officers to give their individual parole not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander to 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 officers 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 man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as he observes his parole and the laws in force where he may reside.

"GENERAL R. E. LEE.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General."

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865. “GENERAL—I received your letter of this date containing the terms of the 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 8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.

"LIEUTENANt-General Grant.

R. E. LEE, General."

After the signatures were written, General Lee said "he had forgotten one thing. Many cavalry and artillery horses in his army belong to men in charge of them, but, of course, it was too late to speak of it now." General Grant replied: "I will instruct my paroling officers that all the enlisted men of your cavalry and artillery who own horses are to retain them, just as the officers do theirs. They will need them for their Spring plowing and other farm work." "General," replied Lee with much feeling and earnestness, "there is nothing that you could have done to accomplish more good either for them or the Government."

Viewed in connection with General Grant's persistent and successful campaign, his letters to General Lee in relation to the surrender of his army show victory of character as well as of arms. For the tender and humane spirit in them expressed they will be read everywhere, and for succeeding ages with admiration. They exhibit no indication of triumph; no exultation over a fallen foe. The successful General whose duty had been plain, who was inexorable in his persistence for victory, and whose unparalleled energy was marked with crimson tide, asks the vanquished, in the name of their common country, and of their common humanity, to end the strife without the loss of another life.

On the 26th of April, J. E. Johnson commanding the Confederate States army in North Carolina, surrendered his army to W. T. Sherman, Major

General.

The surrender of Johnson to Sherman was followed on the 15th of May by that of General Taylor, with all the Confederate soldiers then remaining east of the Mississippi river, to General Canby. And on the 26th of the same month General Kerby Smith surrendered his entire command west of the Mississippi to General Canby. This ended all military opposition to the United States Government.

CHAPTER LV.

JOY OF THE PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE-RAISING THE OLD FLAG ON FORT SUMPTER.

On Saturday, April 8th, President Lincoln and family returned to Washington from Richmond, and Sunday, General Grant telegraphed to the President that on that day he received the surrender of General Lee and his army. The joyful excitement over the fall of Richmond had only in a measure subsided when came the welcome news of Lee's surrender, and the return of the President from Richmond to Washington, and now again the Nation was intensified with universal joy and gladness.

This joyous sacred day, the most happy and gladsome one ever enjoyed by the President, was spent by him in the Executive Mansion in seclusion with his family and near friends; he now laid his burden down, which he had borne for the past four years, and in cheerful and animated conversation with his friends and family, he expressed himself with confidence and trust in the future, and with thankfulness and gratitude for the present and past. This day of praise and thanksgiving was universal throughout the loyal States, and as the anthems of thankfulness and gratitude ascended from every church and hamlet to the Great Author of our National blessings for the return of peace and unity to the land and Nation, the honored instrument who had secured these great blessings was recognized and hailed as the saviour of the Union and the distinguished benefactor of the race.

On the evening of the 11th of April, 1865, the Executive Mansion was brilliantly and beautifully illuminated and the people assembled in immense numbers to express their joy and give utterances of exultation and gladness for victory and peace, and to give expressions of their love and admiration of the patient, suffering man whose administration stands pre-eminent in history as the grand consummation of renowned events the world has ever witnessed. On this occasion the President delivered his last public address. As he stepped on the portico before the vast audience, shouts of joy arose and gladness beamed on the uplifted human faces. The President's heart was full, the careworn face was wreathed in smiles. This was all appropriate, because the

Nation was redeemed. The President first referred briefly to the joyou s occasion. Victory and peace were assured. To the brave soldiers whose victories have been so remarkable and effective, is due a Nation's gratitude, and to the Almighty Father were due the homage of our hearts and our sincere thanks for what He has done in the Nation's behalf, and for the signal manifestation of His providence in the success of our arms. Then, turning from the past and present, he spoke of the future and of the new responsibilities and duties which still devolved upon the Government and the people through their representatives. This address was mainly devoted to a consideration of the best means of reconstruction and how to bring back the seceded States again into the Union as speedily and with as little friction as possible. He said: "The quickest way back to old relations with the Government is

the best way, without regard to any finely-spun theories."

The President's plan of reconstruction was embodied in a proclamation which accompanied his annual message to the Thirty-eighth Congress; but he said, "he was not committed to that plan alone; we all agree that the seceded States, so-called, are out of their practical relations with the Union, and that the sole object of the Government, civil and military, in regard to those States is to get them into their proper, practical relations." He was not committed to any particular plan, but with a characteristic absence of all resentment and anger toward the late insurgents, he evinced an anxious solicitude that Congress should take immediate measures to restore the rebel States to all the functions of self-government and equal rights and power in the Union as soon as circumstances, consistent with the National tranquility and safety, would permit. He further expressed his convictions and desire that in case a general amnesty should be granted to the rebels that at least a qualified right of suffrage should be accorded to the colored people of the slave States.

On the 12th, 13th and 14th days of April, the President was engaged, with Secretary Stanton, in the War Department in issuing proclamations and preparing measures, to be speedily issued, to stop all drafting and recruiting, to curtail purchases of supplies for the army, to remove all restrictions on trade and commerce, for opening all of the blockaded ports and measures preparatory for disbanding the army, and the return of its members to home, to friends and to the pursuits of peaceful industry, which they had left at the call of their country in her hour of trial and need.

The President had now reached the summit of fame and renown. None, whether of ancient or modern times, stood higher. Commencing at the very foot of the ascent, by the intuition of his natural abilities, he resolved, by his own efforts, perserverance and industry, on success. He persevered, aided

only by the people. As he was known by the people, his career was upward and onward, until he became the Chief Magistrate of a great and imperiled Nation, and here, laboring in the interest of unity, liberty and humanity, he secured the confidence, love and affections of his countrymen, and the respect and admiration of the Governments of the civilized world. The great trust and work committed to his care had been well and faithfully performed. He understood from the first the dangers and peril to which secession and treason had exposed our Union, and as the vast interests of country, liberty and unity were to be saved or lost in the momentous conflict impending, he rose to the dignity and importance of the occasion, and with a will of firmness and tenacity, and a heart humane and tender, he used the power given him by the people, both civil and military, until success crowned his labors. The results of his policy and administration are, that our Nation stands to-day uniteddisenthralled in the glorious light of universal liberty and humanity. And now, when the hour of triumph and joy had come to the people, peace, hope and happiness in all their fruition filled the heart of the President, his loving, liberal nature was already devising plans and measures for the welfare of a conquered people. His thoughts and labors were now for harmony and for the reunion and concord of the late rebellious States. He looked forward with anticipation and pleasure to the time, he then thought not far distant, when his measures for the welfare and good of all would demonstrate to the people of the seceded States that he had none but the kindest feelings toward them, and that he would treat them as graciously and gentle as the interests of all, and the public safety and good would permit.

On the 14th day of April, 1865, the sun rose in all its resplendent beauty. The day was remembered as the fourth anniversary of the surrender of Fort Sumpter, and the lowering of our National flag to traitors and to treason; that was a day of indignation, anguish and humiliation. On this day, by the civil and military representatives of the Nation, the same old flag that went down four years previous in dishonor and shame was raised on the same battlements of the old fort in honor and glory, amidst the rejoicing and applause of the thousands present.

At the fall and desecration of the old flag were lighted aglow the fires of patriotism. A million of freemen sprang to the rescue to avenge the National insult, and restore to its wonted honor and glory that National emblem which long had been our country's pride and renown. The old, honored banner was restored to its proper place, every star, bright and effulgent, sparkling, luminous with the fires of liberty, renovated and renewed by the march of freedom. It now waves again, undimmed and untarnished, as a beacon to the oppressed of every land and people, with its glorious reminiscences of