Chapter 42:
- Public feeling in Richmond after evacuation day. -- President Davis' proclamation at Danville. -- New and sanguine theory of Confederate defence. -- moral effect of the fall of Richmond. -- retreat and final surrender of Lee's army. -- crossing of the Appomattox. -- explosion of magazines. -- the wagon-train from Richmond. -- order of Grant's pursuit. -- General Lee's New hopes. -- they are dashed at Amelia Court-house. -- the Confederates in a starving condition. -- Lee abandons the route to Danville and makes for Lynchburg, by way of Farmville. -- sufferings on the march. -- demoralization of the troops. -- some spirited episodes. -- the action of Sailors' Creek. -- the Confederates in the vicinity of Farmville. -- affairs with the enemy. -- the Confederates retreat to Appomattox Court-house, without molestation. -- sense of relief among the troops. -- ominous sounds of cannon. -- the exit to Lynchburg closed by Sheridan. -- desperate adventure of Gordon's corps. -- the recoil. -- a flag of truce on the scene. -- correspondence between Gens. Grant and Lee, leading to the surrender of the army of Northern Virginia. -- the conference at McLean's house. -- Gen. Lee announcing the terms of surrender. -- a touching scene at his headquarters. -- Gen. Lee's farewell address to his army. -- Magnanimous and delicate behaviour of Grant. -- Gen. Lee's return to his home. -- great exultation at Washington. -- Secretary Stanton's congratulations. -- scene at the President's house. -- characteristic speech and last joke of Abraham Lincoln
The Federal occupants of Richmond no doubt thought the people very submissive to the new authority. They saw no sign of violence, and they heard no expression of defiance. The population of Richmond moved mechanically before their new masters. But there was, for some days, an undercurrent of eager, excited thought which the Federals did not perceive; citizens whispered among themselves, and went around the street-corners to relate in low tones to each other some rumour eagerly grasped for the new hope it contained. Thus it was told in whispers that Gen. Lee had won a great victory on his retreat, that Johnston had struck Sherman a mortal blow, or that some other extravagant event had happened, some sudden relief of the falling fortunes of the Confederacy. It is not easy for men to descend at once to the condition of despair.
