receiving blessings and prayers from thousands, who hailed him as their deliverer. Soon the information was spread that the man, who was a head taller than all others around him, with a mild eye and pleasant countenance, was President Lincoln. The air soon rang with a chorus of glad and happy voices. Thousands crowded to welcome and bless their emancipator. The streets soon became impassable on account of the increasing multitude, and soldiers were called to clear the way. The walk was long, and the President halted a short time to rest. 'May de good Lord bless you, President Linkum," said an old negro, removing his hat, bowing, while tears ran down his cheeks. The President removed his hat and bowed in silence.

66

While reminded that Washington returned the salutation of a negro because he would not be outdone in politeness, we can see even more than politeness in Lincoln's courtesy. It was an act of recognition for the services of the colored soldiers who had laid down their lives for the Union and impartial justice, that lowered the dignity of the conqueror to the salutation of the delivered. It was a bow, a condescension which overturned the customs, forms and usages of ages. After holding a short levee at General Weitzel's headquarters, the President took a drive through the principal streets, and at 6 P. M. he returned to City Point. Two days later the President repeated his visit to the city, accompanied by Mrs. Lincoln, the VicePresident and several United States Senators. He was now waited upon by several leading Confederates, who, feeling that their cause was hopeless, were desirous to make the best terms possible with the Government, and the President, in that spirit of kindness and magnanimity which had so distinguished his administration, gave them a gracious audience, and a reception favorable to their early return to their allegiance and former relations with the National Government, creating thus, by his kindness and absence of resentment, a feeling of confidence and trust for the future in the minds and hearts of the citizens of Richmond. The President returned, April 8th, to Washington.

CHAPTER LIV.

EVACUATION OF RICHMOND, AND LEE'S SURRENDER.

The Army of Virginia, now, April 2d, reduced by its recent heavy losses and by desertions to thirty-five thousand men, was now concentrated as quickly as possible from Richmond on the north and Petersburgh on the south, at Chesterfield Court-house, and was thence moved as rapidly as possible to Amelia Court-house. Here they were halted for supplies. Lee was detained there the 4th and 5th before food could be obtained for his famished men. Meanwhile, Sheridan moved rapidly westward by roads south of Lee's position, reaching the Danville railroad at Jettersville. Here he planted his force across the railroad, fortifying his position, prepared to stop Lee's entire force until Grant and Meade should be able to overtake and crush him. Meade, with the 2d and 6th corps, came up late on the 5th, while Lee was still at Amelia Court-house. Lee left Amelia Court-house, with his army, at night, the 5th, moving around the left of Meade and Sheridan's position, aiming for Farmersville, in order to cross the Appomattox, and thus escape his pursuers. But this was not to be. General Davis had already made a reconnoissance to our left, and had met, at Paine's cross-roads, Lee's train in advance of his infantry, and destroyed one hundred and eighty wagons, capturing five guns and many prisoners. Crook, of Sheridan's left, advanced to Dentonsville, where Lee's whole army was moving rapidly westward. Crook immediately charged, as directed by Sheridan, being inferior in force, but determined to detain the enemy until supports could arrive. The result justified the daring. Cook was repulsed, but meanwhile Custer, with his division of horse, attacked further on, gaining the road at Sailors' creek, where Crook and Deven coming to his support, they broke the rebel line, capturing four hundred wagons, sixteen guns and many prisoners. Ewell's corps, following the train, was thus cut off from Lee's army. His advance was charged by Colonel Stagg's brigade, and Seymore's division coming up, the odds were too great, and Ewell's veterans, inclosed between our cavalry and the 6th corps, after a gallant defense, threw down their arms and sur

rendered. General Ewell and six thousand prisoners were taken this day. Lee, with his vanguard, crossed the Appomattox at Farmersville, the night of the 6th, but his men were fainting and falling by the way. During the night of the 6th many of the chief officers of the retreating army met around a camp fire to discuss their desperate condition. Upon a full exchange of opinions, it was unanimously conceded that a surrender was inevitable. Lee was not present, but the result of the council was conveyed to him by General Pendleton.

Meade and Sheridan having taken possession of the Danville railroad at Jettersville, Lee's supplies for his army, which had been collected at Lynchburgh and Danville, were intercepted. So, while the retreating, famished rebel soldiers were endeavoring to evade the persistant pursuit of Sheridan's cavalry, they were compelled to procure their subsistence from the already exhausted country. Hunger and fatigue were rapidly decimating the ranks of the fugitives. Already weariness, fatigue and despair had compelled half of the soldiers to throw away their arms, which they were no longer able to carry. The soldiers were completely disheartened and disorganized.

General Grant, while directing the pursuit from Farmville, dispatched to General Lee the following letter:

"April 7, 1865.

"GENERAL-The results of 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 Confederate army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.

"GEN. R. E. LEE.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General."

In the meanwhile, the retreat and pursuit went on, General Lee sending this reply to General Grant, which reached him at Farmville next morning: "April 7, 1865.

"GENERAL-I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further 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. "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.

To this note General Grant immediately replied:

R. E. LEE, General."

"GENERAL-Your note of last evening in reply to mine of same date, asking the conditions 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 United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will 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 Viginia will be received."

"GENERAL R. E. LEE.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General."

On the morning of the 7th, Sheridan, with his cavalry, moved to Prince Edward's Court-house to head off Lee's retreat on Danville. On the morning of the 8th the 2d and 6th corps under Meade moved directly on the rear of Lee's retreat. Crook and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, by a forced march of twenty-eight miles, intercepted four trains of supplies for Lee's army from Lynchburg, which they surrounded and captured. This was aided by our advance under General Custer. Without any hesitation, General Custer, supported by General Devin, pushed on toward Appomattox Courthouse, and here, finding his force confronted by the van of Lee's army, he drove it back on the main body, capturing twenty-five guns, a hospital train, a large part of the wagons and many prisoners. Sheridan brought up the balance of his cavalry as fast as possible, placing it directly in front of the enemy, and sending word to Grant that the capture of Lee's army was now inevitable. In consequence of these advices, Generals Griffin and Ord reached Appomattox station at daylight next morning. General Lee had sent, the evening before, the following reply to General Grant's last note:

April 8, 1865. "GENERAL-I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday, I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think 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 lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia, but as far as your proposal may effect the Confederate States forces under my command and tend to the restoration, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 a. M. to-morrow, on the old stageroad to Richmond, between the picket lines of the two armies.

"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT.

R. E. LEE, General."

General Grant was with Meade's column pursuing Lee, and received the above note about midnight. Before leaving the next morning for the front to

join Sheridan and Griffin he dispatched the following reply to General Lee's note:

"April 9, 1865.

66 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 will lead to no good. I will state, however, General, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms on which peace can be had are well understood. If the South lay down their arms, they will hasten that most desirable event, and save thousands of human lives and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, etc.

"GENERAL R. E. LEE.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General."

General Sheridan was with his cavalry near the Appomattox Court-house when the army of General Lee made their last charge. Sheridan had covered our infantry with his cavalry dismounted, and as the enemy approached, our front gave way gradually, giving time for our infantry to form and take position. When this was effected, the cavalry moved swiftly to the right and mounted, disclosing lines of solid infantry to the enemy, who recoiled in blank dismay. A white flag was now displayed by the enemy, and Sheridan, riding over to the Court-house, was met by General Gordon, who requested a suspension of hostilities, as negotiations for a capitulation were then pending between Generals Grant and Lee. General Grant, before reaching Sheridan's headquarters, received the following note:

"GENERAL-I received your note of this morning on the picket line, 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.

"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL Grant.

R. E. LEE, General."

The two Generals met at once at the house of W. McLean where the preliminaries of the surrender were arranged, and the result of the conference are indicated and comprised in the following letters:

"APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, April 9, 1865. "GENERAL-In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., 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 to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The