按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and this in short order put an end to General Geary's 〃last ditch〃
absurdity； and extricated Allen from his predicament。
When quiet was restored Gordon remarked： 〃General Lee asks for a
suspension of hostilities pending the negotiations which he is having
with General Grant。〃 I rejoined： 〃I have been constantly informed of
the progress of the negotiations； and think it singular that while
such discussions are going on； General Lee should have continued his
march and attempted to break through my lines this morning。 I will
entertain no terms except that General Lee shall surrender to General
Grant on his arrival here。 If these terms are not accepted we will
renew hostilities。〃 Gordon replied： 〃General Lee's army is
exhausted。 There is no doubt of his surrender to General Grant。〃
It was then that General Ord joined us； and after shaking hands all
around； I related the situation to him； and Gordon went away agreeing
to meet us again in half an hour。 When the time was up he came back
accompanied by General Longstreet； who brought with him a despatch；
the duplicate of one that had been sent General Grant through General
Meade's lines back on the road over which Lee had been retreating。
General Longstreet renewed the assurances that already had been given
by Gordon； and I sent Colonel Newhall with the despatch to find
General Grant and bring him to the front。 When Newhall started；
everything on our side of the Appomattox Court House was quiet； for
inevitable surrender was at hand； but Longstreet feared that Meade；
in ignorance of the new conditions on my front might attack the
Confederate rearguard。 To prevent this I offered to send Colonel J。
W。 Forsyth through the enemy's lines to let Meade know of my
agreement； for he too was suspicious that by a renewed correspondence
Lee was endeavoring to gain time for escape。 My offer being
accepted； Forsyth set out accompanied by Colonel Fairfax； of
Longstreet's staff； and had no difficulty in accomplishing his
mission。
About five or six miles from Appomattox； on the road toward Prospect
Station near its intersection with the Walker's Church road； my
adjutant…general； Colonel Newhall； met General Grant； he having
started from north of the Appomattox River for my front the morning
of April 9； in consequence of the following despatches which had been
sent him the night before； after we had captured Appomattox Station
and established a line intercepting Lee：
〃CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS； April 8； 18659：20 P。 M。
〃LIEUTENANT…GENERAL U。 S。 GRANT；
〃Commanding Armies of the U。 S。
〃General： I marched early this morning from Buffalo Creek and
Prospect Station on Appomattox Station； where my scouts had reported
trains of cars with supplies for Lee's army。 A short time before
dark General Custer； who had the advance； made a dash at the station；
capturing four trains of supplies with locomotives。 One of the
trains was burned and the others were run back toward Farmville for
security。 Custer then pushed on toward Appomattox Court House；
driving the enemywho kept up a heavy fire of artillerycharging
them repeatedly and capturing； as far as reported； twenty…five pieces
of artillery and a number of prisoners and wagons。 The First Cavalry
Division supported him on the right。 A reconnoissance sent across
the Appomattox reports the enemy moving on the Cumberland road to
Appomattox Station； where they expect to get supplies。 Custer is
still pushing on。 If General Gibbon and the Fifth Corps can get up
to…night； we will perhaps finish the job in the morning。 I do not
think Lee means to surrender until compelled to do so。
〃P。 H。 SHERIDAN； Major…General。〃
〃HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY； April 8； 18659：40 p。m。
〃LIEUTENANT…GENERAL U。 S。 GRANT。
〃Commanding Armies U。 S。
〃GENERAL： Since writing tne accompanying despatch； General Custer
reports that his command has captured in all thirty…five pieces of
artillery； one thousand prisonersincluding one general officerand
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wagons。
〃P。 H。 SHERIDAN； Major…General。〃
In attempting to conduct the lieutenant…general and staff back by a
short route； Newhall lost his bearings for a time； inclining in
toward the enemy's lines too far； but regained the proper direction
without serious loss of time。 General Grant arrived about 1 o'clock
in the afternoon； Ord and I； dismounted； meeting him at the edge of
the town； or crossroads； for it was little more。 He remaining
mounted； spoke first to me； saying simply；
〃How are you； Sheridan？〃 I assured him with thanks that I was
〃first…rate；〃 when； pointing toward the village； he asked； 〃Is
General Lee up there？〃 and I replied： There is his army down in that
valley； and he himself is over in that house （designating McLean's
house） waiting to surrender to you。〃 The General then said； 〃Come；
let us go over；〃 this last remark being addressed to both Ord and me。
We two then mounted and joined him； while our staff…officers
followed； intermingling with those of the general…in…chief as the
cavalcade took its way to McLean's house near by； and where General
Lee had arrived some time before； in consequence of a message from
General Grant consenting to the interview asked for by Lee through
Meade's front that morningthe consent having been carried by
Colonel Babcock。
When I entered McLean's house General Lee was standing； as was also
his military secretary； Colonel Marshall； his only staff…officer
present。 General Lee was dressed in a new uniform and wore a
handsome sword。 His tall； commanding form thus set off contrasted
strongly with the short figure of General Grant； clothed as he was in
a soiled suit； without sword or other insignia of his position except
a pair of dingy shoulder…straps。 After being presented； Ord and I；
and nearly all of General Grant's staff； withdrew to await the
agreement as to terms； and in a little while Colonel Babcock came to
the door and said； 〃The surrender had been made； you can come in
again。〃
When we re…entered General Grant was writing； and General Lee； having
in his hand two despatches； which I that morning requested might be
returned； as I had no copies of them； addressed me with the remark：
〃I am sorry。 It is probable that my cavalry at that point of the
line did not fully understand the agreement。〃 These despatches had
been sent in the forenoon； after the fighting had been stopped；
notifying General Lee that some of his cavalry in front of Crook was
violating the suspension of hostilities by withdrawing。 About
3 o'clock in the afternoon the terms of surrender were written out
and accepted； and General Lee left the house； as he departed
cordially shaking hands with General Grant。 A moment later he
mounted his chunky gray horse； and lifting his hat as he passed out
of the yard； rode off toward his army； his arrival there being
announced to us by cheering； which； as it progressed； varying in
loudness； told he was riding through the bivouac of the Army of
Northern Virginia。
The surrender of General Lee practically ended the war of the
rebellion。 For four years his army had been the main…stay of the
Confederacy； and the marked ability with which he directed its
operations is evidenced both by his frequent successes and the length
of time he kept up the contest。 Indeed； it may be said that till
General Grant was matched against him； he never met an opponent he
did not vanquish； for while it is true that defeat was inflicted on
the Confederates at Antietam and Gettysburg； yet the fruits of these
victories were not gathered； for after each of these battles Lee was
left unmolested till he had a chance to recuperate。
The assignment of General Grant to the command of the Union armies in
the winter of 1863…64 gave presage of success from the start； for his
eminent abilities had already been proved； and besides； he was a
tower of strength to the Government； because he had the confidence of
the people。 They knew that henceforth systematic direction would be
given to our armies in every section of the vast territory over which
active operations were being prosecuted； and further； that this
coherence； this harmony of plan； was the one thing needed to end the
war； for in the three preceding years there had been illustrated most
lamentable effects of the absence of system。 From the moment he set
our armies in motion simultaneously； in the spring of 1864； it could
be seen that we should be victorious ultimately； for though on
different lines we were checked now and then； yet we were harassing
the Confederacy at so many vital points that plainly it must yield to
our blows。 Against Lee's army； the forefront of the Confederacy；
Grant pitted himself； and it may be said that the Confederate
commander was now； for the first time； overmatched； for against all
his devicesthe products of a mind fertile in d