But such a junction was not to be necessary. If unmolested, Lee could hardly have taken that army to Johnston.

On the 6th of April, Lee moved westward, as if towards Danville; and Sheridan, relinquishing the command of the Fifth Corps, and returning it to Meade, moved rapidly with his cavalry, followed by the Sixth Corps, to strike his flank. The Second and Fifth followed after. Ord moved to Farmville, on the Lynchburg road, and sent his cavalry, with two regiments of infantry, to destroy the bridges. This little advance force encountered the head of Lee's army, which struck it a staggering blow; but, with a fine soldierly vision, General Theodore Read, who was in command, fought this overwhelming force most heroically, detained it in his front until Ord could come up, and fell a martyr to his zeal. Such conduct deserves an immortal record, and has it in Grant's report.

SAILOR'S CREEK.

On the afternoon of the 6th, Sheridan struck a force of the enemy just south of Sailor's Creek, a small southern tributary of the Appomattox, and a battle ensued, in which he captured sixteen guns and four hundred wagons, and kept the enemy employed until the arrival of the Sixth Corps, which, we have seen, was marching in his rear. A combined attack was then made, which resulted in the capture of between six and seven thousand prisoners, and a large number of general officers. The disintegrating process was rapidly going on. In this battle, the Second Corps and Twenty-fourth participated. The army was now a grand moving machine, elastic, but exact. The corps, well in hand, were skilfully moved as the exigencies of the field required.

On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was still continuedthe cavalry, under Sheridan, less one division, moving with the Fifth Corps through Prince Edward's Courthouse; the Sixth Corps, the Twenty-fourth, and one division of cavalry, upon Farmville. The Second Corps moved by High Bridge..

The enemy were now all north of the Appomattox; but so close was the pursuit, that the Second Corps seized High Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and crossed at their heels. The Sixth, with the cavalry division, crossed at Farmville. The hunt was nearly ended. Lee was now not only hopeless, but Grant believed that he had determined to surrender. To this end, the following correspondence ensued between them. Grant writes from Farmville:

APRIL 7, 1865.

GENERAL 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.

GENERAL R. E. LEE.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, Grant received at Farmville the following:

1

APRIL 7, 1865.

GENERAL-I have 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, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.

To this, Grant immediately replied:

R. E. LEE, General.

APRIL 8, 1865.

GENERAL-Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, asking the condition, on, which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply, I would say, that peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon-namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received.

GENERAL R. E. LEE.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

On the morning of the 8th, as nothing was yet decided, Grant renewed the pursuit; the enemy pushing as fast as he could for Appomattox Station, and our troops moving upon him with equal footsteps. Meade's army was now north of the Appomattox, pushing the rear-guard, but never able to bring it to a decisive engagement. On the afternoon of the 8th, Sheridan strikes the railroad at Appomattox, and drives the enemy before him, capturing twenty-five guns, a hospitaltrain, and four trains of cars with supplies. Grant joins Meade at noon of the 8th, and receives the following letter:

APRIL 8, 1865.

GENERAL-I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In mine of yesteraay, I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army; but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the Confederate State forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 A. M. to-morrow on the old stage road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.

To which he answers as follows:

R. E. LEE, General.

APRIL 9, 1865.

GENERAL-Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed for 10 A. M. to-day, could lead to no good. I will state, however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, etc.

GENERAL R. E. LEE.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

On the 9th, Ord comes up to Appomattox, and with him the Fifth Corps, just as the enemy is making a desperate effort to break through the cavalry, and defeat it. This is the end: the last ditch is reached. A white flag comes into the lines,

asking for a suspension of hostilities in order to arrange terms for surrender. This Grant received while going to join Sheridan. It was in the following terms:

APRIL 9, 1865.

GENERAL-I received your note of this morning, on the picket-line, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of yesterday, with reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yester day, for that purpose.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.

R. E. LEE, General.

The interview took place at the residence of Mr. W. McLean, at Appomattox Courthouse. It was brief, but conclusive. Sad in the extreme to the Confederate general, who having risked every thing, had lost all.

No pen can describe the exultation of our troops.

The following view from a rebel standpoint is presented by an eye-witness from the rebel side:

"There is no passage of history in this heart-breaking war which will, for years to come, be more honorably mentioned, and gratefully remembered than the demeanor, on the 9th of April, 1865, of General Grant towards General Lee. I do not so much allude to the facility with which honorable terms were accorded to the Confederates, as to the bearing of General Grant, and the officers about him, towards General Lee. The interview was brief. Three commissioners upon either side were immediately appointed. The agreement to which these six commissioners acceded is known.

"In the mean time, immediately that General Lee was seen riding to the rear, dressed more gayly than usual, and begirt with his sword, the rumor of immediate surrender flew like wildfire through the Confederates. It might be imagined that an army, which had drawn its last regular rations on the 1st of April, and, harassed incessantly by night and day, had been marching and fighting until the morning of the 9th, would have welcomed any thing like a termination of its sufferings, let it come in what form it might. Let those who idly imagine that the finer feelings are the prerogative of what are called the 'upper classes,' learn from this and similar scenes to appreciate common men.' As the great Confederate captain rode back from Iris interview with General Grant, the news of the surrender acquired shape and consistency, and could no longer be denied. The effect on the worn and battered troops-some of whom had fought since April, 1861, and (sparse survivors of hecatombs of fallen comrades) had passed unscathed through such hurricanes of shot, a within four years no other men had ever experienced-passes mortal description.