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bridges in their faces. With the energy of despair they cleared their way to the bridges, hurling Read's men aside, killing him, and making good their passage over the river.

On the night of the 6th several of the Confederate generals met round a bivouac fire, and, in view of the state of affairs, decided on taking upon themselves the responsibil ity of advising Lee to surrender. They accordingly sent Pendleton to him to state this. But Grant spared Lee the pain of making the proposition. He had dispatched to him the following letter:

Grant asks the sur

federate army.

"April 7th, 1865. "GENERAL,―The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of farther resistance on the part of the render of the Con- 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 farther effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States Army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.

"General R. E. Lee."

"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.

Lee's way-worn column was in such a disjointed state that, though its van, which had forced its passage over the Appomattox, had advanced several miles, its rear had not crossed the river until dawn on the 7th. So close were the pursuers upon the fugitives that, though they had time to burn the railroad bridge, that on the wagon road was secured by Humphreys, who was in the lead with the 2d Corps. At once he threw a division across; the Confederate rear-guard receded, abandoning 18 guns. He kept up the pursuit four or five miles north of Farmville, when he overtook all that was left of Lee's forces, intrenched in a strong position, commanding a slope half a mile in extent, over which the direct advance must be made. Humphreys therefore attempted to turn the position, but was repulsed, with a loss of 600 killed and wounded. At nightfall Lee slipped off again, and, encouraged by the ephemeral gleam of success, answered Grant's letter:

Lee, hoping to escape, refuses it.

terms will be offered.

"April 7th, 1865.

"GENERAL, I have received your note of this date. Though not He inquires what entertaining the opinion you express of the hopelessness of farther resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender. "R. E. LEE, General.

"Lieutenant General U. S. Grant."

To this Grant replied:

Grant's reply.

"April 8th, 1865.

"GENERAL,-Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of the same date, asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply, I would say that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon—namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the government of the United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any of ficers 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. "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.

"General R. E. Lee."

Sheridan, finding that the Confederates had passed the Appomattox, and fearing that Lee would move southwestwardly and join Johnston, dispatched, on the morning of the 7th, Merritt, with two cavalry divisions, by the left to Prince Edward Court-house. Crook, with the remaining division, forded the Appomattox near Farmville, and encountered, and was defeated by, some Confederate infantry defending a train.

At midnight came Lee's answer to Grant's letter:

"April 8th, 1865. “GENERAL,—I received at a late hour your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrenLee declines to sur- der of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think that the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army; but, as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would

on the general subject of peace.

lead to that end. I can not, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia; but, as far as your proposal may affect the Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 A.M. to-morrow on the Old Stage Road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies. R. E. LEE, General.

Lieutenant General U. S. Grant."

Early in the morning Grant dispatched the following reply:

Grant informs him that he has no au

gotiations.

"April 9th, 1865. "GENERAL,-Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace. The meeting proposed for 10 A.M. to-day could lead to no good. thority for such ne- I will state, however, General, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains 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, etc., U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.

"General R. E. Lee."

Sheridan reaches
Appomattox Station.

News now reaching Sheridan that there were four sup ply trains awaiting Lee at Appomattox Station, 28 miles distant, he at once inferred that Lee was moving to that point, and thence to Lynchburg, not to Danville. Accordingly, he pushed his cavalry forward to seize those trains. Custer, who was in the advance, reached Appomattox Station at midnight, and there 'found the Confederate advance just arrived. He at once got into the rear of the trains to prevent their return to Lynchburg, captured them, attacked without delay the Confederates, routing them, and taking 25 guns and a park of wagons. Sheridan was now fast coming up. He sent word to Ord and Griffin that if they would hasten there was no escape for the Confederates. They accordingly made a forced march, and reached Appomattox Station at daylight on April 9th.

Lee, supposing that there was only a cavalry force in

Lee orders Gordon to break through his lines.

his front, prepared to burst through it. He was scarcely 20 miles from Lynchburg, the goal of his march. Gordon was accordingly brought through the remnant of the wagon train, and made a reconnoissance in front. He also thought that there was nothing but cavalry in the way, and ordered his line to adAt once, to his amazement, Sheridan withdrew his horsemen on one side, revealing the gleaming bayonets of Ord's and Griffin's lines of infantry in battle array. To attack was hopeless. Gordon dispatched a message to Lee, and sent forward a white flag to Sheridan, asking a suspension of hostilities for a little while.

Gordon finds it impossible.

vance.

The morning of the 9th was damp and foggy, but, long before it broke, Lee, clad in a new uniform, was at a campfire with Mahone and Longstreet; the latter, with one arm in a sling, from his old wound, sat on the trunk of a felled tree smoking a cigar. They agreed that unless Gordon succeeded there was no hope of escape. News soon came that Gordon's attempt had failed. Lee mounted his horse, saying, "General Longstreet, I leave you in charge; I am going to hold a conference with General Grant." He rode toward the national line, and on his way received Grant's letter. At once he answered:

Lee proposes to surrender.

"April 9th, 1865.

"GENERAL, I received your note of this morning on the picketline, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose. R. E. LEE, General."

The interview requested was accorded. The following particulars are given by an eye-witness: "Appomattox Court-house boasted of five dwellings. The largest, a square building of brick, with a yard smiling with roses, violets, and daffo dils, belonged to one Wilmer McLean.

The interview between Grant and

Lee.

"Grant, accompanied by Ord, Sheridan, and their staffs, walked up to the house. Lee's blooded iron-gray horse, wearing a one-line bridle and a plain saddle, with the own er's initials upon a corner, was nibbling at the grass in charge of a Confederate orderly. Grant and two aids, entering the house while the rest sat down on the porch, found Lee and Colonel Marshall, his chief of staff. Lee stood beside a table, wearing a bright bluish-gray uniform, a military hat with a gold cord, buckskin gauntlets, high riding-boots, and a beautiful sword. His hair and beard were long and gray. He was tall and soldierly.

“Grant—with his slouched hat, dark blue frock-coat unbuttoned and covered with mud, gray pantaloons tucked in his soiled boots, and a dark waistcoat-wore no sword, and no indication of his rank except the double row of buttons on the breast of his coat and the three silver stars. They shook hands, sat down, and talked of business. Lee asked no modification of Grant's terms."

Grant, referring to these incidents, says: "When I reach ed Appomattox Court-house, I had ridden that morning thirty-seven miles. I was in my campaign clothes, covered with dust and mud. I had no sword. I was not even well mounted. . . . . I found General Lee in a fresh suit of Confederate gray, with all the insignia of his rank, and at his side the splendid dress-sword which had been given to him by the State of Virginia."

Grant wrote the terms he required-Lee accepted them. They were as follows:

render.

"Appomattox Court-house, Virginia, April 9th, 1865. "GENERAL,-In accordance with the substance of my letter to you Terms of the sur- on 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 officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the government of the United States until properly exchanged, and

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