USA > Texas > The Confederate capital and Hood's Texas brigade > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
They knew a valiant people had fallen into their hau is not from lack of personal courage. unexampled bravery, dauntless pride and stern adherence to principle, but simply from the ex- haustion of every available resource of resistance, and a Resting of admiration for the capacity to exercise such sublime self-sacri- fice inevitably was the result.
At the North, the wildest enthusiasm prevailed, and the most extravagant displays of delight were exhibited. In New York and Washington, were the most extensive rejoicings. F.igs gaily flaunted to the breeze from public, business and private dwellings, cannon were fired, bonfires were lighted, church bells and chimes rang continuously for hours, and transparencies were seen everywhere, with lines of triumph inscribed thereon wille the people congratulated each other on the streets, made - bic addresses, and otherwise expressed their intense satisfaction at the culmination of all their hopes. Richmond had fallen.
256
THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL
Songs of jubilant thankfulness were suas. and thousands of voices joined in the choru- to the tune cf mild Hundre: res- dering the doxology, " Praise God from whom att blessings flow." That strange commingling of Pastan religious senti- ment and stern, unbending har-hness auf gloating over an ce- ponent's downfall, must have presented to the outside world a pitiful paradox of the worst inconsistencies.
Passion beld sway when in public assen: les severe denuncia. tions against the rebels were uttered. The treason of Jefferson Davis was proclaimed, and the verdict utterel by a big's govera - ment official that he should be "hung as high as Hasan. The maddened crowd responded, in waves of anger, "Hang hin. Hang him!"'
They all forgot the so-called rebels bad but sought to tiaiutais the rights of the States, guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States for the liberty of self-government, a common an- cestry had fought to secure from a common fre.
They did not realize that they were forging their own chains towards paternalism. Like Sampson of o.d. while destroying by brute force the rights of others, they might become victims in the wreck of a common downfall.
257
AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE
CHAPTER XXIIL.
Prophecy of Richmond Enquirer-Gene: A. Lee on the Retreat-Capa Cit manders Counsel Surrender-Generais Graut an I Hee Corross. : 1-G: eral Lee Still Hopeful-Grief when All Hope Fied-A-ks Gener! Gros: s Terms-The Two Gener ils Meet-Surrender of the Army of Norther: Virginia - The Two Central Figures at App ::: x - Texas Fall. Throwing Up Fortifications when the News of Seriea ler Reaches Thent -- General Lee's Farewell Address to His Troops-Griet of His Men-HI- Sorrow at the Loss of the Cause-ENvagy of letter : DANS-ENCAS C General Lee-Close of the Record of Confederate Capital and Hal's Texas Brigade.
The Richmond Enquirer had, several weeks before, made the following prophecy, in event of such a cata-trophe happening as the fall of Richmond: "The evaluation of Richmond would be the loss of all respect and authority towards the Confederate gov- ernment, the disintegration of the army, and the abandonment of the scheme of an independent Southern cifederation. Each contestant in the war has made Richmond the central obiect o: all its plans, and all its exertions. It has become the symbol of the Confederacy. Its loss would be material rain to the cause and, in a moral point of view, absolutely destructive, crashing the heart and extinguishing the last hope of the country. Our armies would lose the incentive inspired by a great and worthy object of defense; our military policy would be totally at sea. we should be without a hope or an object: without civil or mili- tary organization; without treasury or commissariat; without the means of keeping alive a wholesome and active sentiment with- out any of the appliances for supporting a cause depending upon a popular faith and enthusiasm; without the emblems or the semblance of nationality."
These sad, but intelligent anticipations were now to be vividly realized.
General Lee commenced his retreat from his intrenchtient around Petersburg on Sunday night, and sot his army safely across the Appomattox, intending to fall back to Darville as stated.
With his transportation in such a dilapidlatel condition . co ::- stantly menaced by the Federal cavalry, and retarded by the ban: state of the roads, he yet had a greater case of alarm. H . army, which at that time scarcely numbered Soom the most rei :- "able sources, more than twenty thousand sen. now began to
258
THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL
shrink away in anticipation of defeat, and many lost that spirit which had so long upheld them in hours of disaster as well as stiecess.
The line of retreat was marked by abandoned caissons, strewn with knap-sacks, blankets, arms and accoutrements. Everything wis thrown away that would hinder the speed of flight, and without food the brave remnant of a noble band pressed on to that fate so sadly awaiting them, still unconquerable, still intrep. id, to resist the harassing of the cavalry tormenting continually their rear.
Field's division of Longstreet's corps, to which was attached the Texas brigade, covered, in the rear, the line of retreat, en- gaged in skirmishes innumerable, burned bridges over which they passed, and, with the old spirit of determination, followed the fading fortunes of their leader who, in the midst of all his perplexities, never meditated such a contingency as surrender.
The Texans were too far from their homes for the temptation of straggling from their ranks to be entertained, and foot-sore and weary, they marched on, believing the union would be ef- fected with the Southern army, and the reverse yet changed into victory.
They had always fought against such odds that the abandon- ment of the cause was never allowed to find a lodgment in their most secret thoughts.
At Amelia Court House General Lee met with a cruel disap- pointment. The supplies he had ordered to meet him there for his army had. by some confusion, been sent elsewhere. The country was almost destitute of subsistence for man or beast, and what he was able to gather together furnished the hungry, battle- scarred heroes only about three ears of corn apiece.
General Sheridan had thrown a force between him and Dan- ville, thus cutting off his hopes in that direction, so his course was deflected towards Lynchburg, by way of Farmville, where he hoped to gain supplies.
"The position into which the remnant of General Lee's army had now been forced was one from which it was impossible to extricate it without a battle, which it was no longer capable of fighting. His army lay massed a short distance west of Appo- mattox Court House: his last avenue of escape towards Danville, on the southwest, was gone; he was completely hemmed in.
"Meade was in his rear on the east and on his right flank north of AAppomattox Court House; Sheridan had headed him off com- pletely by getting between him and Lynchburg; General Ord was on the south of the court house, near the railroad: the Federal troops were in the most enthusiastic spirits, and
259
AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
what remained of the Army of Northern Virginia was plainly doomed."*
The corps commanders saw that the days of that grand old army were numbered. Accordingly, on Thursday night ( April 6th ), they held a conference in which they commissioned General W. N. Pendleton, chief of artillery, to inform General Lee that, in their judgment, the time had come when negotiations should be opened with General Grant.
General Lee received the communication with this reply: "Oh! no, I trust it has not come to that, general; we have too many bold men to think of laying down our arms. The enemy do not fight with spirit, while our men do. Besides, if I were to say a word to the Federal commander, he would regard it as such a confession of weakness as to make it the occasion of demanding an unconditional surrender-a proposal to which I will never listen. I have resolved to die first; and that, if it comes to that, we shall force through or all fall in our places."
General Lee did not think proper to comply at once with the suggestion of his corps commanders, but on the night of the next day (7th) he received from General Grant the following letter:
"April 7tb. "General R. E. Lee, Commander C. S. A .;
"SIR :- The result of the last week must convince you of the utter 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 States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "U. S. GRANT. "Lieut .- Gen. Comdg. Armies of the U. S."
To this General Lee replied:
"April 7th.
"GENERAL :-- I have received your note of this day. Though not entirely of the opinion you express, of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia. I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, andl therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.
"R. E. LEE, General. " To Lieut. Gen. Grant, Comdy. Armies of the U. S."
*This record was furnished Dr. Jones by General Ice himself, and copied in Southern Historical Papers.
260
THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL
General Grant sent the following reply:
"April Sta. "To General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. Army:
"GENERAL :- Your note of last evening. in reply of mine of same date, asking the condition on which I will accept the sur- render of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received.
"In reply I would say that peace being my first desire, there is but one condition that I insist upon, viz .: That the men str- rendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms against the gov- ernment of the United States uatil properly exchanged. 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 sus- pose of arranging the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant. "U. S. GRANT, "Lieut .- Gen. Comdg. Armies of the U. S."
In the mean time General Lee was pressing on towards Lynch- burg, and, on the evening of the Sth, his van-guard reached Appomattox Station, where rations for the army had been or lered to be sent from Lynchburg. Four loaded trains were in sight. and the famished army was about to be supplied, when the head of Sheridan's columnn dashed upon the scene, captured the pro- visions, and drove the van-guard back to Appomattax Court House, four miles off. Sheridan's impetuous troopers met a sud- den and bloody check in the streets of the village, the colozei commanding the advance being killed. That morning General Lee had divided the remnant of his army into two wings, under Gordon and Longstreet, Gordon having the advance and Long- street the rear.
Upon the repulse of the cavalry, Gordon's corps advanced through the village and spent another night of sleepless vizi- lance and anxiety, while Longstreet, four miles in the rear, bad to intrench against the Army of the Potomac under Meade. That night General Lee held a council of war with Longstreet. Gordon and Fitz Lee, at which it was determined that Gordon should advance early the next morning to "feel the enemy in his front;" that if there was nothing but cavalry, he should press on, followed by Longstreet; but that, if Grant's infanter had gotten up in too large force to be driven, he should halt and notify General Lee, that a flag of truce might be raised, and the useless sacrifice of life stopped.
Accordingly, on the morning of the memorable gth of April. Gordon and Fitz. Lee attacked Sheridan's splendid cavalry, cut-
261
AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
numbering them more than four to one, and flushed with the full confidence of victory, and the assurance that if they needed support, the "Army of the James" was close at band, yet despite these odds, and the exhaustion of these famishing men, they went into that fight with the heroic courage which ever charac- terized that old corps, and proved themselves not unworthy of Stonewall Jackson and the other noble leaders whom they had been wont to follow to victory.
Utterly unable to withstand the onset, Sheridan hastened, in person, to hurry up the Army of the James, while Gordon drove his "invincible troopers," more than a mile, and captured and brought off too pieces of artillery and a large number of prison- ers. Had only Sheridan barred the way, the surrender had not occurred at Appomattox; but Gordon only drove back the cavalry, to find himself confronted by the Army of the James, and the road was blocked by ten times his number.
At this time an incident of the surrender occurred which Col- onel C. S. Venable, a member of his staff, related afterwards in au address at the Lee memorial meeting in Richmond, Novem- ber 3, 1870:
"At 3 o'clock on the morning of that fatal day, General Lee rode forward, still hoping that we might break through the countless hordes which hemmed us in. Halting a short distance in the rear of our vanguard, he sent me on to General Gordon to ask him if he could break through the enemy. I found Gen- eral Gordon and General Fitz Lee on their front line in the dim light of the morning, arranging an attack. Gordon's reply to the message was this: "Tell General Lee I have fought my corps to a frazzle, and I fear that I can do nothing, unless I am heavily supported by Longstreet's corps.'
"(Field's and Mahone's divisions of Longstreet's corps, staunch in the midst of all our disasters, were holding Meade back in our rear, and could not be spared for the attack.)
"When I bore the message back to General Lee, he said: "Then there is nothing left me but to go and see General Grant, and I had rather die a thousand deaths.' Convulsed with passionate grief, many were the wild words we spoke, as we & Jul around him. Said one, 'O, general, what will history say to the surrender of the army in the field?' He replied, 'Yes, I know they will say hard things of us, they will not understand how we were overwhelmed by numbers; but that is not the ques- tion, colonel; the question is, is it right to surrender this aran ? If it is right, then I will take all the responsibility.'
"Though he alone was calm, in that hour of humiliation, the soul of our great captain underwent the throes of death for his
262
THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL
grand old army surrendered, and for his people so soon to lie at the mercy of the foe; and the sorrows of this first death, at Ap- pomattox Court House, with the afflictions which fell upon the devoted South, weighed upon his mighty heart to its breaking, when the welcome messenger came from God to translate him to his home in Heaven."
On this morning General Grant received the following letter written the day before.
"April 8th.
"GENERAL :- I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day, in answer to mine of yesterday. I did not intend to pro- pose 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. But as the res- toration 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 the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but so far as your proposition may effect the Confederate forces under my command, and lead 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.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "R. E. LEE, "General Confederate States Armies. "To Lieut .- Gen. Grant, Commanding Armies of the U. S."
The following reply was received on the morning of the 9th: "April 9th. "General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A .:
"GENERAL :- Your note of yestesday is received. As I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace, the meeting pro- posed for 10 a. m. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, general, that I am equally auxious 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 de- sirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed.
"Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties may be settled with- out the loss of another life. I subscribe myself,
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"U. S. GRANT, "Lieutenant-General, U. S. A."
263
AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
General Lee received this note directly after General Gordon had sent him the message recorded above. There were only seven thousand eight hundred and ninety-two jaded, half-fim- ished Confederates, with arms ia their hands, nearly surrounded by eighty thousand Federal troops in position, with heavy to- enforcements hurrying forward. Gordon fell back through the village, and moved to meet an attack of Sheridan on the flank; the Federal infantry were pressing forward, and that heroic rem- nant of our grand old army seemed about to crown their illus- trious deeds with a glorious death, when General Lee determined to "take all the responsibility"-of stopping. if he could, the further effusion of blood. Accordingly he had the white flag raised, and sent General Grant the following note:
"April 9, 1865.
"GENERAL :- I received your note this morning on the picket line, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your proposition of yesterday, with reference to the surrender of this army.
"I now request an interview in accordance with the offer con- tained in your letter of yesterday for that pursose.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"R. E. LEE, General. "Lieut .- Gen. Grant, Commanding Armies of the U. S."
General Grant at once sent the following answer:
"April 9th. "General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. Armies:
"Your note of this date is but this moment (11:50 a. m.) re- ceived.
"In consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road, to the Farmville and Lynchburg road, I am, at this writing, about four miles west of Walton'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, U. S. A."
General Early says that he (General Lee) had that morning only seven thousand nine hundred men, but when he went to meet General Grant, he left orders with Gordon and Longstreet to hold themselves in readiness, and that he had determined "to cut bis way out, at all hazards, if such terms were not granted, as he thought his army was entitled to demand."
THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL
He met General Grant between the picket lines, in an open Feld about two hundred yards below Appomattox Court House.
We give General Lee's own account, in conversation with some gentlemen afterwards:
"You met under an apple-tree ?" asked a friend present.
"No, sir, " was the reply. "We did not meet under an apple- tree, and I saw no tree near. It was in an open field, not Far from the main road." The apple-tree which was cut to pieces. and even the roots of which were dug up and carried off by relic- hunters, was fully a quarter of a mile from the place of meeting. and the only historical interest that could be attached to it was that General Lee rested under its shade a few minutes while waiting for the return of his flag of truce. The only tree near the place of meeting was a small locust thorn, which is still standing, about twenty yards from the spot.
General Lee said, when he met General Grant, they exchanged salutations, and he stated to him at once, he desired a conference in reference to the subject matter of their correspondence.
"General Grant returned you your sword, did he not?" one of the company asked.
"No, sir, he did not. He had no opportunity of doing so. I was determined that the side-arms of officers should be exempt by the terms of surrender, and, of course, I did not offer mine. All that was said about swords was that General Grant apolo- gized for not wearing his own sword, saying it had gone off in his baggage, and he had not been able to get it in time."
General Lee stated that he was accompanied, when he met General Grant, only by Colonel Charles Marshall, of his personal staff, who went with one of General Grant's staff to find a suit- able room in which to hold the conference; that they were first shown to a vacant house, and declining to use that, were con- ducted by Major McLean to his house and shown into his parios. General Grant was accompanied by several of his staff office:s. and several of his generals (among them Sheridan and Ord . entered the room and participated in the slight general conversa- tion that occurred. The two generals went aside and sat at a table to confer together, when General Lee opened the conversa- tion by saying: "General, I deem it due to proper candor and frankness to say, at the very beginning of this interview, that I am not willing even to discuss any terms of surrender inconsist- ent with the honor of my army, which I am determined to main- tain to the last."
General Grant replied: "I have no idea of proposing dishon- orable terms, general, but would be glad if you would state what you consider honorable terms." General Lee then briefly state i
265
AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
the terms upon which he would be willing to surrender. Grant expressed himself as satisfied with them, and Lee requested that he would formally reduce the proposition to writing.
With a common lead pencil General Grant then wrote and handed General Lee the following paper:
"APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, April 9, 1865.
"General R. E. Lee, Commanding Confederate States Army:
"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 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 up arms against the government of the United States until properly ex- changed; and each company and regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands.
"The arms, artillery and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to re- ceive 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 returned 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.
General Lee read it carefully and, without comment, except to say that most of the ho. ses were the private property of the men riding them. Gene 1 Grant rer'le ' that such horses should be exempt from the surrender. and the p per was then handed to Colonel Badeau (Grant's secretary), and copies in ink made by him and Colonel Marshall.
While this was being done, there were inquiries after the health of mutual acquaintances. but nothing bearing on the sur- render, except that General Lee said that he had on his hands some or three thousand prisoners for whom he had no rations. Sheridan at once said, "I have rations for twenty thousand men."
General Grant having signed his note, General Lee conferred . with Colonel Marshall, who wrote this brief note of the terms of surrender offered :
206
THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL
"HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, } "April 9, 1865. )
"GENERAL :-- I have received your letter of this date, contain- ing the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia- as ; roposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. 1 will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipula- tions into effect.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "R. E. LEE.
"This terminated the interview, and General Lee rode back to his headquarters, which were three quarters of a mile northeast of the Court House.
"The above is the substance, and, for the most part, the exact language of General Lee's own account of the surrender."
General Horace Porter, of Grant's staff, thus describes the appearance of the two commanders:
"We entered the room and found General Grant sitting at a marble-topped table, in the center of the room, and General Lee sitting beside a small oval table, near the front window, in the corner opposite the door which we entered, and facing Genera! Grant. Colonel Marshall, his military secretary, was standing at his left side.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.