the High Bridge road. It was soon found that the enemy had crossed to the north side of the Appomattox, but so close was the pursuit that the second corps got possession of the common road bridge at High Bridge before the enemy had time to destroy it, and immediately crossed over, the sixth corps and a division of cavalry crossing at Farmville to its support. As early as the 7th, General Grant had written from Farmville to General Lee urging upon him the hopelessness of continued resistance, throwing upon him the responsibility of further bloodshed, and asking the surrender of what remained of the Army of Northern Virginia. A correspondence* ensued, • "April 7. GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commander C. S. A."GENERAL: The 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 struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility 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. 66 U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General Commanding Armies 'Very respectfully, your obedient servant, of the United States." แ April 7. "GENERAL: I have received your note of this date. TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commanding 66 April 8. Early on the morning of the 8th the April pursuit was again resumed, the 8. second and sixth corps accompanied by Generals Grant and Meade, continuing north of the Appomattox, while Sheridan with the cavalry pushed right on for Appomattox Station, fourteen miles east of Lynchburg, followed by General Ord's command and the fifth corps. The advance of the troops on the north side of the river had considerable fighting with the enemy's rearguard, but were unable to bring on a general engagement. Late in the evening Sheridan struck the railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from that point, and captured twentyfive pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army. On the morning there is but one condition that I insist upon, viz. : of the 9th, General Ord's command and the fifth corps reached Appomattox States until properly exchanged. Station, just as the enemy were making a desperate effort to break through the cavalry, and at once prepared to take part in the contest. But about nine o'clock a flag of truce from the enemy approached with a request for the suspension of hostilities, pending negotiations for a general surrender. "TO GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding Confederate States Army of same date, asking the conditions on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just "GENERAL: Your note of last evening, in reply to mine received. "In reply, I would say that peace being my first desire, "That the men surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms against the Government of the United "I will meet you, or designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received. "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General Commanding Armies of the United States." "April 8. "GENERAL: I received at a late hour your note of to-day in answer to mine of yesterday. the result of which was that, on the April 9th, General Lee requested an 9. interview with General Grant and accepted his conditions, and at half-past "I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your propo sition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender. But as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desire to know whether your proposals would tend to that end. "I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia, but so far as your proposition may affect the Confederate States forces under my command, and lead to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten A. M., to-morrow, on the old stage-road to Richmond, between the picket lines of the two armies. "GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A."GENERAL: Your note of yesterday is received. As I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M., to-day, could lead to no good. I will state, however, General, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself; and the whole North entertain the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. "Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, three on that day the terms of capitulation were signed at a farm-house near Appomattox Court House. The combined movements of forces in various directions were such that in fact nothing. but surrender was left for General Lee. Not only was he pursued by the largely superior forces of General Grant, but mond and Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road, I am at this writing about four miles west of Walter's Church, and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. "Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take place will meet me. "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." THE TERMS. "APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, April 9. "GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A.: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on 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 officers as you may designate. "The officers to give their individual parole not to take arms against the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or 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 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 their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they may reside. "Very respectfully, "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." Hancock's column had set out on the 4th from Winchester, to march up the Shenandoah Valley on Lynchburg; and Stoneman's cavalry column from Knoxville had already reached Boone, in North Carolina. General Gibbon's command, the fifth corps under General Griffin, and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at Appomattox Court House till the parolling of the surrendered army was completed, and to take charge of the public property. The remainder of of the army returned immediately to the vicinity of Burkesville. The losses of Lee's army in the late battles and since the final evacuation of Petersburg had been very heavy in killed, wounded, stragglers, and prisoners, so that the actual number surrendered and admitted to parole was only 26,115. There were also surrendered 159 cannon, 15,918 small-arms, 71 colors, about 1,100 wagons, caissons, etc., and 4,000 horses and mules. The surrender of Lee was almost immediately followed by that of most of the regular troops in the Valley of the April Shenandoah. On the 17th, Col17. onel Mosby surrendered his command, not more than about seven hun dred men, to General Chapman at Berryville, on the terms granted to Lee. General Rosser also was allowed to include his command in the cartel. With the fall of Petersburg and Richmond, and what remained of Lee's army, the war was substantially ended. The superiority of the national armies became so great by these events, that a continuation of the war by Johnston and the remnants of other Confederate armies in the field seemed impossible. The War Department accordingly, after mature deliberation and consultation with General Grant, came to the determination to stop all drafting and recruiting in the loyal States; to curtail purchases of arms, ammunition, quartermasters' and commissary supplies, and rapidly to reduce the now enormous military establishment. This evidence of the confidence of the Government in its power to compel a speedy cessation of all hostilities, joined to the impression caused by the late events, excited the utmost satisfaction everywhere. It seemed as if one universal jubilee was being held. The loyal population of the whole country gave itself up to rejoicing, soon by a most unexpected event to be turned into mourning. CHAPTER LVIII. Assassination of President Lincoln.-Escape of John Wilkes Booth.-Death of the President.-Attempted Assassination of Mr. Seward.-Escape of Payne.-Funeral Honors.-Pursuit and Death of Booth.—Apprehension of the Conspirators. Andrew Johnson becomes President.-His Policy toward the South.-Further Prosecution of the War. Sherman's Operations against Johnston.-Conference between Sherman and Johnston.-Suspension of Hostilities.-Basis of Agreement. -Action of Sherman disapproved at Washington.-Conference with Johnston renewed. -Surrender of Johnston.-Surrender of Generals Taylor, Thompson, and Kirby Smith. 1865. THE war had lasted just four years. | the American consuls in London and The terrible events as they follow- Liverpool reports made to their secret ed each other in quick succession agents in France of a conspiracy against had occupied the attention of the public the lives of the President and Generals mind almost exclusively from its com- Grant and Sherman. Mr. Seward demencement till its close. It seemed that termined to lay the matter before the nothing which could happen anywhere President, and urge upon him the avoidcould command more than partial notice ance for a time of all needless exposure; till the last rebel soldier laid down his but on the following day the Secretary arms. But an event occurred which for was thrown from his carriage, and his a time caused even the surrender of Lee foot catching in the steps he was to be forgotten and the news of those dragged some distance, and so seriously of Johnston and Taylor to fall unheeded injured that he was compelled to give on the public ear. The 14th of April, up all attention to business. the anniversary of the surrender of Fort Sumter by Major Anderson, was marked by an occurrence equally memorable and not less calculated to excite the national heart-the assassination of President Lincoln. Unwilling to believe in the existence of personal danger, and arguing that nothing could be gained to the rebel cause by his death, he neglected precautions that he might have taken, though frequently warned that his life was threatened. Toward the end of March, Secretary Seward received from On the morning of the 14th a cabinet council was held, at which General April Grant was present. The President 14. seemed more than usually cheerful and hopeful, and laid before the Secretaries plans and suggestions for the course to be pursued toward the Southern States. His mind seemed free from forebodings, and to be dwelling only on measures for conciliation and the prospect of speedy peace. After the meeting was over, he arranged to be present in the evening at Ford's Theatre, to witness the performance of "The American Cousin," expecting to be accompanied by General Grant, as it was publicly advertised that both would be present. The latter was, however, compelled to leave the city on important business, and the President, somewhat against his own inclinations, but not willing that the people should be disappointed altogether, a little after eight o'clock, accompanied by Mrs. Lincoln, Senator Harris, Miss Harris, and Major Rathbone, proceeded to to the theatre and entered the box prepared for his reception. This was on the second floor, looking down upon the stage, having a front of about ten feet, along which the American flag was draped. The door, which was at the back, was left open during the evening. The President seated himself in a highbacked rocking-chair placed for him at the corner of the box nearest the audience, Mrs. Lincoln sitting next to him on his right. About a quarter-past ten John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor, passing behind the spectators in the dress circle, showed a card to the President's messenger, and stood for two or three minutes looking down upon the stage and the orchestra. He then entered the vestibule of the President's box, closed the door behind him and fastened it. All the occupants of the box were intently watching the proceedings on the stage, except the President, who was leaning forward holding aside the curtain with his left hand, and with his head slightly turned, looking toward the audience. Booth then seeing his opportunity, with a small Derringer pistol in his right hand and a double-edged dagger in his left, stepped into the box directly behind the President, and holding the pistol over the top of the chair, fired. Mr. Lincoln's head fell slightly forward and his eyes closed; otherwise his attitude remained unchanged. Major Rathbone, startled, as well as the other occupants of the box, by the report of the pistol, turned his eyes from the stage, and, seeing Booth, sprang upon him; but the latter wounded the Major severely with his dagger and escaped from his grasp. He then rushed to the front of the box, shouted "Sic semper tyrannis!" put his hand to the railing, and leaped over upon the stage below, but in doing so the spur upon his heel, with which he had provided himself, calculating on a rapid ride, caught in the flag, and he fell. He recovered himself quickly, however, and brandishing his dagger, shouted, "The South is avenged!" Rushing then to the back of the stage, he got behind the scenes and made his way to the street door, where a lad was holding his horse, mounted, and rode off unpursued. The whole affair occupied but a few moments; some of the audience at first supposed it was only an incident of the play, and there was no general suspicion of what had taken place till Booth had crossed the stage and made his escape. It was soon seen on examining the President's wound that he could not possibly survive many hours. The ball had entered about three inches behind the left ear, and passing obliquely forward lodged just behind the right eye. |