Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 2

[589] them to such a victory as had seldom been won in any war; that their marches and labors were now nearly ended, and the object of them all attained. Grant stood till the last battalion had passed, and then went in and wrote a letter to Lee.

It was in these words: ‘Farmville, April 7th, 1865. General: The results 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.-U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.’

At this juncture Lee's own officers had proposed to him to surrender. The condition of his soldiers, baffled, beaten, followed, famished, wounded, footsore, despairing, was such that nothing but destruction could be looked for. For two days no return of troops had been made. The disintegration of the scattered brigades was such that all attempt to number them was vain. Lee had himself no idea of the strength of his command. The officers were involved in the demoralization of the men; they made no effort to prevent straggling, and shut their eyes on the hourly reduction of their force, riding, dogged and indifferent, in advance of their commands. Only when the national columns caught up and attacked the rear did some of the old spirit seem to reanimate these jaded veterans. Whenever they were summoned to resist, they faced boldly around, and then, like wounded beasts, they struck out terrible blows. The fighting at Sailor's creek was as desperate