captains of the civil war-第51节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rained the Confederate resources； increased his own； and half closed on Lee and Johnston the vice which he and Grant could soon close altogether。 Nevertheless Grant records that 〃one of the most anxious periods was the last few weeks before Petersburg〃； for he was haunted by the fear that Lee's army； now nearing the last extremity of famine； might risk all on railing off southwest to Danville； the one line left。 Lee； consummate now as when victorious before； masked his movements wonderfully well till the early morning of the twenty…fifth of March； when he suddenly made a furious attack where the lines were very near together。 For some hours he held a salient in the Federal position。 But he was presently driven back with loss； and his intention to escape stood plainly revealed。
The same day Sherman railed down to Newbern over the line repaired by that indefatigable and most accomplished engineer； Colonel W。 W。 Wright； took ship for City Point； Virginia； and met Lincoln； Grant； and Admiral Porter there on the twenty…seventh and twenty…eighth。 Grant explained to Lincoln that Sheridan was crossing the James just below them； to cut the rails running south from Petersburg and then； by forced marches； to cut those running southwest from Richmond； Lee's last possible line of escape。 Grant added that the final crisis was very near and that his only anxiety was lest Lee might escape before Sheridan cut the Richmond line southwest to Danville。 Lincoln said he hoped the war would end at once and with no more bloodshed。 Grant and Sherman； however； could not guarantee that Davis might not force Lee and Johnston to one last desperate fight。 Lincoln added that all he wanted after the surrender was to get the Confederates back to their civil life and make them good contented citizens。 As for Davis： well； there once was a man who； having taken the pledge； was asked if he wouldn't let his host put just a drop of brandy in the lemonade。 His answer was： 〃See here； if you do it unbeknownst； I won't object。〃 From the way that Lincoln told this story Grant and Sherman both inferred that he would be glad to see Davis disembarrass the reunited States of his annoying presence。
This twenty…eighth of March saw the last farewells between the President and his naval and military lieutenants at the front。 Admiral Porter immediately wrote down a full account of the conversations； from which； together with Grant's and Sherman's strong corroboration； we know that Lincoln entirely approved of the terms which Grant gave Lee； and that he would have approved quite as heartily of those which Sherman gave to Johnston。
Next morning the final race； pursuit； defeat； and victory began。 Grant marched all his spare； men west to cut Lee off completely。 He left enough to hold his lines at Petersburg； in case Lee should remain； and he arranged with Sherman for a combined movement； to begin on the tenth of April； in case Johnston and Lee should try to join each other。 But he felt fairly confident that he could run Lee down while Sherman tackled Johnston。
On the first of April Sheridan won a hard fight at Five Forks； southwest of Petersburg。 On Sunday （the second） Lee left Petersburg for good； sending word to Richmond。 That morning Davis rose from his place in church and the clergyman quietly told the congregation that there would be no evening service。 On Monday morning Grant rode into Petersburg； and saw the Confederate rearguard clubbed together round the bridge。 〃I had not the heart；〃 said Grant； 〃to turn the artillery upon such a mass of defeated and fleeing men； and I hoped to capture them soon。〃 On Tuesday Grant closed his orders to Sherman with the words； 〃Rebel armies are now the only strategic points to strike at；〃 and himself pressed on relentlessly。
Late next afternoon a horseman in full Confederate uniform suddenly broke cover from the enemy side of a dense wood and dashed straight at the headquarter staff。 The escort made as if to seize him。 But a staff officer called out； 〃How d'ye do； Campbell？〃 This famous scout then took a wad of tobacco out of his mouth； a roll of tinfoil out of the wad； and a piece of tissue paper out of the tinfoil。 When Grant read Sheridan's report ending 〃I wish you were here〃 （that is； at Jetersville； halfway between Petersburg and Appomattox）； he immediately got off his black pony； mounted Cincinnati； and rode the twenty miles at speed； to learn that Lee was heading due west for Farmville； less than thirty miles from Appomattox。
On Thursday the sixth； Lee； closely beset in flank and rear； lost seven thousand men at Sailor's Creek； mostly as prisoners。 The heroes of this fight were six hundred Federals； who； having gone to blow up High Bridge on the Appomattox； found their retreat cut off by the whole Confederate advanced guard。 Under Colonel Francis Washburn； Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry； and Colonel Theodore Read； of General Ord's staff； this dauntless six hundred charged again and again until； their leaders killed and most of the others dead or wounded； the rest surrendered。 They had gained their object by holding up Lee's column long enough to let its wagon。 train be raided。
Grant； now feeling that his hold on Lee could not be shaken off； wrote him a letter on Friday afternoon； saying： 〃The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance。〃 That night Lee replied asking what terms Grant proposed to offer。 Next morning Grant wrote again to propose a meeting； and Lee answered to say he was willing to treat for peace。 Grant at once informed him that the only subject for discussion was the surrender of the army。 That evening Federal cavalry under General George A。 Custer raided Appomattox Station； five miles southwest of the Court House； and held up four trains。 A few hours later； early on Sunday； the famous ninth of April； 1865； Lee's advanced guard was astounded to find its way disputed so far west。 It attacked with desperation； hoping to break through what seemed to be a cavalry screen before the infantry came up； but when Lee's main body joined in； only to find a solid mass of Federal infantry straight across its one way out； Lee at once sent forward a white flag。
Grant； overwrought with anxiety； had been suffering from an excruciating headache all night long。 But the moment he opened Lee's note； offering to discuss surrender； he felt as well as ever； and instantly wrote back to say he was ready。 Pushing rapidly on he met Lee at McLean's private residence near Appomattox Court House。 There was a remarkable contrast between the appearance of the two commanders。 Grant； only forty…three； and without a tinge of gray in his brown hair； took an inch or two off his medium height by stooping keenly forward； and had nothing in his shabby private's uniform to show his rank except the three…starred shoulder…straps。 When the main business was over； and he had time to notice details； he apologized to Lee； explaining that the extreme rapidity of his movements had carried him far ahead of his baggage。 Lee's aide…de…camp； Colonel Charles Marshall； afterwards explained that when the Confederates had been obliged to reduce themselves simply to what they stood in； each officer had naturally put on his best。 Hence Lee's magnificent appearance in a brand…new general's uniform with the jeweled sword of honor that Virginia had given him。 Well over six feet tall； straight as an arrow in spite of his fifty…eight years and snow…white； war…grown beard； still extremely handsome； and full of equal dignity and charm； he looked； from head to foot； the perfect leader of devoted men。
Grant； holding out his hand in cordial greeting； began the conversation by saying： 〃I met you once before； General Lee； while we were serving in Mexico 。 。 。 。 I have always remembered your appearance； and I think I should have recognized you anywhere。〃 After some other personal talk Lee said： 〃I suppose； General Grant； that the object of our present meeting is fully understood。 I asked to see you in order to ascertain on what terms you would receive the surrender of my army。〃 Grant answered that officers and men were to be paroled and disqualified from serving again till properly exchanged； and that all warlike and other stores were to be treated as captured。 Lee bowed assent； said that was what he had expected； and presently suggested that Grant should commit the terms to writing on the spot。 When Grant got to the end of the terms already discussed his eye fell on Lee's splendid sword of honor； and he immediately added the sentence： 〃This will not embrace the side…arms of the officers； nor their private horses or baggage。〃 When Lee read over the draft he flushed slightly on coming to this generous proviso and gratefully said： 〃This will have a very happy effect upon my army。〃 Grant then asked him if he had any suggestions to make； whereupon he said that the mounted Confederates； unlike the Federals； owned their horses。 Before he had time to ask a favor Grant said that as these horses would be invaluable for men returning to civil life they could all be taken home after full proof of ownership。 Lee again flushed and gratefully replied： 〃This will have the best possible effect upon the men。 It will be very gratifying and do much toward
