The result of the last week must convince you of the 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.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieut. General.
To this General Lee replied:
I received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the
opinion you express on the hopelessness of further resistance on the
part of the army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to
avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore will treat with you
on terms of surrender.
R. E. LEE,
General.
While this correspondence was carried on, the troops were not idle, and
Sunday morning found both armies again in line at Appomattox Court
House. Writing and fighting at the same time, General Grant showed that
he was more than a match for Lee; just as he would have stopped any
attempt on Lee's part to escape through his lines, so he stopped his
attempt to escape from him. In the afternoon an arrangement was made for
an interview with the rebel General. General Grant offered to parole all
of Lee's army, and give the officers their side arms and private
property. Lee at once accepted this proposition and the fighting ceased,
and the war was practically ended; so in a few days, and by means of a
few short letters, the dreadful contest which had disturbed the country
for four years, was brought to a close, and the whole rebel army was in
our hands.
The troops were fighting at Appomattox Court House, and knew nothing of
the correspondence of Grant and Lee, when orders came for a suspension
of hostilities for two hours. At two o'clock in the afternoon General
Meade rode along the lines, and with hat in hand, exclaimed, "Boys, Lee
has surrendered." At first it was not credited, but coming from the
mouth of General Meade, it could not be doubted, and one continuous
shout was given. The men were in ecstasies, and could scarcely restrain
themselves; tremendous cheers were given and caps were thrown in the
air. Men hugged and squeezed each other, and all felt that the war was
over.
The stipulations for the surrender were carried into effect, and the
rebel army was no longer an organized body of men. Twenty-five thousand
men were all that were left, and ten thousand of them were unarmed. They
were permitted to return to their homes, which they gladly did, and the
army of Northern Virginia ceased to exist. It could scarcely be believed
that Lee had surrendered, and while the men were marching and fighting,
Grant and Lee were in correspondence with each other. Sunday, the 9th of
April, will ever be remembered, especially by the soldiers of the
Potomac army. In the short space of fifteen days, Lee had been driven
from his position in front of Petersburg and compelled to retreat;
Richmond in our possession, and he finally compelled to surrender to
General Grant.
The 5th corps and one division of cavalry were ordered to remain at
Appomattox Court House, until the paroling of the surrendered army was
completed and to take charge of the public property. The remainder of
the army immediately returned to Petersburg, but were ordered to halt at
Burksville and enter camp; the men were greatly in need of rest and
rations. Once more tents were placed on a line as before. Nothing was
talked of but the recent victories, and the people North were rejoicing;
guns were fired throughout the country in honor of our success. Too much
praise cannot be given to the privates and officers of the Potomac army,
and to our noble leader, Grant.
With but one hundred men for duty, the 14th entered camp at Burksville,
with bronzed features and soiled garments, covered with Virginia mud;
they looked for a speedy return to their homes. All that was possible
for them to do they had done, and New Jersey cannot but be proud of such
a noble band of heroic men. Commencing on the river from which the
Potomac army derived its name, until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox
Court House, Virginia, all have a proud record for having done their
full share in restoring our Union as it was.
Johnson had not yet surrendered, and as each day passed reports were
circulated among the men, that the Potomac army was to march in his
rear. Scarcely had the men commenced to rejoice at their success, when
there came a blow that was more terrible than any defeat. In camp at
Burkesville the men little knew what calamity was to befall the nation.
A dispatch was sent from Washington that our beloved President had been
assassinated. Our noble leader who for the last four years had guided
our nation in the midst of war was foully stricken down by the
assassin's hand. Rejoicing was turned into mourning, and the men when
fully aware that Lincoln was no more, were clamorous to move on Gen.
Johnson, and with vows of vengeance, determined if possible to avenge
his death. Gloom now prevailed among the men, as he was beloved by
friend and foe. But a few days before he was at the front, and by his
presence cheered the men on to victory; now he lay in the cold embrace
of death. The Southern leaders, now fleeing from their homes, were the
instigators of this horrible crime. All business was suspended in the
army on the day of his burial. Jeff. Davis had fled, and at Danville
stopped long enough to make a speech. He told his followers that their
cause was not yet lost; that the rebel capital had been evacuated for
the purpose of concentrating their armies; he did not then know that Lee
had surrendered his army to Grant. Remaining a few hours at Danville he
proceeded South, and was finally captured in the disguise of a female--a
fitting end for such a leader.
The men were now anxious to move towards Washington and be mustered out,
as the Potomac army had done its duty; but Johnson had still a large
army, and was in consultation with Gen. Sherman in regard to a
surrender, but no terms could be agreed upon, and it was determined to
crush him. Accordingly, the 6th corps and Sheridan's cavalry were
ordered to move on his rear. On Sunday night, April 23d, the corps was
ordered to be ready to move at daylight, which way the men knew not, but
it was supposed for Washington; but the men soon found out that they
had a hard march before them to Danville, one hundred and twenty miles
distant. In four days the march was made; the sun was very warm, and the
men suffered very much. General Wright, wishing to win more glory, was
anxious to fall on Johnson's rear. He marched the men very fast, until
he was bitterly cursed by them, and with blistered feet and weary limbs
the men plodded on in dust and sun, and were loud in their complaints
against Wright for marching so fast. When in pursuit of Lee, the men
deemed it necessary and did not murmur, but marching thirty miles a day,
for four successive days was more than human nature could bear, when it
was unnecessary. Water was very scarce; often ten and twelve miles were
passed without meeting a stream or well of any kind. Danville was
reached by the 1st division at noon on the fourth day, and was quietly
taken possession of by Gen. Hamlin's brigade. The Union army had never
marched that way, and the Yanks were an object of curiosity to the
negroes. There was considerable of rolling stock in the place which had
not been moved, and was captured. The troops marched through the place
and encamped on the outskirts of the town. One day was given the men to
rest, and orders issued to move again. The corps was but forty miles
from Johnson, and in two days would have been thundering on his rear.
Gen. Wright was very anxious that the corps should win new laurels, but
the men were not, as they had won enough, for if anything was done, the
praise was given the officers and not the men, when they did the work.
The troops were in camp but a few hours, when a dispatch was received by
General Wright with the news of Johnson's surrender; the men were formed
in line and the dispatch read to them. All knew that their marching and
fighting was done, and cheers were given for Sherman and his noble army;
each battery was ordered to fire a salute of thirty-two guns, and the
bands ordered to play national airs. The war was now over and right glad
were the men of it. Home was now talked of, but the men were too weary
to rejoice much. The campaign, from winter quarters to the surrender of
Lee and the march to Danville, had been a hard one. Thirty miles a day
when the war was over was more than the men of the 6th corps wished for,
and Gen. Wright lost much of the respect due him, as he was in command,
and such marching was needless.
Danville is a town of some importance, forty miles from Goldsboro, the
scene of Johnson's surrender. Had he not surrendered as soon as he did,
he would have heard the thunder of the artillery and musketry of the 6th
corps in his rear in less than forty-eight hours; but the men were not
anxious to move further south, and remained quietly in camp. At this
place the rebels had a large house where the Union prisoners were kept.
The graveyard where they were buried was visited by the men; the most of
them had died of starvation and cruel treatment. About seven thousand
were crowded in a small lot; it will ever remain a curse to the South,
showing the cruel treatment our men received at their hands.
The troops remained in camp at Danville until the 16th of May, when
orders came to move; leaving camp at four in the morning, marching
through Danville, and placed on baggage cars, riding one hundred and
sixty miles all day and all night, to Richmond. The day was warm and
dusty, and the ride very tedious, as the men were in open cars; crossed
Staunton River on a bridge built by our forces since the occupation of
Danville, passing the old camp at Burksville, reaching Richmond on the
morning of the 17th, and entering camp near Manchester, remained there
eight days. The other corps were at Washington with Sherman's army, and
were paid off and mustered out as rapidly as possible. The 6th corps,
always first in action, was the last to go home; their work was now
done, and all were anxious to return to their homes. Camp life passed
very pleasantly, and passes were given the men to visit Richmond. Rebel
officers and soldiers were numerous, and were loitering around with
feelings of hatred towards the Union soldiers; they were whipped but not
subdued, and to-day the same feeling exists in the South as it did four
years ago.
The remainder of the troops were now at Washington, and Gen. Wright did
all he could to get transportation for his corps; but the authorities at
Washington were not willing, and the men ware compelled to march. When
Washington was threatened by Early, the 6th corps was transported there
in a hurry; but now the war was over, and with hundreds of transports
lying at City Point, the men were not allowed to ride. The distance was
one hundred and twenty miles, the sun warm and the roads muddy from
recent rains. The 24th army corps of the army of the James was still at
Richmond doing guard duty, with headquarters at the former residence of
Jeff. Davis.
On Monday, March 24, the corps was ordered to move for Washington,
marching out at three o'clock, passing in review at Manchester and at
Richmond, crossing the James on pontoons. After marching through the
principal streets, the troops took the road to Washington, marching that
day twenty miles, the roads in some places almost impassable, several
teams sticking in the mud; passed the works thrown up by McClellan in
the Peninsula campaign, crossing the Chickahominy River and Stony Creek,
and halting for the night at Hanover Court House. We moved out the next
day on the same road the army was on one year ago; then after the enemy,
trying to take Richmond, now with the war over, bound for home. The day
was very warm, and the men fell out by hundreds; many were sunstruck,
several dying. At night the column halted at Chesterfield Station,
having marched twenty miles since morning.
On the 29th the rain fell in torrents, wetting the men to the skin; the
roads were in a horrible condition, the mud knee-deep. The weather had
suddenly changed and it was very cold; the men were as wet as they could
be. At 9 o'clock the troops moved out; the marching was very slow as the
men ware nearly worn out, having done nothing but march since last
winter quarters. But ten miles were made that day, the men entering camp
at dark. Shelter tents were hastily put up, but the damp ground was a
hard place to lie for tired and weary man, but the men did not care, as
the war was over and they were homeward bound. The corps was now stuck
in the mud and could not move; this was the last march, and a hard one
it was. The men lay in camp until the roads were nearly dried, which did
not take long, as the sandy roads of Virginia did not long remain muddy
with the hot sun to dry them; two days were spent in camp. Six days were
given Gen. Wright to march from Richmond to Washington, but it could not
be done. The rations were giving out, the men having nothing but
hard-tack and coffee.
On Monday, the 29th, the roads were in better condition, and the troops
moved out. The day was cool, marching in eight hours twenty miles to
Fredericksburg, arriving there at noon, crossed the Mat Ta Po and Nye
Rivers, these four streams forming the Mattapony River. Headquarters
were near the city on the Heights where Generals Burnside and Hooker
fought in '62 and '63. The next day the march was resumed, the 3d
division in the rear, passed through Fredericksburg, a very pretty
place, but now nearly every house bore the marks of shells; the place
was in a very dilapidated condition. The column crossed the
Rappahannock on pontoons, marching sixteen miles, wading Aquia Creek,
camping in a field at four o'clock. On the 31st, the 3d division was in
the centre, marching eighteen miles very fast, arriving in camp at three
o'clock. Hard-tack, coffee and sugar were issued the men at night. On
June 1st the headquarter wagons were sent ahead, marching eighteen
miles, and encamping near Fairfax Court House. The next day fourteen
miles were made, passing the Potomac army lying quietly in their camp,
anxiously awaiting orders to be mustered out. Tents were pitched on a
line at Bailey's Cross Roads, eight miles from Washington, having been
ten days coming from Richmond, two days stuck in the mud.
The marching and fighting were now over, and the men entered camp with
the expectation of soon seeing their homes. The remaining corps were
soon mustered out as rapidly as possible, and the officers of the
different regiments were working day and night on the muster rolls. The
weather was very warm and dry, and rations poor. The nearer the troops
were to Washington the poorer were the rations they had to eat. The
detached men from the regiment were now ordered back, and the new
recruits transferred to the 2d New Jersey with two hundred and thirty
men; all that remained of the old 14th New Jersey were ready to return
home.
On Thursday, June 8th, the 6th corps was reviewed in Washington in
presence of President Johnson and other leading officials. At four
o'clock in the morning the men moved out of camp, marching to
Washington. At nine o'clock the column was formed; the men were neatly
brushed, with muskets in fine order and wearing white gloves, crossing
Long Bridge and passing in review down Pennsylvania avenue. The sun was
intensely hot, and in the crowded streets the men suffered very much;
many were sunstruck and died. The men were not used to pavements, nor to
marching in close order. After the review the troops returned to their
respective camps, having marched twenty miles since leaving camp; it was
more than a day's march, and very hard on the men. Soon the muster rolls
were ready, and were sent into headquarters for inspection; they were
pronounced correct, and preparations were made to muster out the men as
soon as possible. The rolls of the 14th were ready first, and they were
the first to leave for their homes.
Seventeen days had elapsed since the corps arrived at Washington. On
the afternoon of June 19th, the regiment was formed in line and marched
to headquarters, and was mustered out of the United States service.
Soldiering in the field was now done, and with happy hearts the men
returned to their quarters. At midnight the long roll was beaten and the
regiment ordered to move at daylight, marching to Washington, passing
through Georgetown. The men were placed on baggage cars, but did not get
off until night, arriving in Philadelphia on the morning of the 21st. A
good breakfast was given the men by the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon.
Three cheers for the ladies of Philadelphia were given, and the regiment
marched to the ferry, crossing over to Camden and taking the cars for
Trenton, forty miles distant, arriving at noon. The ladies of the place
gave the war-worn veterans a hearty welcome and a warm reception. A
splendid dinner was provided, and the men enjoyed it much; such a dinner
was indeed a feast, such as the men had not seen for many a long day,
after which they were marched to the barracks and ordered in. At first
they refused to go, but the promise of a speedy payment was
satisfactory, and the men entered, remaining all night; the next day
forming in line and marching through the principal streets; everywhere
the regiment was greeted with cheers. Another dinner was served, and
speeches made by Governor Parker, Lieut.-Colonel Hall, and others. The
men then returned to the barracks, and passes were given them for five
days. All were in good spirits, and were glad they were again in their
native State.
The regiment had bean gone nearly three years, leaving New Jersey with
nine hundred and fifty active men; two hundred and thirty returned.
During that time, having participated in numerous battles and
skirmishes, fighting each time with that bravery for which the New
Jersey troops were noted for. In that time the regiment had traveled by
rail one thousand and fifty miles, by water six hundred and twenty-eight
miles, and on foot two thousand and fifteen miles. At the expiration of
five days the men returned, and on the 20th of June, 1865, received
their final payment by Major Newell, after passing through almost
incredible hardships, participating in all the battles of the Potomac
Army from Gettysburg to the surrender of Lee, leaving more than one half
of their men on Southern soil, their bones now bleaching in the sun. The
men were soon to separate and return to their homes. The clash of arms
and the groans of the wounded and dying would no more be heard, and
those that were left would soon engage in the active pursuits of life,
and war forgotten. The 14th New Jersey, a noble regiment, will ever be
remembered by the people of the State as the defenders of our Union and
Constitution.