THE HASKELL MEMOIRS. The Personal Narrative of a Confederate Officer by Col. John Cheves Haskell Gilbert E. Govan

Author:Col. John Cheves Haskell, Gilbert E. Govan [Col. John Cheves Haskell, Gilbert E. Govan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786252111
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Golden Springs Publishing
Published: 2015-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8 — Surrender

TO meet Grant, General Lee wore a full new uniform with a very handsome sword, which he had not worn on duty, and was accompanied by only a single staff officer and an orderly. He was gone for perhaps an hour when he rode back and had some talk with Longstreet and some of his staff. Riding past where I happened to be, he stopped and looking me over said, “Have you a decent uniform?” (The one I had on, I had put on in Richmond the week before, and it had been in every kind of mud and rain.) As my wagons had not been captured, I could answer that I had. “Then put it on, sir, and report at my headquarters.”{226}

When I did report he told me that I was to take command of the artillery, and should go with Longstreet to arrange for the surrender.{227} I got the artillery together and parked it, and at once the men who had damaged horses and saw better ones came asking to be allowed to trade them. With General Longstreet’s approval, I let them take any horses they wanted, putting theirs in place. The first choice was those of our fancy battery from Washington, and in a very short time all the horses, saddles, blankets, valises, and other equipment were replaced by those which had seen much service. Before the trading was finished, however, General Lee rode by, and calling out to me enjoined me to keep everything intact. I told him what had been done, but assured him that nothing more should be disturbed. “Well,” he said, “it would have been better if it had not been done, but I am glad, as it has been, that our poor fellows have some benefit.”

I went with Longstreet and the rest of the commission to the McLean{228} house, where we met Grant and a number of other officers. Grant greeted Longstreet very cordially―they were at West Point together―and after Longstreet had introduced all of us, Grant turned to General Gibbon, saying to Longstreet, “I will turn you over to General Gibbon and these other gentlemen.” I forget most of them, but Griffin,{229} who commanded the Fifth Corps, and Bartlett,{230} a division commander under Griffin, were two of them. Bartlett was the one to whom I turned over the artillery.

Grant and Longstreet talked for some minutes, apparently recalling old times. Then Grant said, “Gentlemen, I have to go to Washington.” He told us good day and walked out. Then Longstreet told me to ride back to our army and ask General Lee something, on which Longstreet wanted some information. I went out to my horse, the one I bought in Richmond when I was wounded and lost my arm. When I got there Grant was standing, admiring him. He turned to me and said: “I am admiring your horse. He is very beautiful.” After asking a question or two, he said: “I would like very much to have him.

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