Part 8 (2/2)
Rowe were appointed a commission to visit Richmond and secure the release of the Federal prisoners, and, when so released, the commission was authorized to do what might be necessary to effect the final exchange. On their arrival in Richmond they called on the Confederate authorities and stated the terms of agreement, and through their solicitation the following order was issued by Colonel Robert Ould, the Confederate commissioner of exchange of prisoners:
”RICHMOND, VA., June 23rd, 1864.
_Brigadier General M. M. Gardner_--SIR: I will thank you to deliver to M. Slaughter, Mayor of Fredericksburg, fifty-six Federal Soldiers (privates) who are to be exchanged for an equal number of our people, captured in Fredericksburg. I will thank you also to furnish M.
Slaughter the necessary guard, &c., for their transportation to Fredericksburg. Please send two or three surgeons with the party.
Resp'y yr Obt. Sert., R. OULD, Agt.”
The issuance of this order, with the previous a.s.surance of the Federal authorities, encouraged and rejoiced the hearts of all interested parties.
The mourning changed to rejoicing, and nothing now remained to complete the joy but the presence of the loved ones, who yet lingered in prison. An order was at once issued by the Common Council authorizing Mr. Slaughter and Mr. Rowe to procure all the necessary transportation and make proper arrangements for the exchange and effect the release of the imprisoned citizens as speedily as possible. From the final report, made on the subject, it appears that the whole matter of making the exchange of prisoners was turned over to Mr. Rowe. On his return from Was.h.i.+ngton he reported the transactions in full to the Council, on the 8th of July, in the following words:[38]
”I have the honor to report that I reached the military lines of the United States in safety with the fifty-six prisoners of war and four civil officers of the so-called State of West Virginia, committed to my charge by the corporation authorities, to be exchanged for the captive citizens of Fredericksburg. After some difficulty in obtaining personal access to the authorities at Was.h.i.+ngton, and several days'
discussion there, I succeeded in closing a negotiation that the Federal prisoners delivered by me should be released from their paroles simultaneously with the delivery of fifty-three captive citizens of Fredericksburg, and seven Confederate prisoners of war, on board of a flag of truce steamer, with transportation to Split Rock, on the Potomac river.
”In execution of this obligation the Federal authorities delivered to me, on board the Steamer Weycomoke, whence they were landed at Split Rock on yesterday, forty-nine citizens and two prisoners of war, according to the roll which accompanies this report, marked A.[39] The four citizens and five prisoners of war still due, I have solid a.s.surances will be forwarded by the same route at an early day.”
At the conclusion of Mr. Rowe's report, on motion made by Mr. John James Young, the Council unanimously adopted the following resolution:
”That the thanks of this body be tendered to Mr. Rowe for the energetic and efficient manner in which he has effected the exchange of Federal prisoners for our captive citizens.”
Having been set at liberty at Split Rock, on the banks of the Potomac river, the march to Fredericksburg was soon commenced. Some few of the party, and especially the sick, were fortunate enough to have carriages sent for them, some got seats in wagons, but a large majority of them made the journey on foot, and were delighted at the privilege of doing so. The distance is about twelve miles. It is unnecessary to attempt (for we could not if we did) to describe the scene upon the arrival of these unfortunate ones to their homes and families. It is sufficient to say they reached home in safety amidst the shouts of welcome and the rejoicing of the inhabitants of the town, the returned prisoners joining in the refrain, bearing testimony to the truth of Payne's declaration, ”There's no place like home.”
The small batch of wounded and straggling Federal soldiers, who were arrested by the citizens on the 8th of May, was followed next day and the succeeding days, until there were in the different improvised hospitals in town about fifteen thousand sick and wounded soldiers. They were attended by a large body of surgeons and a.s.sistants of every kind, including nurses. The native population of the town at this time was small, and consisted entirely of women, children and elderly men. Even the colored population had become very much reduced.
The sudden increase of the population by the advent of this large number of sick and wounded soldiers, and their numerous attendants, caused great suffering and distress, and during this occupation by the wounded, the suffering, disease and sorrow endured by the people of Fredericksburg were greater than any that had previously visited them. But notwithstanding this, and notwithstanding the harsh and cruel treatment they received at the hands of General Pope and his subordinates, truth demands the record and admission that these scenes of horror were greatly mitigated by many acts of courtesy and considerate aid on the part of the Federal officers stationed here, which even now are kindly remembered and spoken of by many of our citizens who were partic.i.p.ants in the scenes referred to above.
CHAPTER VIII
_The Armies Transferred to Richmond and Petersburg--Gen. Lee's surrender--Citizens Return Home--Action of the Council--Fredericksburg Again Under the Old Flag--The a.s.sa.s.sination of President Lincoln Denounced and Deplored--Reconstruction Commenced--An Election Set Aside--The Iron-Clad Oath--All Offices Vacated and Strangers Appointed--The Financial Condition of the Town--The Town Again in the Hands of its Citizens--Splendid Financial Showing, &c._
At the conclusion of the battles around Spotsylvania, during which time Fredericksburg was the base of supplies for the Federal army, the two armies moved south and the scenes of war were transferred from Fredericksburg to Richmond and Petersburg. From the time the main armies moved south to the close of the war Fredericksburg was first in the Federal lines and then in the Confederate lines. After the base of supplies for the Union army was moved from Fredericksburg to City Point about the only troops that visited the town were scouting or raiding parties, and be it said to their credit very little damage to property was done by them. Communication was kept up all the time with Richmond and the citizens were not without hope that the Federal army would be driven back and the scenes of war transferred to other parts. But these hopes were delusive. General Grant was constantly receiving reinforcements, until he had over 200,000 men, by which he was enabled to extend his lines, while General Lee's small army, not exceeding 45,000 men, was becoming smaller and his lines of battle thinner by reason of casualties, resulting from daily engagements with the enemy. In consequence of this he was unable to hold his long lines against the vigorous attacks of General Grant.
About the first of April General Lee suffered several reverses on his extreme right, which resulted in turning his right flank on the 2nd of April. On the morning of the 3rd he commenced the evacuation of Richmond, abandoned his entire line in front of Petersburg and retreated in the direction of Danville. The overwhelming numbers of Grant against him made his retreat very difficult and enabled the Federals to hara.s.s him on every side. When General Lee reached Burkeville he found the Federals between him and Danville, his objective point, and it became necessary for him to change the direction of his column. There was but one way open for him and that was the road to Lynchburg. But this road was soon closed. At the battle of Sailors' Creek, near Farmville, on the 6th of April, the Confederates lost over six thousand men and several general officers. From the result of this engagement it was plainly seen that the end had come.
By fighting in the day and marching at night General Lee reached Appomattox Courthouse on the 9th, with what few soldiers he had left, broken down from hunger and marching, his horses jaded and unable to do their work, and his artillery and wagon trains were falling an easy prey to the pursuing army. Although the men's courage never failed them, in the condition in which Gen. Lee found himself, there was nothing to do but to surrender. General Grant had already communicated with him and demanded his surrender, upon the ground that he could not longer resist, but he had not felt a willingness to yield until the morning of the 9th.
On that eventful morning General Lee opened communication with General Grant and invited a conference, to discuss the terms of surrender. They met, it is said, under an apple tree and adjourned to the residence of Mr.
Wilmer McLane,[40] where the terms were agreed upon, written out and signed. It was from this building that General Lee mounted old Traveller,[41] to return to his lines to announce the sad news to the remaining remnant of his once magnificent army. General Hooker declared the army of the Potomac, prior to his move to Chancellorsville, ”the grandest army on the planet,” but more than one of the Federal generals of high rank, who served in the Army of the Potomac, have since the war declared ”that for sacrifice, suffering and for fighting qualities the world could not surpa.s.s the Army of Northern Virginia.”
The terms of the surrender were liberal, even generous, and bore testimony to the affectionate consideration General Lee had for his men and the magnanimity of General Grant to those who had surrendered their arms. It was agreed that the officers were 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 was to sign a similar parole for their men. The arms, artillery and public property were to be stacked and packed and turned over to a United States officer. The officers and men were allowed to take their side arms, private horses and baggage and return to their homes unmolested and so remain as long as they observed their paroles. In addition to this, at the suggestion of General Lee, General Grant furnished the Confederate army with rations, which they had been without for several days. It is said that when it became known by the advanced lines of the Federal troops and those of the Confederate army that the terms of surrender had been signed and peace was at hand, their long pent-up feelings gave way in the loudest tumult of rejoicing.
There was no demand made by General Grant for the surrender of General Lee's sword, and there was no offer of the surrender of his sword on the part of General Lee. The officers were to retain their side arms which included the sword. ”The number of men paroled was about twenty-six thousand, of whom not more than nine thousand had arms in their hands.
About sixteen thousand small arms were surrendered, one hundred and fifty cannon, seventy-one colors, eleven hundred wagons and caissons and four thousand horses and mules. The Confederate troops, immediately upon receiving their paroles, separated and returned to their homes.”[42]
The scene of separation of soldiers and commanders, who had served nearly four years together, and who were linked together by the strongest bonds of comrades.h.i.+p, not to say of genuine affection, was the saddest and most trying that had ever occurred in the past history of the army. Farewells, amid tears and audible sobbing of the brave, rough soldiers, were exchanged and they parted, never to meet as soldiers, in arms again!
Before leaving for home, however, and as the last act of the closing drama, and the last act of General Lee as the Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, the day following the surrender he issued a farewell address.[43] The address was printed on slips of paper and distributed to the soldiers, who felt unwilling to leave for their homes until they received the parting blessing and loving benediction of their idolized commander.
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