 advanced about fifty yards from our
pickets. halted and called for the nag
Scattered around were several Federal
dead and wounded. j met a very hand
stepped in front OF each other about
seven or eight feet apart The officer
spoke first. introducing himself.
After l had introduced myself he felt
In his side pocket for documents. I
thought. but the document was a very
nice looking silver flask. He remarked
that he hoped I would not thing 1t an
unsolderly courtesy IL he offered me
some very fine brandy. ] raised myself
about an inch higher, bowed and refused
politely. He begged pardon and placed
he flask in his pocket again. n ne had
aiken a drink it is possible should have
two days and had my coattail pockets
hen full Of corn. waiting to parch IL as
soon as opportunity might present it.
self.
I'm twenty minutes Confederate
courier riding a swift horse had placed
n Gen. Lees hands the letter which was
handed to me- the first demand for sur
.ender of his devoted army"
Lees Reply to Grant.
Gen. Longstreet was with Lee when he
'eceived Grants letter. Lee read it. and
without speaking handed it to Long
'treet. who. after reading it handed It
back with the words: Not yet"
After some thought Lee wrote a reply
md it was dispatched to Grant. 1t was
rear midnight when the letter reached
zen. Grant, at his hotel headquarters in
'armville. 1t ran as follows:
April I. 1885.
Lieut. Gen. L. 3 Grant. Commanding
Armies of the United States:
'General-1 have received your note Of
his date. Though not entertaining the |
opinion you express as to the hopeless
ess OF further resistance on the part OF
he Army of Northern Virginia. I recip- |
OCdte your desire 10 AVOID useless emu |
ion of blood. and therefore. before con- |
idering your proposition, ask the terms
'ou will offer on condition OF its surren-
er. R. E. LEE, General"
II will be noticed that Lee conceded
othing in this letter. He hoped to de-
elop a correspondence which might he
sed as a basis for making terms for /
he Confederacy-for he was general-in-
hief of its forces. and had the power to
them all. He was also playing
or time; for could he reached the rail-
Dad at Appomattox Station. he might
ct food for his men there. and perhaps
brow them quickly by rail into Lynch
urg. twenty miles beyond. where he
ould reorganize his army in order to
tempt a junction with the army in
forth Carolina under Gen. Joseph e,
ohnston.
But there was an element in the situa-
on of which Gen. Leo had no knowl-
dye. Grant had already dispatched
heridan with his cavalry, followed by
he Fifth Corps. to make . swift march
y roads south of the Appomattox and
zach Appomattox Station ahead Of Lee.