Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1883 — Page 6

ANNIHILATION. It I could know, as none can know. That, when niy life is ended, I “ ’ » , Shall peiish, like the aureate alow Of rounded stars that die; That in the dark beyond our earth There is no radiant heax'en, nor hell— I should not curs? my human birth, I should net fear to tell. The sadly wise and bitter thought That none were Iwm irom irtal, nene Predestined to a God-life wrought Beyond our sky arid sun. Nor should I fear to fill my part. To live.my life out, to a«pire With the wnole pascon of my heart. To love and to ch she. For it is true, that virtue, power And all the swostness ot the mind. And real as beauty in the flower Afld nr- sic in the wind; That any mortal man can be Sublimely stirred, without a sense That in his doing lie must see Some future recompense. Yet, though I strove with fervent will To act with nool%zeal and grace. Ami with a fajtii that each may still Live deathless in the race— I think, in lonely hours when sleep O) scr.res the griefitbai many bear. That I would tu n to heaven and weep With heart-bieak and despair: For I xhould then remember one Wh' sc gentle love i« more to me Than all the years that time can run. Than and air, and sea: And oh, to part with her were worse Than death and its inhuman fate — To lese her in a universe Whose gods annihilate.

HOW LEE SURRENDERED.

Public attention having of late been occasionally called to sortie of the events that occurred in the closing scenes of the Virginia campaign, terminating at Appomatox Court Hou-e, April 8, 1865, I feel it my duty to give to history the following facts: When, April 4, 1865, being at the head, of the cavalry, I threw across the line of Gen. Lee’s march, at Jettersville, on, the Richmond and Danville railroad, my personal escort, the First United States cavalry, numbering about 200 men, a tall hank man was seen coming down the road from the direction of* Amelia Court House, riding a small mule and heading toward Burkesville Junction, to which Gen. Crook, had, early that morning, been ordered with his division of cavalry, to break the railroad and telegraph lines. The man and the mule were brought to a halt, and the mule and himself closely examined, under stronger remonstrances at the indignity done to a Southern gentleman. Remonstrance, however, was without avail, and in his boots two telegrams were found from the Commissary General of Lee’s army, saying: “The army is at Amelia Court House, short of provisions; send 300,000 rations qjiickly to Burkesville Junction.” One of these dispatches was for the Confederate supply department at Danville, the other for that at Lynchburg. It w'as at once presumed that, after the dispatches were written, the telegraph line had beep broken •by Gen. Crook, north of Burkesville, and they were on their way to Home station beyond the break, to be telegraphed. -They revealed where Lee was, and from them some estimate could also be formed of the number of his troops. Orders were at once given to Gen. Crook to come up the road from Burkesville to Jettersville, and to Gen. Merritt, who, with the other two divisions of cavalry, had followed the road from Petersburg, on the south side and near the Appomattox river, to close in without delay on Jettersville, while the Fifth army corps, under the lamented Griffin, which was about ten or fifteen miles behind, was marched at a quick pace to the same point, and the road in front of Lee’s army blocked until the arrival of the balance of the army <sf

the Potomac the afternoon of the next day. My command was pinched for provisions, and these dispatches indicated an opportunity to obtain a supply; so, calling for Lieut.-Col. Young, commanding my scouts, four men, in the most approved gray, were selected —good, brave, smart fellows, knowing every cavalry regiment in the Confederate army, and as good “Johnnies” as were in that army, so far as bearing and language were concerned. They were directed to go to Burkesville Junction and there separate. Two were to go down the Lynchburg branch of the railroad until a Confederate telegraph station was found, from which they were to transmit by wire the abbve-mentioned rebel dispatches, representing the suffering condition of Lee’s army, watch for the trains, and hurry the provisions on to Burkesyille, or in that direction. The other two were to gQ on the Danville branch, and had similar instructions. The mission was accomplished by those who went out on the Lynchburg branch, but I am not certain about the success of the other party; at all events, no rations came from Danville that I know of. I arrived at Jettersville with the advance of my command —the First jjnited States cavalry—on the afternoon of the Ith of April. I knew the condition and the position of the rebel army from the dispatches referred to, and also from the following letter (erroneously datedj April 5 ), taken from a colored man who was captured later in the day: Amelia. C. H., April 5, 1865. Deas Mamma: Our army is ruined, 1 fear. We are all safe as yes. Shyron left us sick- John Taylor is well; saw him'yesterday. We are in line of battle this inominp Gen. Robert Lee is in the tie d near us. My trust is still In the justice of our cause and that of God. Gen. Hill is killed. I saw ’Murray a few minutes since. Ben aid Terry’, he said, wts taken prisoner.bat may get . out I send this by a negro I tee pacing up. the railroad to Michlenburg. 4° ve to all. Your devoted .gon Wm. B. Taylob, Colonel I accordingly sbt out my escort to

demonstrate and make as much'ado as they conld by continuous firing in front of the enemy at or near Amelia Court House, pending the arrival of the Fifth corps. That corps came up in the courge of the afternoon, and was put into position at right angles with the Richmond and Danville road with its left resting on a pond or swamp on the left of the road. Toward evening Gen. Crook arrived with his division of cavalry, and later Gen. Merritt, with his •Uvo divisions; and all took their designated places. The Fifth corps, after its arrival, had thrown up earth-works and made its position strong enough to hold out against any force "for the period which would intervene before the arrival of the main body of the army of the Potomac, now rapidly coming up on the lines over which I had traveled. On the afternoon and night of the 4th no attack was made by the enemy upon the small force in his frorft—the Fifth corps and three divisions of cavftlry —and by the morning of the' sth I began to believe that he would leave the main road if he could and pass around my left flank to ' Sailor’s creek and Farmville. To watch this suspected movement, early on the morning of the sth I sent Davies’ brigade of Crook’s division of cavalry to make a reconnoissance in that direction. The result was an encounter by Davies with a large train of wagons, under escort, moving in the direction anticipated. The train was attacked by him, and about 200 wagons were burned, and five pieces of artillery and a large number of prisoners captured. In the afternoon of April 5, the main body of the army of the Potomac came up. Gen. Meade was unwell, and requested me to put the troops in position, which I did, in line of battle, facing the enemy at Amelia Court House. 1 thought it best to attack at once, but this was not done. I then began to be afraid the enemy would, in the night, by a march to the right from Amelia Court House, attempt to pass our left flauk and again put us in the rear of his retreating columns. Under the impression I sent to Gen. Grant the following dispatch: Cava ry Headquarters, I JETTERSVILLE, A[ ril 5, 8 p. xn. ( Lieut. Gen. U. 8. Grant, commanding armies of the United State*. General: I send you the inclosed letter, which will give you an idea of the condition of the enemy and their whereabouts. I sent Gen. Dav es’ brigade this morning around on my left flank. He captured at Fames’ Cross-roads hve pieces of artillery, about 210 wagons and eight or ninfe battle-flags, and a number of prisoners. The Second army corps is now com ng up I wish you were here yourself. I feel confident of capturing the army of Northern Virginia if we exert ourselves. I see no escape for Lee. I will put all my cavalry put on our left flank, except Mackenzie, who is mW on the right. P. H. Hhehidan, Major General. On receipt of this he immediately started for my headquarters at Jetters-' ville, arriving there about 11 o’clock of the night of April 5. Nexk moaning, April 6, the infantry of the army advanced on Amelia Court House. It was found before reaching it that the enemy had turned our left flank and taken another road to Sailor’s creek and Farmville. The cavalry did not advance with the infantry on Amelia Court House, but moved to the left and rear, at daylight on the morning of the 6th, and struck the moving columns of the enemy’s infantry and artillery, with which a series of contests ensued that resulted in the battle of Sailor’s Creek, where Lieut. Gen. Ewell lost his command of about 10,000 men, and was himself taken prisoner, together with ten other General officers.

We now come to the morning of the 7th. I thought that Lee would not abandon the direct road to Danville through Prince Edward’s Court House, and early on the morning of the 7th directed Gen. Crook to follow up his rear, while with Merritt (Custer and Devin’s divisions) I swung off to the left, and moved quickly to strike the Danville road six or eight miles south of Prince Edward’s Court House, and thus again head or cut off all or some of the retreating Confederate army. On reaching the road it was found that Gen. Lee’s army had not passed, and my command' was instantly turned north for Prince Edward’s Court House. A detachment ordered to move with the greatest celerity, via Prince Edward’s Court House, reported that Lee had crossed the Appomattox at and near Farmville, and that Crook had followed him. On looking at the map it will be seen that Gen. Lee would be obliged to pass through Appomattox Court House and Appomattox Station on the railroad to reach Lynchburg by the road he had taken north of the Appomattox river, and .that was the longest road to get there. He had given the shortest one—the one south of the river—to the cavalry. Gen. Crook was at once sent for, and the three divisions, numbering perhaps at that time 7,000 men, concentrated on the night of the 7th of April at and near Prospect Station on the Lynchburg and Richmond railroad, and Appomattox Station became the objective point of the cavalry for the operations of the next day, the Bth. Meantime my scouts had not been idle, but had followed down the railroad, looking out for the trains with the 300,000 rations which they had telegraphed foe on the night of the 4th. Just before reaching Appomattox Station, they found five trains of cars feeling their way along in the direction of Burkesville Junction, not knowing exactly where Lee was. They induced the person in charge to come further on by their description of the pitiable condition of the Confederate troops. Our start on the morning of the Bth was before the sun was up, and, having proceeded but a few miles, Maj. White, of the scouts, reached me with the news that the trains wete east of Appomattox Station, that he had succeeded in tbAm on some distance, but

Was afraid that they would again be "run back to the station. Intelligence of this fact was immediately communicated to Crook, Merritt and Custer, and the latter, who had the advance, was urged not to let the - trains escape, and I pushed on and joined him. Before reaching the station Custer detailed two regiments to make a detour, strike the railroad beyond the station, •tear up the track, and secure the trains. This was accomplished, but on the arrival of the main body of our advance at the station it was found that the advance guard of Lee’s army was just coming on the ground. A sanguinary Engagement at once ensued. The enemy was driven off, forty pieces captured," and 400 baggagewagons burned. The railroad trains had been secured in the first onset and Were taken possession of by locomotive engineers, soldiers in the command, whose delight at again getting at their former employment was so great that they produeed the wildest confusion by running the trains to and fro on the track, and making such an unearthly screeching with the whistles, that I was at one time ®n the point of ordering the trains burnt; but we finally got them off, and ran them to our rear ten or fifteen miles, to Ord and Gibbon, who with the infantry were following the cavalry. The cavalry continued the fighting all that night, driving the enemy back to the vicinity of Appomattox Court House, a distance of about four miles, thus giving him no repose, and covering the weakness of the attacking force. I remember well' the little frame house just south of the station where the headquarters of the cavalry rested, or rather, remained, for there was no rest the night of the Bth. Dispatches were going back to our honored chief, Gen. Grant, and Ord was requested to push on the wearied infantry. Tomorrow was to end our troubles in all reasonable probability, but it was thought necessary that the infantry should arrive, in order to doubly insure the result. Merritt, Crook and Custer, were, at times, there.

Our long and weary labors were about to close; our dangers soon to end. There was no sleep; there had been but little for the previous eight or nine days. Before sunrise Gen. Ord came in reporting the near approach of his command. After a hasty consultation about positions to be taken up by the incoming troops, we were in the saddle and off for the front, in the vicinity of Appomattox CourtHouse. As we were approaching the village a heavy line of Confederate infantry was seen advancing, and rapid firing commenced. Riding to a sliglit elevation, w here I could get a view of the advancing enemy. I immediately sent directions to Gen. Merritt for Custer’s and Devin’s divisions to slowly fall back, and, as they did so, to withdraw to our right flank, thus unmasking Ord’s and Gibbon’s infantry. Crook and Mackenzie, on the extreme left, were ordered to hold fast. I then hastily galloped back to give Gen. Ord the benefit of my information. No sooner had the enemy’s line of battle reached the elevation from which my reconnoissance had been made, and from whence could be distinctly seen Ord’s troops in the distance, than he called a sudden halt, and a retrograde movement began to a ridge about one mile to his rear. Shortly afterward I returned from Gen. Ord to the front, making for Gen. Merritt’s battle-flag on the right flank of the line. On reaching it the order to advance was given, and every guidon was bent to the front, and as we swept by toward the left of the enemy’s line of battle he opened a heavy fire from artillery. No heed was paid to the deadly missiles, and, with the wildest yells, we soon reached a point some distance to his right and nearly opposite Appomatox Court House.

Beyond us in a low valley lay Lee and the remnant of his army. There did not appear to be much organization, except in the advanced troops under Gen. Gordon, whom we had been fighting, and a rear-guard under Gen. Longstreet, still further up the valley. Formations were immediately commenced to make a bold and sweeping charge down the grassy slope, when an aide-de-camp from Custer, filled with excitement, hat in hand, dashed up to me with the message from his chief: “Lee ha:f surrendered 1 Do not charge; the white flag is up!” Orders were given to complete the formation, but not to charge. Looking to the left to Appomattox Court House a large group was seen near by the lines of Confederate troops that had fallen back to that point. Gen. Custer had not come back, and, supposing that he was with the group at the Court House, I moved on a gallop down the narrow ridge, followed by my staff. The Court House was, perhaps, three-fourths of a mile distant. We had not gone far before a hgavy fire was opened on us from a skirt of timber to our right, and distant not much over 300 yards. I halted for a moment, and, taking off my hat, called out that the flag was being violated, but could not stop the firing, which now caused us all to take shelter in a ravine running parallel to the ridge we were on, and down which we then traversed. As we approached the Court House a gentle ascent had to be made. I was in advance, followed by a sergeant carrying my battle flag. Within 100 to 150 yards from the Court House and Confederate lines some of the men in their ranks brought down their guns to an aim on us, and great effort was made by their officers to keep them from firing. I halted, and healing some noise be-' hind, turned in the saddle, and saw a Confederate soldier attempting to take

my battle-flag from the color-bearer. This the sergeant had no idea of submitting to, and had drawn his saber to cut the man down. A word from me caused him to return flu saber, and take the flag back to the staff-officers, ?ho were some little distance behind. remained stationary a moment after these events, then calling a staff officer, directed him to go over to the group of Confederate officers and demand what such conduct meant. Kind apologies were made, and ’we advanced. The superior officers met were Gen. J. B. Gordon and Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox, the latter an Old army officer. As soon as the first greeting was over, a furious firing commenced in front of our own cavalry, from whom we had only a few minutes before separated. Gen. Gordon seemed to be somewhat disconcerted by it. I remarked to him: “Gen. Gordon, your men fired on me as I was coming over here, and and undoubtedly they have done the same to Meritt’s and Custer’s commands. We might just as well let them fight it out.” * To this proposition Gen. Gordon did not'accede. I then asked, “Why not send a staff officer and have your people cease firing. They are violating the flag.”

He said, “I have no staff officer to send.” I replied, “I will let you have one of mine,” and calling for Lieut. Vanderbilt Allen he was directed to report to Gen. Gordon and carry his orders. The orders were to go to Gen. Geary, who was in command of a small brigade of South Carolina cavalry, and ask him to discontinue the firing. Lieut. Allen dashed off with the message, but on delivering it to Gen. Geary, was taken prisoner, with the remark from that officer that he did not care for white flags; that South Carolinians never surrendered. It was about this time that Merritt, getting impatient at the supposed treacherous firing, ordered a charge of a portion of his command. While Gens. Gordon and Wilcox were engaged in conversation with me, a cloud of dust, a wild hurrah, a flashing of sabers, indicated a charge, and the ejaculations of my staff officers were heard, “Look, Merritt has ordered a charge 1” The flight of Geary’s brigade followed; Lieut. Allen was thus released. The last gun had been fired and the last charge made in the Virginia campaign. While the scenes thus related were taking place, the conversation I now speak of was occurring between Gen. Gordon and myself. After the first salutation Gen. Gordon remarked: “Gen. Lee asks for a suspension of hostilities pending the negotiations which he has been having for the last day and night wiih Gen. Grant.” I rejoined: “I have been constantly informed of the progress of the negotiations, and think it singular while such negotiations are going on, Gen. Lee should have continued bis march and attempted to break through my lines this morning with the view of escaping. I can entertain no terms except the condition that Gen. Lee will surrender to Gen. Grant on his arrival here. I have sent for him. If these terms are not accepted, we will renew hostilities.” Gen. Gordon replied: “Gen. Lee’s army is exhausted. There is no doubt of his surrender to Gen. Grant on his arrival.” Gen. Wilcox, whom I knew quite well, ke having been Captain of the company to which I was attached as a cadet in the Military Academy, then stepped to his horse, and taking hold of the saddle-bags, said, in a jocular wav:

“Here, Sheridan, take these saddlebags ; they have one soiled shirt and a pair of drawers. You have burned everything else I had in the world, and I think you are entitled to this also.” He was alluding, of course, to the destruction of the baggage trains which had been going on ror some days. When the terms above referred to were settled each army agreed to remain in Statu quo until the arrival of Gen. Grant, whom Col. Newhall, my Adjutant General, had gone for. Gens. Gordon and Wilcox then returned to see Gen. Lee, and promised to come back in about thirty minutes, and during that time Gen. Ord joined me at the Court House. At the end of thirty or forty minutes Gen. Gordon returned in company with Gen. Longstreet. The latter, who commanded Lee’s rear guard back on the Farmville road, seemed somewhat alarmed lest Gen. Meade, whe was following up from Farmville, ifiight attack, not knowing the condition of affairs at the front. To prevent this I proposed to send my' Chief of Staff, Gen. J. W. Forsyth, accompanied by a Confederate officer, back through the Confederate army and inform Gen. Meade of the existing state of affairs. He at once started, accompanied by Col. Fairfax, of Gen. Longstreet’s staff, met the advance of the Army of the Potomac, and, communicated the conditions. In the meantime Gen. Lee came over to McLean’s house in the village of Appomattox Court House. I am not certain whether Gen. Babcock, of Gen. Grant’s staff, who had arrived in advance of the General, had gone over’to see him or not. We Had waited some hours, and, I think, about 12 or 1 o’clock Gen. Grant arrived. Gen. Ord, myself, and many officers were in the main road leading through the town, at a point where Lee’s army was visible. Gen. Grant rode up and greeted me with: “Sheridan, how are you?” I replied, “I am very well, thank you.” He then said, “Where is Lee?” I replied, “There is his army down in the valley; he fe over in that house (pointing out McLean’s), waiting to surrender to you.”

Gen. Grant,* swill without dismounting, said, “Come, let us §o over. ” He, then made the same request to Gen. Ord, and we all went to McLean’s house. Those who entered with Gen. Grant were, as nearly as I can recollect, Ord, Rawlins, Seth Williams, Ingflljs. Babcock, Parker, and myself; tlrff staff officers, or those who accompanied, remaining on the outside on the porch-steps and in the yard. On entering the parlor, we found Gen. Lee standing in company with Col. Marshall, his aide-de-camp. The first greeting was to Gen. Seth Williams, who had been Lee’s Adjutant when he was Superintendent of the Military Academy. Gen. Lee was, then presented to Gen. Grant, and all present were introduced. Gen. Lee was dressed in a new gray uniform, evidently put on for the occasion, and bore a handsome swerd. He had on his face the expression of relief from a heavy burden. Gen. Grant's uniform was soiled with mud and service and he wore no sword. After a few words had been spoken by those who knew Gen. Lee, all the officers retired, except, perhaps, one staff officer of Gen. Grant’s, and the one who was with G>en. Lee. We had not been absent from the room longer than about five minutes, when Gen. Babcock came to the door and said: “The surrender has taken place, you can come in again.” When we re-entered Gen. Grant was writing on a little wooden, ellipticals,haped table (purchased by me from Mr. McLean and presented to Mrs. G. A. Custer) the conditions of the surrender. Gen. Lee was sitting, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword, to the left of Gen. Grant, with his back to a small marble-topped table, on which many books were piled. While Gen. Grant w r as writing, friendly conversation was engaged in by Gen. Lee and hjs aid with the officers present, and he took from his breast pocket two dispatches, whieh had been sent to him by me during the forenoon, notifying him that some of his cavalry, in front of Crook, were violating the agreement entered into by withdrawing. I had not Jiad time to make copies when they were sent and had made a request to have them returned. He handed them to me with the remark: “I am sorry. It is possible my cavalry at that point of the line did nut fully understand the agreement.” About one hour was occupied in drawing up and signing the terms, when Gen. Lee retired from the house with a cordial shake of the hand with Gen. Grant, mounted his chunky grav horse, and lifting his hat, passed through the gate, and rode oyer the crest of the hill to his army. On his arrival there we heard wild cheering, which seemed to be taken up progressively by his troops, either for him, or because of satisfaction with his last official act as a soldier.—P. H. Sheridan in North American Review.

How Old Franz Lost His Gun.

Col. Frizell, coming down from Hawk’s Nest one night after midnight, to consult with Gen. Cox, then in commadd at Gauley Bridge, found the sentinel on duty in front of headquarters asleep. The guard was a grim-looking German. He was leaning against the fence post, standing on the steps by which the fence was crossed, and was fast asleep. Tbe Colonel, coming from the front, was much provoked by this unsoldierly conduct, and proceeded to take the gun from the mad. This he accomplished, the sentinel waking with a start as the gun was fairly in the Colonel’s hands. After rubbing his eyes he looked at the Colonel with stupid astonishment and then commenced a tirade of abuse, accompanying his language with such gesticulations as vastly amused the officer. Watching his opportunity the frantic sentinel snatched the gun from the Colonel’s hands, and bringing it to full cock and letting it drop to a charge, yelled, “Sergeant mit the guard,” “Corporal mit the guard,” in such tones as rouse'd headquarters and brought the officers of the guard to the post. As soon as the sergeant reported, the German proceeded to state how the man before him had rode up on horseback, refused to give the countersign, and had tried to take his gun away from him. -That he believed he was “one dam rascal,” etc. The Colonel had been taken by surprise, and the assurance of the man. dumfounded him. He* soon said, however, “I found this man asleep on his post and took his guqfrom him.” He was interrupted by the German, “You take my gun ven I was aschleep; ugh. How I git my gun now, say? How I git my gun now ? I was bin a soldier twenty long years ago, and no man ever take my gun. You was been dreamin’ now. How I git my gun, say ?” The, Colonel eontemplated the frantic actions of the man for a time, and said finally: “Oh, hang it! keep your gun,” and passed into headquarters.—-Chi-cago Inter Ocean.

Chinese Justice.

The Chinese Government in Lama Miaco, the great entrepot, punishes highway robbery with violence by a sentence of death from starvation, and Mr. Gilmour saw this sentence carried out, the man being placed in a cage in the street, with his head outside, so that he might see the eating shops and die slowly of hunger and thirst. He was four days dying there in public. The Chinese citizens found this interesting, and strolled up every evening, laughing and jesting, to see the unhappy wretch suffer.— J. Story Told in G-ilmour’s Mongols. ■