A Story Of Lee's Surrender

Leo might have esoaped but for n. woman's boa4ing ; and 111 teil you the story whii'h h:s never been printed, and whicb I know to be üuo, fer General 8abfookj its hüro, told nio of it himself. Afler the eVaeuation of Ricbínond Ihiiv wus at once a swift and eager pursuit of the retreating robels. Grant and Sheridan bad lmd most sueeessfully the plan by whicb they hoped to forcé Lee to an imrnediate surrenuef. ïhey had cut off, as far as possible, all arailable linea of retreat; yet, alert and vigilant, theírforcts were kept ready for any new omergeney. On the "th of April thoy wore suro that Lee was liniing to reach Danvillo ; and aecordingly Sberidnn with his forcea moved rapidly forward todefeat that purpose. Grant, with his staft" and several otber officere, halted for the night at a j)l.int:itum, denianding rest and refreshniftit. It was ncarly dark ; they were jaded and worn out with tbe fieroe excitement oí the preceding days and tho hard ridinir, and cared very little whetbrr tlK-ir host was Bnrly or kind. Buppei wus dispatched speedilv; guards and sentries wt're ])osted, orders issued for an early breiikí'ast, and tbeu thotiiuil mett stretch. ■ ing tin mselves rherever thay might, took the sorely needed repose. During the preparation of their Sttpper, and once aflerward, a tall and elegant lady had been visible ; but Bhe vouchsafed no word or look to the Yankee officere, andevidently sought, by her haughty and disdaiiiful boaring, to maku them feel how unwelcome was their ptesence. Possessing perhapa moro vitality or V'fïH.'T ■ ■ ■ ' "t fíncl hiim.olf ÏO ;is tlifi rost; so, aeting as suntiiie), he paced up and down the hall, running ii Southern fashion through the house. - Toe seivants had retired and none of the tamily were visible ; but through a partly opened door he saw the giow of a firo and a glimpso of a pretty room which woke strong memories of home. Y ou must remembur that tlieir caiup duty had been especially Brduous, and all social plcasure where ludias were a foaturn had been deniod them for months. The general is a gallant man ; so, af'ter pussiug that door two or three times, he uóolly topped on the casing. Tho lady wimiii he liad noticed answered hÍ3 knock and witha very haughty aspect demanded his errand. Not a whit daunted, tlie General bowed, and sómothinü; like tho following colloquy took place: " Madam, 1 am afniid yqu will doom me vcry impertücnt, but it will bezny duty to iace thiahall foran hour. The gUuipse I could not help snatching of youir bright fiie and eozy room has given iue a vivid picture of my own home, as I loft it long ago. To-morrow Ieipecfcto beinbattle; and though you regard me as your enemy, can you not torgft it for tm hour, and ullow to the gentleman what you might deny to the Yankee? It is long sincu I have had the pleasure of BpeaMng to a lady ; and ii' you will loave this door ojen and allow me ncrw and then a few words, 1 shall account it a great favor." Btlterïy hating tliose Nortbern offioers and smarting at the f all of Ricnmoud, the lady carne voy neai a refusal ; but the Genera] is a handsoine man, and his eyes wure wleiiding t'jr iiim wliilo he spoku. The roman ooalont resist, il' tue rebol could. . So the door remainod wide open, and each time the öeneral neared it he was ready witli BOBoe pretty speech or droll jest, ofton winning briglit replies, and unce or twice a merry laugh. Ilis usefnl eyes now spied a oheí.s table; and as his watoh -as conchuled, with easy audacity lic proposed to try the game. - Th(' lady consented and they commoncod At length the game deepened in inter est. The lady's queen was in danger; there waa just one chance ot' safety for ljeri i„ ueral had begun to regard the game as significant of the rea! contcst in progress, and he watohed with intens'! interest to see what the ivxt move would be. The lady was in ( too. With her finger she traoed out possible chances for soape; and l'ouud them worthless. Sinlibu I y Bhe laughed ïnerrily, answering to his thought, and ticrasry siiiti: " You ncedn't be exultant yet, sir, if you are alinost sure of winning. Doubtoü think you have me trapped, just is your Gen. Grant l'aneies our Ij e is Burely netted. But 1 ree my way out, and o doet Lee ! Vm not checkmated yet, inid your army plans will prove juilc M futilo as your hopes of winning thisgamc Sec, I can move so, and tben taking your pawn, I'ra - wliy I I thought I eould escape this way. Fairly beaten, sir ; ita no use ! But you won't find our old warrior so easy to cbeclcmate, ii' I mi eoaquered ; and since it can do no harni r.ow, 11 1 tel] you what a nice little blunder your Bhár idan has made. 11; feela very gure that Lee is rotreating towards Danvüle ; but to-morrow moming will sec our torces gan bhyónd Appomatox, and yon must play another ganio beforu you win. Lee , and hls stail' were our wc-lcouie guests last night." The General was startli -d and amazed, l.-i,! wisely kept fran bétraying his surprise, aml answered as it' very weary : " Oh, please let na forget the army just. now. lf Grant has made a miatake it is not my business, and you ciin't in. what a delight thia aveiiing has been to me. I shall novcr foïgetit; aml whei this conflict shall close, I shall hope to re dcw your ueqnaintaraoe. Welaaveat s early au hom that I shall not seo you agaia, so 1 must say mygood-by with ui thanks." " l'm suro I am eqnauy your debtor, " n-raciousiy replied the lady. " It is not Ut' -n that I meel Q ntlemen iiow, and for your sake I shall think kss bitterly of our conquerors. Good night." Little cared the General then for military rule. Always a favcrite with Grant he riskcd litUcitt the rudo wakeningwhich he now gave the aleeping chieftain, and his informa tion was whispered in a low, hurried tone. Grant thought a moment; líig plana had been carefully niaturcd ; he had thought his infonnutiou certain ; but if' Lee liad really passed the previous night at that rery farm houset lie could not be aiming fof Danville, and the lady's story muí-t be truc. Mean w tile General Babeock stole quietly out, ealently aroused messengors, sidilli.il horses, and carefnlly inarked tho appearanco of things aliout the enolosureo. it was evident that a party than theirs had staycd tbere Iately, for the soft earth was donted and torn with the tread oí' horses' féet everywhere, and tho refuse of their feeding -was scattered on all sides. Eeturning tothehousoí lio found Grant with dispatcheB roady, aud mounting with but two coropanies he rodo away to find Sheridan. 1 fmuy tliat was a rido worth taking, nndertUe stars, with the silence of íuidnight tbout hiin, in an enemy's country, bcaring the orders v.-iii 'i would, he devoutly hoped, turn and si.iy tíie btorm of battle, that had so sorely gmitten the land, and watching with struining oyes for tho ílrst outposts of Sheridan'a forces. Challenge and countersígn wero rapidly given and exehanged as they pasaed the pickets, and Sheridiui was roaohed in time. Qreeiey in his history briefly saya of tho preceding day's pursuit: " This was a niiscaleulation," and then adds, "pursuit was rosuinedby all hands on the inorning of the Kth - the second and sixtli corps, urider ileade, moving Jiorth of the .ppoinatoz or directly in tha trail of the enemy, whilo SÜeridan, undcceived as to Lee's making for Danvillo, lod his cavnlry to hoad him off f rom Lynehburg, his only romaining reftige." lic does not teil how Sheridan was " uudceoived," but theso woro the facts in tUe case.