President Visits City Point—Lee’s Failure—Grant’s Movement—Abraham Lincoln in Richmond—Lee’s Surrender—President’s Impromptu Speech—Speech on Reconstruction—Proclamation Closing Certain Ports—Proclamation Relative to Maritime Rights—Supplementary Proclamation—Orders from the War Department—The Traitor President.
On the afternoon of the 23d of March, 1865, the President, accompanied by Mrs. Lincoln, his youngest son, and a few invited guests, left Washington for an excursion to City Point. The trip was taken under advice of his medical attendant, his health having become somewhat impaired by his unremitting attention to the pressing duties of his office.
A desperate attempt had been made by Lee to break through the lines surrounding him. Assaulting our right centre, he had been repulsed with a severe loss.
Shortly after, Grant determined that the moment had arrived for his advance. A movement was ordered along the entire line—Petersburg fell—Richmond was abandoned in hot haste—and Lee’s routed army “driven to the wall.”
During the progress of the movement, the President forwarded, from time to time, the particulars—pressed on to the evacuated Capital—entered it, conspicuous amid the sweeping mass of men, women, and children, black, white, and yellow, running, shouting, dancing, swinging their caps, bonnets, and handkerchiefs—passed on to the deserted mansion of the rebel chief, cheer upon cheer going up from the excited multitude—there held a levee—left the same evening for City Point—and soon afterward returned to Washington.
Lee, hemmed in on every side, soon after surrendered; the terms of capitulation, which were dictated by the magnanimous President, and dated Appomattox Court House, April ninth, 1865, being as follows:
“General Robert E. Lee, Army C. S.:—In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the army of Northern 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 me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate, the officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be parked 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 horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they may reside.
“Very respectfully,
“U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.”
Johnston was next in order; and toward him Sherman was in motion.
The night following the President’s arrival in Washington, the workmen of the Navy-yard formed in procession, marched to the White House, in front of which thousands were assembled, bands playing, and the entire throng alive with excitement.
Repeated calls having been made for him, he appeared at the window, on the entrance door, calm amid the tumult, and was greeted with cheers and waving of hats.