ilure of the project.

CHAPTER X.

_From Petersburg to Appomattox and Home._

"There hangs a saber, and there a rein,
With a rusty buckle and a green curb chain;
A pair of spurs on the old grey wall,
And a moldy saddle--well, that is all."

April 2, 1865, Lee was compelled to evacuate Richmond, abandon his whole
battle line, and fall back toward the mountains. He hoped to be able to
join his forces with those of Gen. Jos. E. Johnston, who was advancing
northward through North Carolina, but his losses were so heavy and his
army almost starved, the road deep with mud from excessive rains, making
it impossible for his gaunt, lean horses to draw his artillery and
wagons. He saw further resistance was useless, so on April 9, 1865, Lee
surrendered what was left of his once formidable army. The number was a
little less than 8000 men. I have seen it stated that Lee had about
35,000 men,[6] when, on April 2, he ordered the evacuation of his
line of intrenchments. Some of his cavalry, being on the outskirts, were
not included in the surrender. Besides this, during the seven days'
retreat, Grant's forces were pressing Lee's army on all sides, killing,
wounding and capturing some of his men every hour; this accounts for the
small number that Gen. Lee personally surrendered. The first thing that
was done after the surrender was an application from Gen. Lee to Grant
for food for his horses and men, which was promptly supplied. Of course,
there is much that is interesting in connection with the surrender that
need not be recorded here. Grant's treatment of Lee and his soldiers won
for him praise all over the South.

[Illustration: ONE OF STONEWALL JACKSON'S MILEPOSTS. A FAMILIAR SIGHT TO
THOSE WHO TRAVELED THE VALLEY TURNPIKE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.]

But to go back. As I have said, I was on the march from home toward the
army, and had reached a point not far from Charlottesville. There were
about a dozen of us, all belonging to my regiment. About noon we saw
advancing toward us a small body of cavalry. At first we took them for
the enemy and approached them cautiously, they using the same
precaution. When we discovered that we were fellow-Confeds we passed
with a salute. One of them called to us and said, "Boys, you may as well
go home; Lee has surrendered his army." We paid no attention to it, but
moved on. A mile farther we met another squad and asked what was the
news from the army. We got this reply: "As