HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1863

LIEUT.-GEN. U. S. GRANT, Commanding U. S. A. :

General: I have received your letter of this date, containing the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, as proposed by you. As they are susbtantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

. R. E. LEE, General.

The interview of the two commanders took place at the house of Mr. Wilmer McLean. It was a great occasion; thrilling and wonderful memories must have crowded upon these two men as they stood face to face. But the interview was very simple; there was no theatrical circumstance; there was not a sentimental expression in what was said. No man abhorred anything melo-dramatic more than Gen. Lee. His manner with Grant bordered on taciturnity, but not so as to exhibit temper or mortification. "His demeanour," writes a Federal observer of the memorable scene, was that of a thoroughly possessed gentleman who had a very disagreeable duty to perform, but was determined to get through it as well and as soon as he could."

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He had come to the interview attended only by Col. Marshall, one of his aides. With courteous greeting the two commanders proceeded at once and simply to business; some explanations were required by Gen. Lee as to the meaning of certain phrases in the terms of surrender; and without other question or remark the act that was to put out of existence the Army of Northern Virginia was reduced to form at a deal table.

When Gen. Lee had been seen riding to the rear, the rumour of surrender flew like wild-fire through the Confederates. It might have been supposed that the worn and battered troops who watched on their arms for the result of the conference at McLean's house, would have been glad to welcome a termination of their sufferings, come in what form it might; that they would feel a certan joy when a long agony was over. But such was not the display, when about half past three o'clock in the evening Gen. Lee was seen thoughtfully riding back to his headquarters, and it was known that the surrender had been completed. His leading officers were assembled, anticipating the result and awaiting his return. When the terms of surrender were announced, they approached their great commander in turn, and shook hands, expressing satisfaction at his course, and regret at parting. The lines of battle that had awaited a possible renewal of the combat, were broken; but there were no huzzas, no scattering, not an indecent shout; but the men broke ranks to rush up to their beloved

SCENE OF GEN. LEE'S SURRENDER.

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commander, struggling with each other to wring him once more by the hand. It was a most affecting scene. Rough and rugged men, familiar with hardship, danger, and death in a thousand shapes, had tears in their eyes, and choked with emotion as they thronged around their old chieftain, uttering words to lighten his burden and mitigate his pain. He had so often himself uttered such words to them, when they bled on the battlefield or toiled on the weary march. Now simple as ever, very serious but collected, with the marks of a Roman manhood yet about him, he turned to his soldiers, not to insult the occasion with a harangue or explanations or regrets, but merely to say, as the signs of tearless suffering gathered in his face : Men, we have fought through the war together; and I have done the best I could for you."

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The day after the surrender Gen. Lee took formal leave of his army the following plain and manly address:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 10, 1865.

in

After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.

I need not tell the survivors of so many hard-fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but feeling that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would have attended the continuation of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.

By the terms of agreement, officers and men can return to their homes, and remain there until exchanged.

You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you His blessing and protection.

With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

R. E. LEE, General.

On the 12th April, the Army of Northern Virginia had its last parade. On that day, in pursuance of an arrangement of the commissioners of surrender, the troops marched by divisions to a spot in the neighbourhood of Appomattox Court-house, where they stacked arms and deposited accoutrements. About seventy-five hundred men laid down their arms; but the capitulation included in addition some eighteen thousand stragglers who were unarmed, and who came up to claim the benefit of surrender and accept paroles. With remarkable delicacy, Gen. Grant was not present at the ceremony, and had not been visible since his interview of the 9th with Gen. Lee.

Indeed, this Federal commander had, in the closing scenes of the contest, behaved with a magnanimity and decorum that must ever be remembered to his credit even by those who disputed his reputation in other respects, and denied his claims to great generalship. He had with remarkable facility accorded honourable and liberal terms to the vanquished army. He did nothing to dramatize the surrender; he made no triumphal entry into Richmond; he avoided all those displays of triumph so dear to the Northern heart; he spared everything that might wound the feelings or imply the humiliation of a vanquished foe. There were no indecent exultations; no "sensations; "sensations;" no shows; he received the surrender of his adversary with every courteous recognition due an honourable enemy, and conducted the closing scenes with as much simplicity as possible.

In the afternoon of the 12th April, Gen. Lee, attended by five members of his staff, rode into Richmond, and drew rein at his house on Franklin street. He passed on rapidly, as if to escape notice; blackened ruins threw their shadows across the way; strange faces were on the streets; but it was impossible for his commanding figure to pass without the challenge of curiosity, and there presently ran along the side-walks the shout, "It's Gen. Lee." Instantly there was a wild chase after the party of horsemen. The General simply raised his hat as he rode rapidly on; dismounting, he shook hands with some that pressed upon him; he showed an anxiety to enter his house, and in a few moments he had passed into the fondly-desired retirement of his simple home.

In Washington the surrender of Gen. Lee's army was taken as the close of the war. No sooner was it known than Secretary Stanton immediately telegraphed an order to the headquarters of every army and department, and to every fort and arsenal in the United States, to fire a salute of two hundred guns in celebration of the event. To Grant he despatched: "Thanks be to Almighty God for the great victory with which He has this day crowned you and the gallant armies under your command. The thanks of this department, and of the Government, and of the people of the United States-their reverence and honour have been deserved-will be rendered to you and the brave and gallant officers and soldiers of your army for all time."

A vast concourse of people assembled at the President's house to make the popular congratulations to Mr. Lincoln. There was music, illuminations; the ground was ablaze with triumphal lights; and the vast crowd called impatiently for a response from the President. It was a grand historical occasion; one of great thoughts and imposing circumstances; one for noble and memorable utterances. The President of the United States came forward, and called for the "rebel" song of "Dixie." He said:

LAST JOKE OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

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713 "I have always thought that Dixie' was one of the best songs I ever heard. Our adversaries over the way, I know, have attempted to appropriate it; but I insist that on yesterday we fairly captured it. I referred the question to the attorney-general, and he gave it as his legal opinion that it is now our property. (Laughter and loud applause.) I now ask the band to give us a good turn upon it." It was the characteristic speech and last joke of Abraham Lincoln.

CHAPTER XLIII.

GEN. LEE'S SURRENDER THE DECISIVE EVENT OF THE WAR.-STRENGTH AND SITUATION OF THE CONFEDERATE FORCES SOUTH OF VIRGINIA.—SURRENDER OF JOHNSTON'S ARMY.-GEN. JOHNSTON'S LINE OF RETREAT FROM RALEIGH.-SHERMAN'S PURSUIT.—THE CONFERENCE AT DURHAM STATION.-SHERMAN'S "MEMORANDUM OR BASIS OF AGREEMENT.”—HE ATTEMPTS AN EXTRAORDINARY GAME OF HYPOCRISY.-HIS ASTOUNDING CONFESSIONS AT WASHINGTON.-CURIOUS SPEECH AT A SOLDIERS' FESTIVAL.—SHERMAN'S CONVENTION WITH JOHNSTON REPUDIATED AT WASHINGTON.-JOHNSTON COMPELLED TO SURRENDER ON THE TERMS GIVEN LEE.-REVIEW OF THE SECTIONS OF CONFEDERATE DEFENCE.-OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHWEST.-CAPTURE OF MOBILE.-WILSON'S EXPEDITION.~THE EXPEDITION OF GEN. CANBY AGAINST MOBILE AND CENTRAL ALABAMA.-STATEMENTS OF HIS FORCE. THE WORKS AND GARRISON OF MOBILE.-SIEGE OF SPANISH FORT.-GEN. MAURY ORDERS ITS EVACUATION.-CAPTURE OF FORT BLAKELY.—EVACUATION OF MOBILE.-HOW WILSON'S CAVALRY WAS TO CO-OPERATE WITH CANBY.-DISPOSITION OF THE FORCES OF GENS. FORREST AND RODDY.-CAPTURE OF SELMA, MONTGOMERY AND COLUMBUS.THE HEROIC EPISODE OF WEST POINT.-WILSON ADVANCES UPON MACON.-NEWS OF SHERMAN'S TRUCE.—SURRENDER OF ALL THE CONFEDERATE FORCES IN ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI AND EAST LOUISIANA.-THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.-SURRENDER OF GEN. SMITH.-HOPE OF PROLONGING THE WAR WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE LAST CALCULATION OF EURO PEAN RECOGNITION."-SURRENDER OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ARMY TO GEN. CANBY.THE DOWNFALL OF THE CONFEDERACY COMPLETE.-SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE TERMINATION OF THE WAR.-ITS FLAT CONCLUSION.-NO GRAND CATASTROPHE.-EXPLANATION OF THIS.—THEORIES, TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FAILURE OF THE CONFEDERACY.-THE VULGAR ARGUMENT OF THE NUMERICAL SUPERIOURITY OF THE NORTH.-HOW THIS ARGUMENT IS DEFECTIVE. THE TRUE BASIS OF COMPARISON BETWEEN THE MILITARY FORCES OF NORTH AND SOUTH.—THE NUMERICAL INEQUALITY NOT SUFFICIENT TO DETERMINE THE WAR AGAINST THE SOUTH.-INCONSISTENCY OF THIS ARGUMENT ON THE PART OF SOUTHERN LEADERS.-THE RELATION OF NUMBERS TO OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE CONTEST.-WHAT ADVANTAGES THE SOUTH HAD IN THE EXTENT AND FEATURES OF HER TERRITORY.-GENERAL CONCLUSION, AND AN IMPORTANT REFLECTION CONSEQUENT UPON IT.

THE surrender of Gen. Lee was plainly the decisive event of the war, and drew after it rapid and important consequences. The situation in the Atlantic States south of Virginia, was weak; and that part of the Confederacy had been for some time thoroughly demoralized. The limits of Johnston's command included North and South Carolina, Georgia and