The Tree of AppomattoxAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
History
The Tree of Appomattox
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
The herald was received within the Northern ranks, bearing a request
that hostilities be suspended in order that the commanders might have
time to talk over terms of surrender, and, at the same time, General
Grant, who was seven or eight miles from Appomattox Court House in a
pine wood, received a note of a similar tenor, the nature of which he
disclosed to his staff amid much cheering. The Union chief at once
wrote to General Lee:
Your note of this date is but at this moment (11:50 A. M.) received,
in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg
road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at this writing
about four miles west of Walker's Church, and will push forward to
the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on
this road where you wish the interview to take place will meet me.
It was a characteristic and modest letter, and yet the heart under the
plain blue blouse must have beat with elation at the knowledge that he
had brought, what was then the greatest war of modern times, to a
successful conclusion. The dispatch was given to Colonel Babcock of
his staff, who was instructed to ride in haste to Lee and arrange the
interview. The general and his staff followed, but missing the way,
narrowly escaped capture by Confederate troops, who did not yet know of
the proposal to suspend hostilities. But they at last reached Sheridan
about a half mile west of Appomattox Court House.
Dick and his comrades meanwhile spent a momentous morning. It would
have been impossible for him afterward to have described his own
feelings, they were such an extraordinary compound of relief, elation,
pity and sympathy. The two armies faced each other, and, for the first
time, in absolute peace. The men in blue were already slipping food
and tobacco to their brethren in gray whom they had fought so long and
so hard, and at many points along the lines they were talking freely
with one another. The officers made no effort to restrain them, all
alike feeling sure that the bayonets would now be rusting.
The Winchester men were dismounted, their horses being tethered in a
grove, and Dick with the colonel, Warner and Pennington were at the
front, eagerly watching the ragged little army that faced them. He saw
soon a small band of soldiers, at the head of whom stood two elderly
men in patched but neat uniforms, their figures very erect, and their
faces bearing no trace of depression. Close by them were two tall
youths whom Dick recognized at once as St. Clair and Langdon. He waved
his hand to them repeatedly, and, at last, caught the eye of St. Clair,
who at once waved back and then called Langdon's attention. Langdon
not only waved also, but walked forward, as if to meet him, bringing
St. Clair with him, and Dick, responding at once, advanced with Warner
and Pennington.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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