John D. Billings, The history of the Tenth Massachusetts battery of light artillery in the war of the rebellion

[423] We turned to discover its meaning. It was a warning to clear the road for a carriage drawn by four fine horses that were approaching at a gallop. Within sat Gen. Meade, yet pale with an illness that had confined him to his ambulance for some days, but now his face wore a smile, and he was looking eagerly forward, as if with joyful anticipation. Not long after this all hands were ordered to the front, which surely indicated that in that direction there had ceased to be the usual danger, and the story soon reached us that all hostilities had ceased, and that our advance guard were walking side by side with the rear guard of the Johnnies. Our faith was beginning to wax. Truly something was up, and it was beginning to dawn upon us, doubting souls! that the fighting was over. It

John D. Billings. 1865

could, not be, and yet every moment strengthened that opinion.

Now officers and orderlies began to come from the front. They had Zzz$mi the Rebel army. It had stacked arms pending the terms of surrender. How the men chaffed each other between their hopes and fears, passing the long, anxious moments until all should be solved beyond doubt! At last the suspense was brought to an end. A wave of motion