This day, April 10th, 1865
Apr 10, 2016 6:37:50 GMT -5
Post by rah on Apr 10, 2016 6:37:50 GMT -5
1865 – At Appomattox Court, Va, General Robert E. Lee issued Gen Order #9, his last orders to the Army of Northern Virginia. Seneca Indian Ely Parker was at his general’s side at Appomattox. “After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell the brave survivors of so many hard-fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them…I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen…I bid you an affectionate farewell.”
Lee had no choice. The remains of his Army of Northern Virginia was surrounded by the Union forces whose numbers were growing and his men were starving. Any further attempt at resistance would have resulted in a one sided massacre of those hard core faithful that had fought under him for so long. So on April 9th after an exchange of messages between Grant and Lee they met in the parlor at the McLean family home. Lee had worn his best uniform complete with sash. Grant was still in the same uniform he had worn for days having been suffering from a terrible headache for a couple days brought on by the stress of the chase. After some initial talk of the past the two men began the negotiations. Eventually Grant wrote the terms and Lee asked him to change them so that his officers could retain their side arms and baggage and that all the Confederates could retain their horses which were their personal property and they would need to work their farms when they went home. Grant changed the terms. Then Lee asked that his starving men be supplied rations and Grant immediately ordered General Sheridan to provide double rations to the men that were now to become his prisoners. Sheridan asked for the number of men and then questioned Lees response believing it to be too many. Grant shut Sheridan up with a look that made it clear that he expected Sheridan to immediately supply double rations for the number of men Lee had specified. Lee and Grant shook hands and then Lee departed to inform his soldiers which was the purpose of the above order.
Grant gave orders that Brigadier general Joshua Lawerance Chaimberlain would be responsible for accepting the surrender of the arms and colors of Lee men. Chamberlain was not a West Pointer but had contributed as much to bringing about the coming events as any. Here is his account of what transpired on April 12th:
The Furling of the Flags
Chamberlain ordered the two ranks of men that Lees surrendering men passed between to present arms as a gesture of respect for their former enemies and as a recognition that now once again they lived under one flag representing a single nation and thus were fellow country men.
Lee had no choice. The remains of his Army of Northern Virginia was surrounded by the Union forces whose numbers were growing and his men were starving. Any further attempt at resistance would have resulted in a one sided massacre of those hard core faithful that had fought under him for so long. So on April 9th after an exchange of messages between Grant and Lee they met in the parlor at the McLean family home. Lee had worn his best uniform complete with sash. Grant was still in the same uniform he had worn for days having been suffering from a terrible headache for a couple days brought on by the stress of the chase. After some initial talk of the past the two men began the negotiations. Eventually Grant wrote the terms and Lee asked him to change them so that his officers could retain their side arms and baggage and that all the Confederates could retain their horses which were their personal property and they would need to work their farms when they went home. Grant changed the terms. Then Lee asked that his starving men be supplied rations and Grant immediately ordered General Sheridan to provide double rations to the men that were now to become his prisoners. Sheridan asked for the number of men and then questioned Lees response believing it to be too many. Grant shut Sheridan up with a look that made it clear that he expected Sheridan to immediately supply double rations for the number of men Lee had specified. Lee and Grant shook hands and then Lee departed to inform his soldiers which was the purpose of the above order.
Grant gave orders that Brigadier general Joshua Lawerance Chaimberlain would be responsible for accepting the surrender of the arms and colors of Lee men. Chamberlain was not a West Pointer but had contributed as much to bringing about the coming events as any. Here is his account of what transpired on April 12th:
The Furling of the Flags
Chamberlain ordered the two ranks of men that Lees surrendering men passed between to present arms as a gesture of respect for their former enemies and as a recognition that now once again they lived under one flag representing a single nation and thus were fellow country men.