Evening star., 1931-04-05

THEN few days later, April 7, this news
- was given out by the War Department:
Gen Sheridan attacked and routed Lees
army yesterday, capturing Generals Ewell, Ker-
shaw, Button Corse and many other general
officers, several thousand prisoners and large
number of cannon, and expects to force Lee to
surrender all that is left of his army. Details
will be given as speedily possible, but the
telegraph is working badly"
And then an even more convincing dispatch
from the front the next day, which read:
"A telegram from Gen. Grant, dated this
day at IL oclock-noon-at Farmville 16 miles
west of Burke'S Station, states that the enemy
have been pushed from the road toward Dam
vile, and are pursued toward Lynchburg,
and that he is now confident of receiving the
surrender of Lee and what remains of his
army
Indeed, it was the known desperate condition
of Lees army that caused Grant April to
address him this note:
The results of the last week must convince
you of the hopelessness of further resistance
the part of the Army of Northern Virginia
in this struggle. feel that it is so and regard
it<as my duty to shift from myself the re-
sponSibility of any further efTusion of blood
by asking of you the surrender of that portion
of the Confederate States Army known as the
Army of Northern Virginia"
7 EE hoping against hope of making
cessful retreat, did not accept Grants
suggestion until after sparring and until
he fully realized that further resistance would
be futile. He then requested a meeting with
Grant, which complied with and the two
great soldiers met at the house of Wilmer Nc
Lean, in the edge of the village of Appomattox,
where Grant drafted and Lee accepted the
celebrated teIms of surrender, which follow:
''Appomattox C. H., April 9, 1865.-Gen r. E.
Lee, Commanding C. s. A.: In accordance with
.I1eko 1F IAAKAr
instant propose the surrender of the Army
of Northern Virginia the following terms,
to wit
Rolls of all the officers and men to be made
In duplicate one copy to be given to an officer
designated by me- the other to be retained by
such officer officers as you may designate.
The officers to give their individual paroles not
to take against the Government of the
United States until properly exchanged and
each company regimental commander sign a
like parole for the men of their commands.
The arms artillery and public property to be
packed and stacked and turned over to the Off
appointed by me to receive them. This will
not embrace the side arms of the officers, nor
their private horses or baggage This DONE
each officer and will be allowed to return
to their homes not to be disturbed by United
States authority so long as they observe their
parole and the laws in force where they reside.
Very respectfully,
~. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General
Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia,
April 9th, 1865.
"Lieut Gen. U. S. Grant, Commanding
United States Armies.
General have received your letter of this
date containing the terms of surrender of the
Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you.
AS they are substantially the same as those
expressed in your letter of the 9th instant, they
are accepted. will proceed to designate the
off 70 rorru he cfin nlafi iVtfN
effect.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"R E. LEE General"
THE celebration of the cessation of hostilities
extended even for several days beyond the
date of their formal announcement for
Tuesday night the President addressed "an
immense concourse of people in front of the
White House, in which he ssid
I'VE meet this evening not in sorrow, but in
gladness of heart. The evacuation of Peters,
burg and Richmond and the surrender of the
principal insurgent army give hopes of q
righteous and speedy peace, when joyous ex-
pressions cannot be restrained. In the midst
of this however. He from whom all blessings
flow must not be forgotten. call for a
national thanksgiving is being prepared and
will be duly proclaimed. Nor must those whose
harder part gives us the occasion of rejoicing
be overlooked. Their honor must not be
parcelled out with others. 1 myself
the front and had the pleasure of transmitting
much of the good news to you. But no part
of this honor, for plan or execution, is mine.
To Grant, his skillful officers and brave men.
all belongs. The gallant Navy stood ready, but
was not in reach to take an active part"
Mr.. Cobright tells US that: THE speech of
Mr. Lincoln was read from his own manuscript
-foolscap pages. 1t was written in remark
ably plain style, with firm hand and well
punctuated. Only word was miSspelled, and
that was collateral the President using only