"Nonsense, Ruffin. I am better informed. Senator Washburn, Mr. Lincoln's spokesman, entered Richmond with the Federal army. He says that the President will remove the negro troops from the United States as soon as peace is declared. He has a bill in Congress to colonize the negro race."
"Stevens is the master of Congress."
"If the North wins, Lincoln will be the master of Congress. We need fear no scheme of insane vengeance."
Lee took from Taylor two despatches.
"General Mahone has taken a thousand prisoners—"
"Glory to God!" Ruffin shouted. "Such men don't know how to surrender!"
"And our cavalry has captured. General Gregg and a squadron of his men—"
"Surrender!" the old man roared. "They'll never surrender, sir, unless you say so. Our wives, our daughters, our children, our homes, our cause, our lives, are in your hands. For God's sake, don't listen to fools. Don't give up, General Lee—don't—"
General Alexander sprang from his horse and approached his Commander.
Lee spoke in low, strained tones.