April 9, 1865
We all were up, according to habit, about daylight, with
horses saddled, having staid near Stute's house for the night. In reply to a
summons from Grant, Lee has sent in a note to say that he would meet Grant at
ten A.M. to confer on measures for peace. The Lieutenant-General
answered that he had no authority in the premises and refused the interview;
but repeated his offer to accept the army's surrender on parole. Indeed, we
suspected his affairs were from bad to worse, for last night we could hear,
just at sunset, the distant cannon of Sheridan. He, with his cavalry, had made
a forced march on Appomattox Station, where he encountered the head of the
Rebel column (consisting, apparently, for the most part of artillery), charged
furiously on it, and took twenty cannon and 1000 prisoners; and checked its
progress for that night, during which time the 24th and 5th Corps, by strenuous
marching, came up and formed line of battle quite across the Lynchburg road,
west of Appomattox C.H. Betimes this morning, the enemy, thinking that nothing
but cavalry was in their front, advanced to cut their way through, and were met
by the artillery and musketry of two corps in position — (Ah! there goes a band
playing "Dixie" in mockery. It is a real carnival!) This seems to
have struck them with despair. Their only road blocked in front, and
Humphreys's skirmishers dogging their footsteps! Well, we laid the General in
his ambulance (he has been sick during the whole week, though now much better)
and at 6.30 A.M. the whole Staff was off, at a round trot — (90 miles have I
trotted and galloped after that Lee, and worn holes in my pantaloons, before I
could get him to surrender!). An hour after, we came on the 6th Corps streaming
into the main road from the upper one. A little ahead of this we halted to talk
with General Wright. At 10.30 came, one after the other, two negroes, who said
that some of our troops entered Lynchburg yesterday; and that Lee was now cut
off near Appomattox Court House. This gave us new wings! An aide-de-camp
galloped on, to urge Humphreys to press the pursuit, and all waggons were
ordered out of the road, that the 6th Corps might close in immediately on his
rear. Away went the General again, full tilt, along the road crowded by the
infantry, every man of whom was footing it, as if a lottery prize lay just
ahead! A bugler trotted ahead, blowing to call the attention of the troops,
while General Webb followed, crying, “Give way to the right! Give way to the
right!” Thus we ingeniously worked our way, amid much pleasantry. “Fish for
sale!” roared one doughboy. “Yes,” joined in a pithy comrade, “and a tarnation
big one, too!” The comments on the General were endless. “That's Meade.” “Yes,
that's him.” “Is he sick?” “I expect he is; he looks kinder wild!” “Guess the
old man hain't had much sleep lately.” The heavy artillery firing we had
earlier heard, now had suddenly ceased, and there was a perfect stillness — a
suspicious circumstance that gave us new hope. Somewhat before noon we got to
General Humphreys, some five miles east of the Court House and at the very head
of his men. He reported that he had just struck the enemy's skirmish line, and
was preparing to drive them back. At that moment an officer rode up and said
the enemy were out with a white flag. “They shan't stop me!” retorted
the fiery H.; “receive the message but push on the skirmishers!” Back came the
officer speedily, with a note. General Lee stated that General Ord had agreed
to a suspension of hostilities, and he should ask for the same on this end, of
the line. “Hey! what!” cried General Meade, in his harsh, suspicious voice, “I
have no sort of authority to grant such suspension. General Lee has already
refused the terms of General Grant. Advance your skirmishers, Humphreys, and
bring up your troops. We will pitch into them at once!” But lo! here comes now
General Forsyth, who had ridden through the Rebel army, from General Sheridan
(under a flag), and who now urged a brief suspension. “Well,” said the General,
“in order that you may get back to Sheridan, I will wait till two o'clock, and
then, if I get no communication from General Lee, I shall attack!” So back went
Forsyth, with a variety of notes and despatches. We waited, not without
excitement, for the appointed hour. Meantime, negroes came in and said the
Rebel pickets had thrown down their muskets and gone leisurely to their main
body; also that the Rebels were “done gone give up.” Presently, the General pulled
out his watch and said: “Two o'clock — no answer — go forward.” But they had
not advanced far, before we saw a Rebel and a Union officer coming in. They
bore an order from General Grant to halt the troops. Major Wingate, of General
Lee's Staff, was a military-looking man, dressed in a handsome grey suit with
gold lace, and a gold star upon the collar. He was courageous, but plainly
mortified to the heart. “We had done better to have burnt our whole train three
days ago”; he said bitterly. “In trying to save a train, we have lost an army!”
And there he struck the pith of the thing. And so we continued to wait till
about five, during which time General Humphreys amused us with presents of
Confederate notes, of which we found a barrel full (!) in the Rebel waggons. It
was a strange spectacle, to see the officers laughing and giving each other
$500 notes of a government that has been considered as firmly established by
our English friends!
About five came Major Pease. “The Army of Northern Virginia
has surrendered!” Headed by General Webb, we gave three cheers, and three more
for General Meade. Then he mounted and rode through the 2d and 6th Corps. Such
a scene followed as I can never see again. The soldiers rushed, perfectly
crazy, to the roadside, and there crowding in dense masses, shouted, screamed,
yelled, threw up their hats and hopped madly up and down! The batteries were
run out and began firing, the bands played, the flags waved. The noise of the
cheering was such that my very ears rang. And there was General Meade galloping
about and waving his cap with the best of them! Poor old Robert Lee! His
punishment is too heavy — to hear those cheers, and to remember what he once
was! My little share of this work is done. God willing, before many weeks, or
even days, I shall be at home, to campaign no more!
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 355-8
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