LINCOLN'S LACONIC DESPATCHâCAPTURING LEE'S SUPPLIESâDELIGHTED
ENGINEERSâTHE CONFEDERATES' LAST EFFORTâA FLAG OF TRUCEâGENERAL GEARY'S
"LAST DITCH" ABSURDITYâMEETING OF GRANT AND LEEâTHE SURRENDERâESTIMATE
OF GENERAL GRANT.
The first report of the battle of Sailor's Creek that General Grant
received was, as already stated, an oral message carried by Colonel
Price, of my staff. Near midnight I sent a despatch giving the names
of the generals captured. These were Ewell, Kershaw, Barton, Corse,
Dubose, and Custis Lee. In the same despatch I wrote: "If the thing is
pressed, I think that Lee will surrender." When Mr. Lincoln, at City
Point, received this word from General Grant, who was transmitting
every item of news to the President, he telegraphed Grant the laconic
message: "Let the thing be pressed." The morning of the 7th we moved
out at a very early hour, Crook's division marching toward Farmville in
direct pursuit, while Merritt and Mackenzie were ordered to Prince
Edward's Court House to anticipate any effort Lee might make to escape
through that place toward Danville since it had been discovered that
Longstreet had slipped away already from the front of General Ord's
troops at Rice's Station. Crook overtook the main body of the
Confederates at Farmville, and promptly attacked their trains on the
north side of the Appomattox with Gregg's brigade, which was fiercely
turned upon and forced to re-cross the river with the loss of a number
of prisoner's, among them Gregg himself. When Crook sent word of this
fight, it was clear that Lee had abandoned all effort to escape to the
southwest by way of Danville. Lynchburg was undoubtedly his objective
point now; so, resolving to throw my cavalry again across his path, and
hold him till the infantry could overtake him, I directed everything on
Appomattox depot, recalling Crook the night of the 7th to Prospect
Station, while Merritt camped at Buffalo Creek, and Mackenzie made a
reconnoissance along the Lynchburg railroad.
At break of day, April 8, Merritt and Mackenzie united with Crook at
Prospect Station, and the cavalry all moved then toward Appomattox
depot. Hardly had it started when one of the scoutsâSergeant
Whiteâinformed me that there were four trains of cars at the depot
loaded with supplies for Lee's army; these had been sent from
Lynchburg, in compliance with the telegram of Lee's commissary-general,
which message, it will be remembered, was captured and transmitted to
Lynchburg by two of Young's scouts on the 4th. Sergeant White, who had
been on the lookout for the trains ever since sending the despatch,
found them several miles west of Appomattox depot feeling their way
along, in ignorance of Lee's exact position. As he had the original
despatch with him, and took pains to dwell upon the pitiable condition
of Lee's army, he had little difficulty in persuading the men in charge
of the trains to bring them east of Appomattox Station, but fearing
that the true state of affairs would be learned before long, and the
trains be returned to Lynchburg, he was painfully anxious to have them
cut off by breaking the track west of the station.
The intelligence as to the trains was immediately despatched to Crook,
and I pushed on to join him with Merritt's command. Custer having the
advance, moved rapidly, and on nearing the station detailed two
regiments to make a detour southward to strike the railroad some
distance beyond and break the track. These regiments set off at a
gallop, and in short order broke up the railroad enough to prevent the
escape of the trains, Custer meanwhile taking possession of the
station, but none too soon, for almost at the moment he did so the
advance-guard of Lee's army appeared, bent on securing the trains.
Without halting to look after the cars further, Custer attacked this
advance-guard and had a spirited fight, in which he drove the
Confederates away from the station, captured twenty-five pieces of
artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons, which, in the
hope that they would reach Lynchburg next day, were being pushed ahead
of Lee's main body.
Devin coming up a little before dusk, was put in on the right of
Custer, and one of Crook's brigades was sent to our left and the other
two held in reserve. I then forced the enemy back on the Appomattox
road to the vicinity of the Court House, and that the Confederates
might have no rest, gave orders to continue the skirmishing throughout
the night. Meanwhile the captured trains had been taken charge of by
locomotive engineers, soldiers of the command, who were delighted
evidently to get back at their old calling. They amused themselves by
running the trains to and fro, creating much confusion, and keeping up
such an unearthly screeching with the whistles that I was on the point
of ordering the cars burned. They finally wearied of their fun,
however, and ran the trains off to the east toward General Ord's
column.
The night of the 8th I made my headquarters at a little frame house
just south of the station. I did not sleep at all, nor did anybody
else, the entire command being up all night long; indeed, there had
been little rest in the, cavalry for the past eight days. The
necessity of getting Ord's column up was so obvious now that
staff-officer after staff-officer was sent to him and to General Grant
requesting that the infantry be pushed on, for if it could get to the
front, all knew that the rebellion would be ended on the morrow.
Merritt, Crook, Custer, and Devin were present at frequent intervals
during the night, and everybody was overjoyed at the prospect that our
weary work was about to end so happily. Before sun-up General Ord
arrived, and informed me of the approach of his column, it having been
marching the whole night. As he ranked me, of course I could give him
no orders, so after a hasty consultation as to where his troops should
be placed we separated, I riding to the front to overlook my line near
Appomattox Court House, while he went back to urge along his weary
troops.
The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal
generals, when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon
should undertake to break through my cavalry, and when I neared my
troops this movement was beginning, a heavy line of infantry bearing
down on us from the direction of the village. In front of Crook and
Mackenzie firing had already begun, so riding to a slight elevation
where a good view of the Confederates could be had, I there came to the
conclusion that it would be unwise to offer more resistance than that
necessary to give Ord time to form, so I directed Merritt to fall back,
and in retiring to shift Devin and Custer to the right so as to make
room for Ord, now in the woods to my rear. Crook, who with his own and
Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme left covering some by-roads,
was ordered to hold his ground as long as practicable without
sacrificing his men, and, if forced to retire, to contest with
obstinacy the enemy's advance.
As already stated, I could not direct General Ord's course, he being my
senior, but hastily galloping back to where he was, at the edge of the
timber, I explained to him what was taking place at the front.
Merritt's withdrawal inspired the Confederates, who forthwith began to
press Crook, their line of battle advancing with confidence till it
reached the crest whence I had reconnoitred them. From this ground
they could see Ord's men emerging from the woods, and the hopelessness
of a further attack being plain, the gray lines instinctively halted,
and then began to retire toward a ridge immediately fronting Appomattox
Court House, while Ord, joined on his right by the Fifth Corps,
advanced on them over the ground that Merritt had abandoned.
I now directed my steps toward Merritt, who, having mounted his
troopers, had moved them off to the right, and by the time I reached
his headquarters flag he was ready for work, so a move on the enemy's
left was ordered, and every guidon was bent to the front. As the
cavalry marched along parallel with the Confederate line, and in toward
its left, a heavy fire of artillery opened on us, but this could not
check us at such a time, and we soon reached some high ground about
half a mile from the Court House, and from here I could see in the low
valley beyond the village the bivouac undoubtedly of Lee's army. The
troops did not seem to be disposed in battle order, but on the other
side of the bivouac was a line of battleâa heavy
rear-guardâconfronting, presumably, General Meade.
I decided to attack at once, and formations were ordered at a trot for
a charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading to
the camps. Custer was soon ready, but Devin's division being in rear
its formation took longer, since he had to shift further to the right;
Devin's preparations were, therefore, but partially completed when an
aide-decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer, "Lee has
surrendered; do not charge; the white flag is up." The enemy
perceiving that Custer was forming for attack, had sent the flag out to
his front and stopped the charge just in time. I at once sent word of
the truce to General Ord, and hearing nothing more from Custer himself,
I supposed that he had gone down to the Court House to join a mounted
group of Confederates that I could see near there, so I, too, went
toward them, galloping down a narrow ridge, staff and orderlies
following; but we had not got half way to the Court House when, from a
skirt of timber to our right, not more than three hundred yards
distant, a musketry fire was opened on us. This halted us, when,
waving my hat, I called out to the firing party that we were under a
truce, and they were violating it. This did not stop them, however, so
we hastily took shelter in a ravine so situated as to throw a ridge
between us and the danger.
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We traveled in safety down this depression to its mouth, and thence by
a gentle ascent approached the Court House. I was in advance, followed
by a sergeant carrying my battleflag. When I got within about a
hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line, which was immediately in
front of the Court House, some of the Confederates leveled their pieces
at us, and I again halted. Their officers kept their men from firing,
however, but meanwhile a single-handed contest had begun behind me, for
on looking back I heard a Confederate soldier demanding my battle-flag
from the color-bearer, thinking, no doubt, that we were coming in as
prisoners. The sergeant had drawn his sabre and was about to cut the
man down, but at a word from me he desisted and carried the flag back
to my staff, his assailant quickly realizing that the boot was on the
other leg.
These incidents determined me to remain where I was till the return of
a staff-officer whom I had sent over to demand an explanation from the
group of Confederates for which I had been heading. He came back in a
few minutes with apologies for what had occurred, and informed me that
General Gordon and General Wilcox were the superior officers in the
group. As they wished me to join them I rode up with my staff, but we
had hardly met when in front of Merritt firing began. At the sound I
turned to General Gordon, who seemed embarrassed by the occurrence, and
remarked: "General, your men fired on me as I was coming over here, and
undoubtedly they are treating Merritt and Custer the same way. We
might as well let them fight it out." He replied, "There must be some
mistake." I then asked, "Why not send a staff-officer and have your
people cease firing; they are violating the flag." He answered, "I have
no staff-officer to send." Whereupon I said that I would let him have
one of mine, and calling for Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen, I directed
him to carry General Gordon's orders to General Geary, commanding a
small brigade of South Carolina cavalry, to discontinue firing. Allen
dashed off with the message and soon delivered it, but was made a
prisoner, Geary saying, "I do not care for white flags: South
Carolinians never surrender...." By this time Merritt's patience being
exhausted, he ordered an attack, and this in short order put an end to
General Geary's "last ditch" absurdity, and extricated Allen from his
predicament.
When quiet was restored Gordon remarked: "General Lee asks for a
suspension of hostilities pending the negotiations which he is having
with General Grant." I rejoined: "I have been constantly informed of
the progress of the negotiations, and think it singular that while such
discussions are going on, General Lee should have continued his march
and attempted to break through my lines this morning. I will entertain
no terms except that General Lee shall surrender to General Grant on
his arrival here. If these terms are not accepted we will renew
hostilities." Gordon replied: "General Lee's army is exhausted. There
is no doubt of his surrender to General Grant."
It was then that General Ord joined us, and after shaking hands all
around, I related the situation to him, and Gordon went away agreeing
to meet us again in half an hour. When the time was up he came back
accompanied by General Longstreet, who brought with him a despatch, the
duplicate of one that had been sent General Grant through General
Meade's lines back on the road over which Lee had been retreating.
General Longstreet renewed the assurances that already had been given
by Gordon, and I sent Colonel Newhall with the despatch to find General
Grant and bring him to the front. When Newhall started, everything on
our side of the Appomattox Court House was quiet, for inevitable
surrender was at hand, but Longstreet feared that Meade, in ignorance
of the new conditions on my front might attack the Confederate
rearguard. To prevent this I offered to send Colonel J. W. Forsyth
through the enemy's lines to let Meade know of my agreement, for he too
was suspicious that by a renewed correspondence Lee was endeavoring to
gain time for escape. My offer being accepted, Forsyth set out
accompanied by Colonel Fairfax, of Longstreet's staff, and had no
difficulty in accomplishing his mission.
About five or six miles from Appomattox, on the road toward Prospect
Station near its intersection with the Walker's Church road, my
adjutant-general, Colonel Newhall, met General Grant, he having started
from north of the Appomattox River for my front the morning of April 9,
in consequence of the following despatches which had been sent him the
night before, after we had captured Appomattox Station and established
a line intercepting Lee:
"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, April 8, 1865â9:20 P. M.
"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,
"Commanding Armies of the U. S.
"General: I marched early this morning from Buffalo Creek and Prospect
Station on Appomattox Station, where my scouts had reported trains of
cars with supplies for Lee's army. A short time before dark General
Custer, who had the advance, made a dash at the station, capturing four
trains of supplies with locomotives. One of the trains was burned and
the others were run back toward Farmville for security. Custer then
pushed on toward Appomattox Court House, driving the enemyâwho kept up
a heavy fire of artilleryâcharging them repeatedly and capturing, as
far as reported, twenty-five pieces of artillery and a number of
prisoners and wagons. The First Cavalry Division supported him on the
right. A reconnoissance sent across the Appomattox reports the enemy
moving on the Cumberland road to Appomattox Station, where they expect
to get supplies. Custer is still pushing on. If General Gibbon and
the Fifth Corps can get up to-night, we will perhaps finish the job in
the morning. I do not think Lee means to surrender until compelled to
do so.
"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General."
"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, April 8, 1865â9:40 p.m.
"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
"Commanding Armies U. S.
"GENERAL: Since writing the accompanying despatch, General Custer
reports that his command has captured in all thirty-five pieces of
artillery, one thousand prisonersâincluding one general officerâand
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wagons.
"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General."
In attempting to conduct the lieutenant-general and staff back by a
short route, Newhall lost his bearings for a time, inclining in toward
the enemy's lines too far, but regained the proper direction without
serious loss of time. General Grant arrived about 1 o'clock in the
afternoon, Ord and I, dismounted, meeting him at the edge of the town,
or crossroads, for it was little more. He remaining mounted, spoke
first to me, saying simply,
"How are you, Sheridan?" I assured him with thanks that I was
"first-rate," when, pointing toward the village, he asked, "Is General
Lee up there?" and I replied: "There is his army down in that valley,
and he himself is over in that house (designating McLean's house)
waiting to surrender to you." The General then said, "Come, let us go
over," this last remark being addressed to both Ord and me. We two then
mounted and joined him, while our staff-officers followed,
intermingling with those of the general-in-chief as the cavalcade took
its way to McLean's house near by, and where General Lee had arrived
some time before, in consequence of a message from General Grant
consenting to the interview asked for by Lee through Meade's front that
morningâthe consent having been carried by Colonel Babcock.
When I entered McLean's house General Lee was standing, as was also his
military secretary, Colonel Marshall, his only staff-officer present.
General Lee was dressed in a new uniform and wore a handsome sword.
His tall, commanding form thus set off contrasted strongly with the
short figure of General Grant, clothed as he was in a soiled suit,
without sword or other insignia of his position except a pair of dingy
shoulder-straps. After being presented, Ord and I, and nearly all of
General Grant's staff, withdrew to await the agreement as to terms, and
in a little while Colonel Babcock came to the door and said, "The
surrender had been made; you can come in again."
When we re-entered General Grant was writing; and General Lee, having
in his hand two despatches, which I that morning requested might be
returned, as I had no copies of them, addressed me with the remark: "I
am sorry. It is probable that my cavalry at that point of the line did
not fully understand the agreement." These despatches had been sent in
the forenoon, after the fighting had been stopped, notifying General
Lee that some of his cavalry in front of Crook was violating the
suspension of hostilities by withdrawing. About 3 o'clock in the
afternoon the terms of surrender were written out and accepted, and
General Lee left the house, as he departed cordially shaking hands with
General Grant. A moment later he mounted his chunky gray horse, and
lifting his hat as he passed out of the yard, rode off toward his army,
his arrival there being announced to us by cheering, which, as it
progressed, varying in loudness, told he was riding through the bivouac
of the Army of Northern Virginia.
The surrender of General Lee practically ended the war of the
rebellion. For four years his army had been the main-stay of the
Confederacy; and the marked ability with which he directed its
operations is evidenced both by his frequent successes and the length
of time he kept up the contest. Indeed, it may be said that till
General Grant was matched against him, he never met an opponent he did
not vanquish, for while it is true that defeat was inflicted on the
Confederates at Antietam and Gettysburg, yet the fruits of these
victories were not gathered, for after each of these battles Lee was
left unmolested till he had a chance to recuperate.
The assignment of General Grant to the command of the Union armies in
the winter of 1863-64 gave presage of success from the start, for his
eminent abilities had already been proved, and besides, he was a tower
of strength to the Government, because he had the confidence of the
people. They knew that henceforth systematic direction would be given
to our armies in every section of the vast territory over which active
operations were being prosecuted, and further, that this coherence,
this harmony of plan, was the one thing needed to end the war, for in
the three preceding years there had been illustrated most lamentable
effects of the absence of system. From the moment he set our armies in
motion simultaneously, in the spring of 1864, it could be seen that we
should be victorious ultimately, for though on different lines we were
checked now and then, yet we were harassing the Confederacy at so many
vital points that plainly it must yield to our blows. Against Lee's
army, the forefront of the Confederacy, Grant pitted himself; and it
may be said that the Confederate commander was now, for the first time,
overmatched, for against all his devicesâthe products of a mind fertile
in defenseâGeneral Grant brought to bear not only the wealth of
expedient which had hitherto distinguished him, but also an
imperturbable tenacity, particularly in the Wilderness and on the march
to the James, without which the almost insurmountable obstacles of that
campaign could not have been overcome. During it and in the siege of
Petersburg he met with many disappointmentsâon several occasions the
shortcomings of generals, when at the point of success, leading to
wretched failures. But so far as he was concerned, the only apparent
effect of these discomfitures was to make him all the more determined
to discharge successfully the stupendous trust committed to his care,
and to bring into play the manifold resources of his well ordered
military mind. He guided every subordinate then, and in the last days
of the rebellion, with a fund of common sense and superiority of
intellect, which have left an impress so distinct as to exhibit his
great personality. When his military history is analyzed after the
lapse of years, it will show, even more clearly than now, that during
these as well as in his previous campaigns he was the steadfast Centre
about and on which everything else turned.