... Surrender

Tlie lnllowing graphic description of an historical eveut was written by a Confedérate Chaplain by the name ol Davis. It will be found interestingreading to the general public but more especially to the boys who once wore the blue : "The eventful day, Sunday, April 9, 1865, dawned upon us. A night's rest had greatly refreshed the worn-out confederates. The line of march was taken up just after the first gleam of Hght showed itself in the east. Karly's old división, composed of two North Carolina brigades and one from Virginia, took the front under Brig. Gen. Walker. Fighting was expected. The confedérate sharpshooters who composed the skirmish line, had scarcely passed the Court House, which is a small village, when they carne in contact with the Federal pickets. A lively fusilarte ensued. The line of battle was quickly formed under the eye of Gen. Gordon. The battle soon became furious. The first line of federal troops was soon broken and driven back with loss. I was sitting upon a bank by the roadside notinfi events in my diary, when at 8 : 30 o'clock, two captured batteries of eral artillery - eight guns - were driven by me going to the rear. In a few ïnonienta the tire in the rear ceased, and I could discover our troops falling back, and taking up new positions by brigade to the rear. At the same time a white flag, borne by a couple of federal officers at full speed, carne out from the Court House, and went to the rear and met Gen. Lee where our baggage wagons were packed at the couimencement of the action. In a few minutes auother white flag, borne by a couple of confedérate officers, was djspátched to the Court Hoase. The road was quickly cleared of every obstruction, and guards placed along'it to keep everybody out of it, that the flagbearers might pass from one point to another at full speed. At this period the excitement among the confedérate troops became intense, as it was well understood the confedérate army wason the point of being surrendered. Many 8eemed anxious of being led forward to conquer or die on the field. Desperation seemed to take hold of the men, or else the rnen were overeóme by desperation. I quickly resolved that I would not be included in the surrender, and formed a plan with a choice spirit to escape from the field and take care of myself. One o'clock p. m. was the hour at which I was to strike for liberty or safety. Unwilling to act covertly in the matter, at 12 o'clock a. m. I went to my brigade commander and asked him if he thought such a step on my part would compromise my honor in the brigade. He replied: "Considering the relation you sustain to your regiment, I think you would better maintain your honor by abiding its fate." His answer subdued me, and at once I abandoned my plan of escape. Bnt numbers did escape, and in no case did I hear of a failure on the part of any who made the attempt. The first fïag from Gen. Grant to Gen. Lee canie at 8 o'clock a. m. by watch. These flags continued to pass and repass until 4 p. m. History often represents things strangely. History givea Gen. Grant's first letter on this day to Gen. Lee at 12 : 30 p. in., when I have no doubt Gen. Lee received Gen. Grant's first note at 8:80 a. m. The morning had been bright and fair. By noon dark and gloomy clouds had gathered over the whole face of the sky. Ml nature around us seeined to harmonize with our feelings. Sadness and gloom were impressed upon all things, both anímate and inanimate. Men were growing desperate ; offlcera were breaking their swords to piecea to avoid the dishonor of surrendering them. Maj. Gen. G. W. Pickett, who had led the storming column on the third day at Gettysburg, tore un his flag and wore it around his shoulders. Men have feelings. They cannot control these feelings at all times and under all cireumstances. My brigade surgeon came to me and urged me to preach a discourse to the troops. I, too, liad feelings, and declinéd what I conld duly regard as a duty. At 4 : 30 p. in. the Second army corps was formed in a close column to hear the terms of surrender. We were addressed by Gen. Gordon, who sat upon his horse in front with his hat in his hand, in the most moving and impressive speech to which I ever listened. Circumstances gave it force and character. During his delivery men could be seen weeping upon every side. Men who bad faced death on many battlofields, and had fought with manly firmness from Buil Run to Appomatox, were breaking down under the force of that terrible word, surrender. But the brave can weep as well as fight for their country. Upon going to the división ordinance wagons I found the lieutenantcoinmander weeping like a child. Addressing me, he said : "I have fought the Yankees from the beginning untü now, and to surrender to them is more than I can bear. It seenis like it will break my heart." Hope was dead. The grave was ready. lts funeral solemnities were too weighty for the brave. Night came on. But what a night ! Such stealin as took place I uever read or heard of beforo. It seemed as if everything that could bc stolen was stolen. Just before the sun went down a subalteru of the quartermaster's department, whose condition bespoke au excess of whisky, stepped up to me and with much earnestness said: "I teil you the confederaey is gone up. Now Jeff Davis owes you and me a pretty good eum of rnoney. Suppose that, as soon as it gets dark, we go to the wagons, get a norse apiece, and strike out for home ? If we don't do that we will never get a cent." I had to decline the offer of my would-be friend. On the next day I bought a horse for $1, a bridle for $5, and B saddle for $60. My $1 steed would have borne, with the exception of his eyes, some resemblance to the charger rode by the Knight of La Mancha. On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 12th, our parole papers were anuounced as ready, and were all duly signed, aud by the surrender we were permitted to go home. Ün Wednesday morniug the confedérate army was to stack arms. At sanrise the Second army corpa was paraded for the last time. Early's división led by Gen. Walker, took the front. He rode one of the finest horses I saw in the whole army, and placed himself in the march at the head of the división. My place was in the rear of rny brigade with the surgeons. But we wei-e now passing under the yoke," and I liad become infected with" the demoralization prevalent. I feil in just behind Gen. Walker upou my $1 horse, no man saying yea or uay. The march was as emn as a funeral procession. Not a man spoke a word. The federal army, at least a portion of it, was drawn up betweeu our camp and the Court-House on our left, about forty steps from the road, and stood at order arma. AVhen our división had reached the left of this line the word "halt" was given. "Left face, forward march," followed. When the advancing line had approached within ten paces of the federal line the command "halt" was heard. Then canje the order "stack arms." The rifles were stacked in the customary style, and the cartridge boxes hung upon them. Then carne the last order Iheard given in the Army of North Virginia. "Fall in- forward, maxch." As the columns reached the village where the public roads diverge, every officer and man struck for home by the most direct route. Not a word of cheering was heard frorn the federal troops. Perhaps this was Gen. Grant's order. They looked on in silence. An idle myth has been invented that "Gen. Lee surrendered under an apple tree." Pieces of wood have been shown about as pieces of the identical tree. ien. Lee surrendered in the hotel at the Court-House. Here he and Grant met, ind nowhere else. Here at Gen. Grant's vriting table he signed the stipulation n the afternoon. Lee's notes were sent rom where our baggage train was )acked by the roadside in the old field, and my opinión is that there was nothng bearing the semblance of an apple ree within half a mile of the place, mail, Bcrubby pine bushes were plentiul. Every body ought to know that if Gen. Grant had come within the confedérate lines he would have lost his life, or if Lee had gone within the federal lines he would have met with the same fate.