feif®r4 fnqttim.
BEDFORD PA.. FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1865.
ASCENDENCY OF THE COPPER
HEAD PARTY.
The world has conceded Wilkins Micaw
ber to be a perfect im personification of that
class of hopeful genius, who abide the slow
but sure developments of ungracious time,
b>: standing ever ready to seize the first in
dication of something favorable and soun
ding it to their praise and advantage. Lat
terly, however, it has appeared to us that
Micawber has been totally eclipsed in this
respect by the leaders of the Copperhead
Party. ''Waiting for something to turn
up has grown not only proverbial with
them but has become a mania. Bay after
day in these last stages of the rebellion, wc
have beheld them betray their unholy sym
pathies, with doleful visages, consoling
themselves thatsomething 'would turn up"
to their relief in the form of a regular god
send. Poor creatures! how they have
writhed and squirmed and strained to reach
a tenable point. Every new feature of the
political aspect of our country has been
grasped as the long looked for "something."
Dubious positions have been seized and
hastily— evacuated, Yea, a change has come
oyer the spirit of their dreams, and they
have sought another base. Like the artful
magician they have preluded, "Now you see
it and now you don't see it," nor has any
thing been seen, save them discomfiture.
In the effort to crush the great rebellion
they have labored incessantly "How not -to
do it" To-day they have arhined Peace !.
Peace ! and tomorrow vowea that the war
might last forever or until the Copperhead
Party should get into power. And now alas,
when they find that the rebellion will be
crushed, they see the ascendency of their
wretched party upon the ruins of the Con
federacy. We have heard of ludicrious
things, and have been tempted to laugh at
the stupidity of some unfortunate creatures,
but in this instance it was not our risibilness
that was excited but our pity; it would be
unkind to acknowledge that we were other
wise affected. We are sorry that space for
bids us going into a general review of the
chances ot success, however we will throw
out a few suggestions. To do this we have
only to take a slight retrospective glance at
the history of this wonderful combination for
evil.
To-morrow four years ago the President
issued bis procal mation calling for 75,000
volunteers to suppress the embryo rebellion;
this was the key note from which sprung
the first opposition; from that day until this
has the Copperhead party been directly and
indirectly countenancing the rebellion, and
so alarming did this state of things become
that the loyal people ousted them from ev
ery office of trust from Maine to California.
Those who had a spark of manliness in their
compositions fled to the rebels, whilst those
who were too cowardly to go to their friends
organized resistance at home. Knights of
the Golden Circle were formed everywhere.
Their friends were counselled to resist the
draft oriiee to Canada. Barns were burn
ed and loyal citizens intimidated. Every
proposition or measure looking to the
suppression of the rebellion was denounced
and the motives of the Government im
pugned. No rejoicing was visible on their
part at the receipt of the intelligence of a
Union victory. Doubts and consolation
were always found for such reports. And
even to-day, while we write, when the nev
er-to-be-forgotten intelligence, so cheering to
the heart of every patriot, that Gen. Robt,
E. Lee has capitulated to the terms dicta
ted by General U. S. Grant, the slimy Cop
perhead is occasionally to be seen with woe
be-gone countenance, shrugging his shoul
ders and hoping that it may be true, when
every lineament of his lace tells us that he
lies from the bottom of his heart. We do
not thus arraign all who have connected
themselves with this unfortunate organiza
tion, but this mark of Cain, of which we
speak is now too visible.
Is it necessary for us to contend that the
Copperhead Party with such a record , will
not spring up to power, upon the ruins of
the Confederacy ? No, we should not in
sult the good sense of our readers by at
tempting such nonsense. We might as
well attempt to prove that Satan and all his
host will be re-instated in heaven. There is
about as much plausibility in the one as in
the other.
"OUT OF THE WOODS."
"Richmond and Petersburg were evacuated
by Gen. i^ee; they were not taken by assault
though five days hard fighting preceded the
evacuation."— Bedford Gazette of April 7.
The above piece of stupid nonsense is
nothing more than the emanation of a des
pairing wretch who is trying to stay the
sinking hopes of desponding rebels in our
midst Such an attempt to disparage the
heroic valor of our noble soldiers and the
hard earned and blood bought victories
which we have obtained over the foe, could
come from none but a slimy traitor, whose
soul (if he has any,) and sympathies are
with the enemies of our country. We are
surprised that the editor of the Gazette , the
famous critic of the Lancaster speech, would
make such a dolt of himself, as to allow
some anonymous scribbler to disgrace the
columns of his paper, and insult the good
sense of an intelligent community, by such
a silly exhibition of weakness and falsehood.
Mr. Meyers, certainly, is not the author of
this precious morceau, for he in his "edito
rial melange," wherein are found sparkling
gems of wit, and some rare specimens of
home-made puns, has something like this :
"Captured—the nest of the rebellion,"
Richmond and Petersburg "not taken by
assault, but evacuated F ' We scarcely know
which astonishes us most, Lee's strategy, or
our author's logic. What a "splendid con
ception to behold this bird of treason leave
"the nest of the rebellion" and fly "to his
aerie in the mountains." But, alas for Lee
and Meyers, the traitor hordes have suc
cumbed at last, and though the first dis
patches'announcing the capture of Davis and
Lee were premature, yet, thank God, des
pite rebel wishes and rebel prayers in our
own Northern county, we can to-day gladly
assure our readers, that the mighty army of
Northern Virginia, with all their boasted
proweas, have been forced to yield to the su
perior valor of our own brave sons, and the
pride of the dhivaliybaa been levelled in the
dust. This comes like a death knell to our '
censorious critic, who whines over conquered
treason, when it can he accomplished with
out resorting to, "a couple more drafts.
Who that for the last four years has pe
rused the columns of the Gazette, stained as
they are with infamy, does not feel his blood
stir within him, when in almost every line
he can discern a disguised sympathy for those
enemies of the human race, who have been
plotting the destruction of our fair fabric of
Freedom. We would advise our friends to
preserve a few copies of this base copper
head sheet, which in after times Will serve
as a relic of the disloyal literature that a lib
eral administrrtion permitted to circulate
among a loyal population and exert its bane
ful influence in poisoning the minds of our
.youth.
But the days of its influence like the par
ty it represents, will soon pass away and no
longer will the unsuspecting people listen to
its cowardly appeals to resistance, nor will
they be willing to confide in the unscrupu
lous leaders whose interests it represents.
A brighter day is not only coming for the
people of our common country but a better
day is coming for the misguided men who
have hitherto acted with the once great
Democratic party. When that day comes,
these foes of Freedom, and enemies to our
government will sink into that political ob
livion which their actions so richly deserve.
THE NEW EPOCH—THE ADVENT
OF PEACE.
Now U the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And mil the clouds which on our country lowered,
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound into victorious wreaths,
Our bruised arms hung up for monuments,
Our stern alarms, exchanged for merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures;
Orim-visaged war has smoothed his wrinkled front.
This continent quivered on Monday last,
as never since its upheaval from chaos. The
lightning flashed peace, and from ocean to
ocean, all minds thrilled with the sense of a
new order of things. No more deluge of
blood. No more whirls of ruin. No more
brooding darkness. The republic rested
again, and ujion foundations as eternal as
the hills. The whole heavens were spanned
with the rainbow of promise, and every eye
saw it.
This tremendous transition has been beto
kened latterly by many signs, yet its coming
was sudden. The terrible trials of the war
have weighed so heavily upon the land, and
the people have oeen so often deceived by
false api>carance, that a confirmed impres
sion existed that the deliverance, if it ever
came, would come only with protracted trib
ulation. Even now, in spite of all we see,
it is hard to realize that the rebellion has
vanished. But just now it threatened to
engulf the nation.
"Glory to the Lord of Hosts, from whom
all blessings are." If ever people under
heaven was bound to prostrate itselfin grati
tude, it is the loyal people of this land.
Had it been foretold to them four years ago
what trials awaited them, there would have
been a universal cry of despairing agony.
Human history affords no instance of such a*
national ordeal. Never could we have en
dured it but for the strength given from on
high, as we had need. The most capacious
minds of Europe, schooled to the uttermost
limit in all the wisdom of th* past, called this
war a madness. It was a madness, if esti
mated by any material standard. Eight mil
lions of Anglo-Saxon rebels compacted as
one man. brave to the last pitch, inhabiting
a country peculiarly defensible, having the
encouragement of untiring faction beyond
their bounds, and a moral alliance with near
ly every Power in the Old World, according
to all the ordinary rules of judging, would
surely prevail. But we had a hidden strength
which the world did not understand. It was
Faith—a faith that first broke upon us with
the first flash of Sumter's guns, and that
■ever afterward went on widening and deep
ening. The people came to feel as by an in
spiration from heaven, that the moral ele
ments of the national cause made it irresisti
ble. They were penetrated with the feeling,
that as sure as there was an Almighty Fa
ther, He could not permit the success of a
rebellion that was made only for the benefit
of human slavery. It was this which car
ried them through the struggle.* Ten times
their physical strength would not have kept
them up, in the absence of this sovereign
fath. The race of Titans could not have
maintained this war, if too, they had been a
race of atheists.
That religious faith is fitly followed now by
a religious gratitude. It is wonderful to
mark the solemn character of the joy that
now spreads the land. There are waving
flags, ringing bells, booming cannon, and
other national tokens of public gladness.
But yet it is plain to see that the dominant
feeling of the people is no ebullient exhili
ratioa over human achievement, but a pro
found sense of a Divine blessing. The pop
ular heart relieves itself, not so much in
cheers and hurrahs as in doxologies.
The enemies of this Republic may talk as
they please of its materializing tendencies,
may to their hearts content stigmatize our
people as worshippers of the "almighty dol
lar," they but waste their breath. Business
activities, strenuous as they are, have not
stifled the religious sentiment of the Ameri
can heart. This has been remonstrated in
ways without number, but never so grandly
as now.
With this gratitude for deliverance is min
gled a fresh assurance that Heaven has re
served our republic for a destiny more glo
rious than can yet be conceived. Ameri
! cans now feel that it is less than ever a pre
sumption in them to believe themselves a
chosen people, appointed to school the world
to new ideas of human capacities and human
rights. The monarchs of the Old World
are trembling with apprehensions lest we
shall be moved to repay our injuries by turn
ing against them our arms. They have a
thousand times greater reason to fear the
moral force of our new position. We stand
a firing proof of the matchless potency of
popular self-government. It rivets the at
tention of the whole civilized world. It will j
start new thoughts, will generate new pur-1
pdses, will nerve to new acts. This is as
sure as that the human reason shall contin
ue to exist It is this that the dynasties
have need to fear; it is here that we expect
our sweetest revenge.
RISEN —The hopes of the Democracy.—
Bedford Gazette.
For particulars we would refer our readers
to the recent elections in Connecticut and
Rhode Island.—[Editor of Inquirer.
|©-The following items we clip from that
spicy sheet, the Chambirsbtirg licposiio
iy: .
Information is wanted of one J. Davis,
Esq., who has hitherto supposed himself
President of a supposed Confederacy, with
a supposed corner stone supposed to be sla
very. The supposed copner-stone having
vanished forever, it is supposed that the
supposed President has come to grief in
"some secluded spot" in a southern swamp.
Any information on the subject will be glad
ly received at the Spirit office, where physi
ological and other scientific experiments are
• now being made, touching the late rebellion
which have quite resulted in the discovery
of a broken back-bone.
The annual election in Rhode Island was
held on Tuesday of list week ; but there
was no contest. The Democracy was like
Lee's army and the Dutchman's milk, all
lying around ltwse, and the Union ticket
had no opposition. How would Connecti
cut and Rhode Island have been contested
if Lee had routed Grant instead of Grant
capturing Richmond ? Could anybody
guess ? It would seem that Dem< xsracy and
rebellion play out together.
Jeff, Davis had his first parade of negro
troops in Richmond on Friday, the 31st of
March, and on Monday, the 3rd of April,
Gen. Weitzel had the second, on which oc-.
casion J, D. was not at home ; but many
of his negro recruits were !
WANTED —a "last ditch" for J. Davis,
Esq. Until recently he had been infatua
ted with the conviction that he had it in
Richmond, but the delusion has vanished,
and with it J. D.
"Lee has, doubtless, moved into North
Carolina, for the porpose of uniting his army
with Johnson's."— Bedford Gazette.
Our veracious cotem po.-ary is "doubtless"
mistaken. According to Jhe latest atecounts
it was somewhat doubtful, whether or not,
Lee would succeed in escaping to North
Carolina. No, Mr. Gazette yon can't unite
them this time, Wonder if the unbelieving
people who would not believe Mr. Cessna,
"even when Gen. Grant's rrame was to the
dispatch," will believe the Gazette who
never gets us anything but reliable news.
Are you not sorry that this war is so nearly
over, for then you can no longer indulge in
crocodile lachrymations over the fall m and
the brave departed. Verily, your occupation
is gone.
THE COMING JUBILEE.
We invoke the friends of the Union every
where to turn out in the celebration of our
decent glorious victories. Let us suspend
business for one day at least, and rejoice in
the hope of an early peace, which now aus
piciously looms up to cheer us after four
years of intestine strife and bloodshed. Let
every lover of his country, without distinc
tion of party, be present to cheer and glad
den the occasion.
ARMY C OFR ESP ON I) ENCE .
CAMP OP THE 138 TH P. V. IX THE J
FIELD, 15 MILES SOUTH WEST or >
PETERSBURG, VA., April|4, 186(1, j
DEAR :
I will inform you that there was
a great battle lought on Sunday the 2nd inst.
I know that the news of the fisrht has reached
Bedford ere this, but in order to relieve those
that have friends in the army and who are
anxious to hear how things went, I will give
you a brief account of it.
On Saturday evening the orders came to
pack up and be ready to move, which was
done in a short time. At dark we were or
deved to move in front of the works, and at
seven o'clock, the artillery opened all along
the line, from City Point to the extreme left.
The roar of the guns was almost deafning. and
the earth appeared to rock beneath our feet.
This terrible cannonade was kept up till a
bout twelve or one o'clock, when it died
away all along the lines. The troops were
all massed along the front in three lines of
battle, and lay in this position till four o'clock
when the signal gun was fired to make the at
tack. At this moment every man sprang to
his feet, ana the order, "Forward," sped
along thelines as quick as lightning. A yell
was given, and the troops dashed forward
like tigers, upon the rebel works. The lines
were first pierced by our division, and the !
second division of our Corps, and in less than
ten minutes the entire Corps was through the
rebel lines, and swung around on their flank.
By this time it was daylight and the Sixth
Corps charged sweeping everything before it.
The rebel column became panic stricken and
a complete stampede ensued. * *
Our troops are almost wild with enthusiasm
and the greatest joy prevails throughout the
army. But while we rejoice over our victories
we lament the loss of our brave companions
who have fallen in battle. Our loss is very
slight. I had no men killed, and only two
wounded. Sergt. Slack was wounded slight
ly across the right shoulder and Sergt. Geo.
W. Gray was wounded in the right side se
verely, while he was attempting to pull down
the Rebel flag in one of the forts. He de
serves great credit for his gallant conduct.
The loss in the other Bedford Companies is
very light. Elias Stuckey is wounded in the
ankle.
1 am yours truly,
SIMON DICKERHOFF,
Capt. Commanding Co. "E," 138 th.
LOCAL CORRESPONDENCE*
SXAKE SPRINGS, April 8, 1865.
MR. EDITOR: As I was proceeding to Bloody
Run on the 4th inst.. I saw a magnifieient
flag of our once common country floating in
the breeze, id front of Mr. Allen's private
residence, looking more lovely than ever,
when I asked what was the news, f was told
Richmond and Petersburg had fallen. 1 said
"ain't that glorious?" "It is," was there
ply, "but as we were raising the stars and
stripes, to rejoice over the victory, a gang of
men passedby from your township, in a two
horse wagon. We asked them for a little as
sistance, but, to our surprise, the answer was,
"You can t get it out of this crowd," and they
passed on with their heads hanging down, as
if they were mourning for their doomed Con
federacy. The poor, miserable Copperheads
of Snake Spring, who don't want a soldier to
have a vote, how hard they die over the down
fall of treason. A FARMER.
IT is announced that Garibaldi' S daughter
Teresiti has just given birth at Caprera to a
boy, who, by his grandfather's desire, has
been christened Lincoln, in honor of the
"American President who has
slavery."
GENEUAL NEWS ITEMS.
IN the recent draft in Baltimore, seventy
one negroes were drawn.
A LITTLE child died of hydrophobia in Har
risburg, last week.
RHODE Island has aent livo thousand five
hundred and fifty-one men to the war.
A WISCONSIN paper approvingly announces
the re-appointment of Mark Tapely as post
master of Racine.
RAREY, the horse-tamer, is now living on
his farm at Groveport, near Columbus, Ohio.
He still keeps Cruiser.
IN Biddeford, Maine, the other day, the
new Mayor sent to the Common Council an
inaugural message five columns long.
GEN. Lane and Gen. Pomeroy have each
contributed one thousand dollars to the Lin
coln College fund of Topeka, Kansas.
BOSTON has subscribed $28,000 to the
Christian Commission, and the work is still
going on.
GEN. Ord telegraphs that Gen. Russell of
the Twenty-fifth Corps, reported killed, is
safe.
GEN. Pope and staff returned to St. Louis
from Little Rock, Arkansas, on Wednesday
of last week.
MAJOR General Anderson of the rebel ser
vice is said to have been killed on Saturday,
in front of Petersburg,
HON. L. W. Powell declines being h candi
date for Congress in the second district of
Kentucky.
JUDGE Lewi-3 is preparing a circular respec
ting the tax to be paid upon the tobacco
found in Richmond having Union claimants.
THE lumber trade in Wisconsin is unusual
ly lively. It is estimated that It least twen
ty million feet are now on the Neshoto
river.
A DIVORCE suit has. just been decided in
Kansas. Mrs. Chloe Hallet got a judgment
against her husband, for alimony to the a
mount of SIOO,OOO.
GENERAL Wm. H. Adams, a well-known
citizen of Western New York, died in Alba
ny on Friday. He was one ot the original
builders of the Erie Canal.
THE pirate Maffit is said to be imprisoned
at Havanna, at the suit of G. E. Tyler, owner
of the Shooting Star, which vessel Mafht re
cently attempted to destroy.
GEOROE H. Hoyt, the young lawyer of Bos
ton who went to Virginia to defend John
Brown on his trial, is now Lieut. Col. of the
Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry.
IT is found on examination that Secretary
Seward's jaw is fractured, and apprehensions
are entertained of the possible consequences
of the accident.
THE Post-Office Department has ordered
the Post office at Hampton, Elizabeth coun
ty to he opened, and appointed Kennon Whi
ting, Postmaster.
ONE of the largest sized guns'is to be sent
from St. Louis to Galena, the home of Gen.
Grant, to be fired there in honor of the fall of
Richmond.
THE Richmond Post-Office has been taken
possession of by the Government and 22 bags
of captured mails delivered to the War De
partment.
PROVOST Marshal General Fry has refused
a request to allow the drafted men belonging
to the New York State Militia thirty days to
rru>oi-o substitutes
ACCORDING to a Russian custom, the wife
of the late Duke De Morny cut off her hair
and put it in his coffin as a pledge not to
marry again.
IT was anticipated that the Petersburg and
Richmond Railroad would he in running or
der yesterday. The track was to he repaired
and widened.
THE Louisville Journal says : "A Boston
physician has discovered that gold has medi
cinal virtues. So the yellow metal, we sup
pose. is become a drug.
COL. Duoll, formerly of the British army,
and who more recently served tinder Gens.
McClellan, Burnside and Hooker, died sud
denly at Meadville Pa., last Sunday.
THE first weekly overland mail arrived at
Prescett, the capital of Arizona, on the 12th
of March, in fifteen days from San Francis
CO.
GEN. R. S. Ewell, of \ irgiuia, captured by
Sheridan among the Rebel officers on the Bth
inst.. while escaping from Richmond, is a na
tive of the District of Columbia, born there
in 1820.
ON Tuesday, Mr. Lincoln gave a public re
ception in the parlor of Jeff Davis's house in
Richmond. A number of citizens called upon
him, beside the officers of our army and
navy.
GREAT improvements have been made in
Laurel Hill Cemetry. Philadelphia. Fain-
Hill, the family seat of the late "George S.
Pepper, has been added to the grounds, in
creasing the number of acres to nearly one
hundred, and admitting of a picturesque drive
miles in extent, without going off the proper
ty of the company.
GIRARD College, in Philadelphia, has five
hundred and sixty-three pupils, each of whom
costs one hundred and eighty dollars a year.
In 1857 there were only two hundred and
ninety-five pupils, and each then cost two
hundred and fifty-two dollars. The number
of applications is increasing on account of or
phanage produced by the war.
Ex-Speaker Colfax is in Chicago making
preparations to start on the first of May upon
an extended journey across the Western Plains
to the Pacific coast, intending to stop in Col
orado and Utah long enough to post himself
upon the resources and prospective develop
ment of those territories ; after which he
will visit California, Oregon and Puget's
Sound.
SEXATcm Sumner recently received from
Worcester, Mass., apetition signed by Mayor
Ball, Levi Lincoln and fifty other prominent
residents, asking "to be furnished by the War
Department with one or two of the captured
rebel cannon, in size not less than twelve nor
more than twenty-pounders, for the purpose
of firing salutes in honor of Union victories
bollidays, and other public rejoicings." The
petitioners gave as a reason for this request:
"No battery or company of artillery exists in
our city, and we are destitute of the proper
means necessary for the above purposes."
Mr. Sumner to ok this petition to the War De
partment, where it was denied on the ground
set forth in the following endorsement: "The
Secretary of War would be glad to comply
with the request if it could be done without
establishing a precedent. But in view of that
result he is compelled to deny the request.
OFFICIAL WAR GAZETTE!
HUM! IICRRAH!! HIM!!
VICTORY!
GEN. LEE'S ARMf~AGAIN ROUTED I
DISPATCHES"FROM LIN
COLN, GRANT AND '
SHERIDAN.
Several Thousaud Prisoners Taken.
SIX REBEL GENERALS CAPTURED.
Fmirtcpn Plwe, of Artillery in onr¥(M
MHi>.
OFFICIAL.
WAR DEPARTMENT, April 7,10 a. m.
Major General Die :
Gen. Sheridan attacked and routed Lee's
army, capturing Generals Ewing, Kershaw,
Batton, Corse and many other general offi
cers, several thousand prisoners, and a large
number of cannon, and expects to force Lee
to surrender all that is left of his army. The
details will be given as speedily as possible,
but the telegraph is working badly.
(Bigned) E. >l. STANTON.
Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, April?—if a. m.
Major General Dlx :
The following telegram, announcing the
victory won yesterday by Major General
Sheridan over Lee's army, has just been re
ceived by this Department
(Signed) E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
CITV POINT, April 7, 8:35 a. m.
E. M. Stanton, Tccretary of War :
At 11:15 yesterday, at Burkerville Statior
Gen. Grant sends me the following from
Gen Sheridan.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
April 6—11:30, p. m.
Lieut. Gen. Grnt:
I have the honor to report that the ene
my made ;t stand at the intersection of the
Burkesville Station road with the road upon
which they were retreating. I attacked
them with two divisions of the Sixth Army
Corps, and routed them handsomely, ma
king a connection with the cavalry.
1 am still pressing on with both cavalry
and infantry. Up to the present time we
have captured Generals Ewell, Kershaw,
Batton. Corse, Debarry, and Custis Ijee.
several thousand prisoners, fourteen pieces
of artillery, with caissons, and a large num
ber of wagons. If the thing is pressed I
think Lee will surrender.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major General Commanding
THURSDAY'S VICTORY!
MAJOR-GEYERVL YEVDE'S REPORT,
DISPATCHES FROM CORPS COMMANDERS
Gen. Lee s Forces Attacked and Driven
A COMPLETE UNION SUCCESS,
The Pursuit of the Rebel*. Continued,
MEADE'S HEADQUARTERS, I.
April 6, 1865 —7 P. M. f
Lieut. General Grant :
At daylight this forenoon I moved the 2d,
25th and 6th army Corps along the railroac
in the direction of Amelia Court House.—
Soon after moving reliable intelligence WEJ
received that the enemy was moving towardi
Farmville. The direction of the 2d and 25tli
corps was immediately changed from north
erly to a northwest direction, and the direc
ting corps (the 2d) moved on Deatonvjllc,
and the sth iheretofore in the centre) moved
on the right of the 2d and 6th, facing about
and moving by the left flank and taking po
sition on the left of the 2d. It was under
stood the cavalry was on the extreme left.
The changes were promptly made—the 2d
army corps soon becoming engaged with the
enemy near Deatonville. driving him by the
right across Sailor's Creek to the Appomat
tox. The sth army corps made a long
niarcli, but its position prevented its strik
ing the enemy's column before it had passed.
The 6th corps came up with the enemy
about 4 p. M. . and in conjunction with the
2d, on the right, and the cavalry on the left,
attacked and routed the enemy, capturing
inanv prisoners—among them Gen. Ewell
and Gen. Custis Lee.
I transmit dispatches from Generals Hum
phrey and Wright, which, in justice to these
officers and the gallant corps thevcommand,
I beg may be seHt to the War Department
for immediate publication.
It is impossible now to give any estimate
of the casualties on either side, or of the
number of prisoners taken, but it is evident
to-day's work is going to be one of the most
important of the recent brilliant operations.
The pursuit will be continued as soon a?
the men get a little rest. Griffin, with the
sth corps, will be moved by the left, and
Wright and Humphreys will continue the
direct pursuit as long as it promises success.
(Signed) GEO. G. MEADE,
Major General.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH ARMY CORPS, )
April 6, 1865—10 P. M. j
Mm. Gen. Webb, Chief of Staff :
In pursuance of instructions of this morn
ing from Major Gen. Meade, I moved from
Jettersville by the shortest road to the left ol
Deatonville, with the object of there taking
position on the left of the 2d corps, striking
the road running from Deatonville to Burke?
Station, at a point a little to the south of the
former place. I found that the 2d corps
was engaged to the front and right, and the
cavalry heavily to my left. Moving down
the road towards Burke's Station, perhaps
ten miles to the right, I posted across to
nearly parallel with the road on which the
enemy was moving, and along which he had
thrown up a line of intrench ments. As soon
as the leading division (Gen. Seymour's)
could be formed, it was moved up the road
held by the enemy, which was carried.—
Then turning to the left, it was advanced
down the road against a pretty strong re
sistance.
By this time Wheaton's division was put
in position as rapidly as possible on oey
mour s left. The lines were again advanced
and were swept down the road for a distance
of about two miles, and arriving at a deep
and difficult creek, we found that the enemy
bad/eformcd his line on the opposite side,
where we attacked him and drove him to a
point a distance of a half mile further.
In the first attack a portion of the cavalry
operated on our right flank. In its subse
quent attack the mass of cavalry operated
on our left, and the right flank of the ene
my.
The result has been a complete success.—
The combined forces captured five general
officers, among them Generals Ewell and
Custis Lee, ana a number of other prison
era.
I shall go in camp about two miles beyond
this point and await instructions.
The Ist and 3d divisions—Wheaton's and
Seymour's—and the artillery were engaged
to-day. Reports of the casualties will be
forwarded soon. The Corps has nobly sus
tained the reputation it earned on the 2d
inst., as well as upon previous hard fought
battle-fields.
H. G. WRIGHT,
Major Gen. Commanding.
SECOND ARMY CORPS, April 6—7:30 P. M.
Maj. Gen. A. S. Webb:
Our last fight just before dark at Sailor's
Creek, gave us two guns, three flags and a
considerable number of prisoners, 200 wag-
ODS, 70 ambulances, with mules and horses
to about one half the ambulances. There
are between thirty and fifty wagons in addi
tion, which were abandoned and destroyed
along the road, as also some battery wag
ons, forges and limbers. I have already re
ported to you the capture of one gun, two
flags and some prisoners, and the fact that
the road for over two miles is strewed with
tents and baggage, cooking utensils, some
ammunition, and materials of all kinds.
The wagons are across the approach to the
bridge, and it will take some time to clear it
The enemy are in position on the heights
beyond with artillery. The bridge is par
tially destroyed.
We cannot advance to-morrow in the
same manner we have to-day. As soon as 1
get my troops up a little (we are considera
bly nnxed) I might push a column down the
road, but it is evident 1 cannot follow rap
idly during the night.
(Signed) A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Major General.
THE END OF
THE WAR!
GOD HAS GRANTED
TICTIIT!
GLORIOUS NEWS!
GEN'L LEE SURRENDERS!
GRANT'S TERMS ACCEPTED!
MUTUALUIS OF LEE'S SIMMER!
LEE'S LETTER TO GES. GRANT !
GEN'L. GRANTS REPLY!
TERMS OF GEN. GRANT.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER OF
EVERYTHING !
VF.XERU LEE ACCEPTS THE TERMS.
< orrefcpomlonre between the two Gene
ral* before the Surrender.
PRKLIMIN AKY CORRESPONDENCE
—FIRST DISPATCH—GEN. GRANT
DEMANDS A SURRENDER.
April 7, 1865.
Gen. R. E L&\ Comanmding C. S. A.:
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.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
U. S. GRANT.
Lt Gen. Com. Armies U. S.
LEE'S REPLY.
GF.NL.—I have received your note of this
date, though not entirely of the opinion you
express of the hopelessness of the further
resistance on the part of the army of North
| era Virginia,. I reciprocate your desire to
avoid useless effusion of blood and therefore
before considering your proposition request
the terms you will offer on condition of its
surrender.
Signed, R. E. LEE,
. General.
To Lieut Geiu Grants Commanding Ar
mtes of the United States :
GEN. GRANT'S REPLY TO LEE.
April 8, 1865.
Gen. R. E. Lee, Commanding Confeder
ate States Army: General—Your note of
last evening, in reply to mine of same date,
asking conditions on which I will accept the
surrender of the Army of Northern Virgin
ia, is just received.
In reply, I would say that peace being my
first desire, there is but one condition. I
insist upon, viz : That the men surrender
ed shall be disqualified for taking up arms
again against the Government of the United
States until properly exchanged.
I will meet you, or 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 receiv
ed.
Aery Respectfully.
Your obedient Servant.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieut. Gen.
LEE DESIRES TO MAKE TERMS OF
PEACE.
Aprils, 1865.
GEN'L. I received at a late hour your
note of to-day in answer to mine of yester
day- I did not intend to propose the surren
('er '(I the army of Northern Virginia, but
to ask the terms of your propositions. 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 desire to know whether
your proposals would tend to that end. I
cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to
surrender the army of Northern Virgina,'
but as far as your propositions may affect
the Confederate States 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.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
_ _ _ R E. LEE
To Gen. Grant, Commanding armies IT
3. A.
''Kf REFUSES TO NEGOTI
LEE. DECLINES TO MEET
April 9, 1865.
n c j ' o e ' com 111 an ding armies of the
Confedate States:
GENERAL Your note of yesterday re- j
cowed. As I have no authority to treat on
the subject of peace, the meeting proposed
lor at ]<) A. M. to-day could lead to no good.
1 will state, however, that I aui equally
anxious for peace with yourself and the
whole north entertain the same feeling.—
The terms upon which peace can he had are
well understood. Bv tne south laying down
their arms they will hasten that most desira
ble 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 or another life. I subscribe myself very
respectfully your obedient servant.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT,
Lt Gen., U. S. A.
OFFICIAL. WAR GAZETTE.
Announcement of the Surrender.
WAR DEPARTMENT, )
W ASHIN<JTON, *\pril 9, 9p. m. |
Maj. Gen. Dix, N. Y.
The Department has just received the offi
cial report of the surrender, this day of
Gen. Lee and his whole army to Lieut Gen
Grant, on the tenns proposed by Geuerai
Grant. Details will be given as speedily as
possible.
E. M. STANTON.
Secretary of War.
GENERAL GRANT S OFFICIAL A\-
NOUNCEMENT.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF TUE \
UNITED STATES. V
April 9— i: 30 P. M. J
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretory of War ;
Gen. Lee surrendered the Army of North
ern V irginia this afternoon, upon term* pro
posed by myself. The accompanying addi
tional corresponce will show tne conditions .
fully. U. S. GRANT,
Lieut. Geuerai.
CORRESPONDENCE DDIEDIATELV
BEFORE THE SURRENDER.
The following is the previous correspond
ence between Lieutenant General Grant and
General Lee referred to in the foregoing tel
egram to the Secretary of War.
CLIFTON HOUSE, VA., April 9.
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretory of War :
The following corresjiondenee has taken
place between Gen. Lee and myself. There
has been no relaxation in the pursuit during
its pendente :
(Signed) U. S. GRANT.
Lieutenant General.
LEE ASKS FOR ANOTHER INTER
VIEW.
April 9. IH'.O.
GENERAL :— I received your note of this
morning on the picket line, whither I had
come TP meet you and ascertain definitely
what TERMS were embraced in your proposi
tion of yesterday with reference to the sur
render of this army.
1 now request an interview in accordance
with the offer contained in your letter of
yesterday for that purpose.
Very respectfully your obedient servant.
R. E. LEE.
To General Grant:
| GEN. GRANT CONSENTS TO MEET
LEE.
April 9, Ifciio.
To K. E. Lie. Commanding C. S. A.
\ our note of this date is but this moment
11:50 A. M., received. In consequence of
my having passed from the Richmond and
Lynchburg road to Ihe Farmville and Lynch
burg. I am at this writing about four miles
west of Walter's Church, and will push for
ward to the front for the purpose of meeting
you.
Notice sent to me on this road where vou
wish the interview to take place, wiil meet
me.
Very respectfully your obedient servant.
U. S. GRANT.
GEN. GRANT'S TERMS.
APPOMATOX COURT HOUSE, April 9.
Gen. R. E. Lee, Commanding Confeder
ate States Army :
In accordance with the substance of my
letter to you of the sth inst. , 1 propose to
receive the surrender of the Army of North
ern Virginia on the following terms, to wit :
Rolls of all the officers and men to be
made in duplicate — one copy to be given to
an officer designated by rue, the other to be
retained by such officer or officers as you
may designate.
The officers to give their individual parols
not to take up arms against the Luited
States Government until properly exchanged
and each company or regimental commander
to sign a like parole for the men of their
command.
The arms, artillery and public property to
be packed and stacked, and turned over to
the officers appointed by me to receive
them.
This will not embrace the side arms of
the officers, nor their private baggage.
This done, each officer and man will be al
lowed to return to their homes, not to LIE dis
turbed by the I nited States authority so
king as they observe their parole and the
laws in force where they may reside.
Very respectfully,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
LEE ACCEPTS THE TERMS AND
SURRENDERS HIS WHOLE ARMY.
HEAD QUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIR
GINIA, April 9. — Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant.
Commanding U. G. A.—l have received
your letter ot this date containing the terms
of surrender of the army of Northern Vir
ginia. as proposed bvvou.
AS THEY ARE*SUBSTANTIALLY
THE SAME AS THOSE EXPRESSED
IN YOUR LETTER OF THE BTH INST.
THEY ARE ACCEPTED.
T will proceed to designate the proper of
ficers to carry the stipulations into ef
fect.
Very respectfullv,
Your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE, General.
OFFICIAL THANKSGIVING PROC
LAMATION.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, April 9—9:30 p. m.
Lieut. Geu. Grant :
Thanks be to Almighty God for the great
victory with which He has this day crown
ed you rind the Igallant army under vour
command.
Thanks of this Department and of the Gov
ernment of the people of the United JStates.
I heir reverence and honor have been de
sen ed. and will be rendered to you and the
brave and gallant officers and soldiers of
your army for all time.
(Signed) EDWIN M. STANTON,
; Secretary of War.
A SALUTE ORDERED TO BE FIRED.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, April 9—lo p. m.
Ordered that a salute of two hundred guns
be fired at the headquarters of even army
and department, and at every post and ar
senal in the Unite! States, and at the West
Point academy, on the day of the reeeipt of
this order m commemoration of the surren
der of Gen. R. E, Lee and the army of Nor
thern \ irginia, to Lieut. Gen. Grant and
the army under his command. Report of
the receipt of the execution of this order to
be made to the Adjutant General at Wash
ington.
(Signed) * E. M. STANTON.
Secretary of War,