Part 91 (1/2)
”Surrender, Taylor! Surrender? Why, there's no such word--there's no such word--”
Lee and Alexander moved down to the little field table.
”We must decide,” the Commander began, ”what to do in case Gordon can't break through. How many guns in your command?”
”More than forty, sir. We've just captured a section of Federal artillery in perfect order.”
”Forty guns! And Grant is circling us with five hundred--”
”We have fought big odds before. We have ammunition. The artillery has done little on this retreat. They're eager for a fight, if you wish to give battle.”
”I can rally but eight thousand men for a final charge. They are tired and hungry. What have we got to do?”
”This means but one thing, then--”
”Well, sir?”
”Order the army to scatter--each man for himself. They can slip through the brush to-night like quail, and reach Johnston's army.”
”You think this best?”
”It's the only thing to do, sir. Surrender--never. Scatter. And when Grant closes in to-morrow his hands will be empty. He'll find a few broken guns and wagons. Our men will be safe beyond his lines and ready to fight again.”
”That's the plan!” Taylor joined.
”We can beat Grant that way, General. The Confederacy may win by delay.
At least by delay we can give the State Governments time to make their own terms as States. If you surrender, it's all over.”
”I do not think the North will acknowledge the sovereignty of the States at this late day.”
”It is reported that Lincoln has offered to accept the surrender of States and make terms--”
”This would, of course,” Lee slowly answered, ”prolong the war as long as one held out--”
”And don't forget, sir,” Alexander urged stoutly, ”that the single State of Texas is three times larger than France. She has countless head of cattle and horses on her plains. She can equip armies. Her warlike sons, with you to lead them, would laugh at conquest for the next ten years.
The territory of the South is too vast to be held except at a cost the North cannot afford to pay--”
”Armies may march across it,” Taylor interrupted, ”a million soldiers could not hold it _unless you surrender!_”
”Guerrilla warfare is a desperate resort,” Lee answered sadly.
”There are things worse,” Alexander cried pa.s.sionately. ”This army is ready to die to a man before we will submit to unconditional surrender.
The men who have fought under you for these three tragic years have the right to demand that you spare us this shame!”
”General Grant will not ask unconditional surrender. I have been in correspondence with him for two days. He has already put his terms in writing. They are generous. All officers may retain their swords and every horse go home for the spring plowing. He merely requires our parole not to take up arms again.”
”He would offer no such terms,” Alexander argued, ”unless he knew you yet had a chance to win--”
Lee waved his hand.