April 10 — It is reported that General Lee surrendered the last remnant of the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant at Appomattox Court House; if that is true the war is over, and I expect there is no doubt about the surrender, as the Yanks had some more fireworks to-day, and fired two hundred and twenty-five guns in glorification of the last act of the great drama in Virginia.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
Camp Harker, June 10.—We had quite an excitement last night. I awoke with the feeling that there was some one in the tent, and I raised up and saw a man on his hands and knees looking up at me. I screamed, “William, there is a man in the tent.” I awoke all the inmates of all the tents around us with the scream. The man was looking for William’s trousers, I suppose, and found garments he did not expect to see. He got out very quickly. William jumped up and tried to catch him. He felt under his pillow for his pistol the first thing, but I had objected to his having it when I was there, so he did not find it. He shouted, “Stop that thief,” and immediately there were a number of men out of their tents, but they did not know what they were called out for. The man had to run between the tents to get away, and he went like the wind and escaped. Yesterday the Paymaster was here and paid off some of the troops, but he did not pay the 13th. The thief had been through all the tents but one and had taken all he could find, but he did not get anything from us.
April 10th, 1865.
It has just now been officially announced that Lee has surrendered the last remnant of his broken army. Everyone is wild with joy. As for myself, I cannot write! I cannot talk; only my glad heart cries “Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest; in the Highest!”
.
Hobbs House. Va.. April 10th, 1865.
Transportation has nearly failed since we left Petersburg. The cars are running past here, but the roads are in such condition the troops can with difficulty be supplied with rations. Captain Sudborough has left us on twenty days’ leave to visit his home in Michigan. He goes by way of Richmond, fearing he may have no other opportunity to see that famous city, the goal of our ambition the last four years. During the last two days great changes have been made in our police regulations. The General has put his machine in running order, and we can now turn out “citizens of the United States” with neatness and dispatch.
Nearly every man, woman and child in this County have taken the oath of allegiance. The people of this County are quietly resuming their usual avocations. From the little knowledge of human nature I possess, I believe a majority of them to be more truly loyal now to the “Old Union.” as they term it than they ever were before.
10th.—Another gloomy Sabbath-day and harrowing night. We went to St. Paul’s in the morning,.and heard a very fine sermon from Dr. Minnegerode—at least so said my companions. My attention, which is generally riveted by his sermons, wandered continually. I could not listen; I felt so strangely, as if in a vivid, horrible dream. Neither President was prayed for; in compliance with some arrangement with the Federal authorities, the prayer was used as for all in authority! How fervently did we all pray for our own President! Thank God, our silent prayers are free from Federal authority. “The oppressor keeps the body bound, but knows not what a range the spirit takes.” Last night, (it seems strange that we have lived to speak or write of it,) between nine and ten o’clock, as some of the ladies of the house were collected in our room, we were startled by the rapid firing of cannon. At first we thought that there must be an attack upon the city; bright thoughts of the return of our army darted through my brain; but the firing was too regular. We began to think it must be a salute for some great event. We threw up the windows, and saw the flashes and smoke of cannon towards Camp Jackson. Some one present counted one hundred guns. What could it be? We called to passers-by: “What do those guns mean?” Sad voices answered several times: “I do not know.” At last a voice pertly, wickedly replied: “General Lee has surrendered, thank God! ” Of course we did not believe him, though the very sound was a knell. Again we called out: “What is the matter? ” A voice answered, as if from a broken heart: “They say General Lee has surrendered.” We cannot believe it, but my heart became dull and heavy, and every nerve and muscle of my frame seems heavy too. I cannot even now shake it off. We passed the night, I cannot tell how—I know not how we live at all. At daybreak the dreadful salute commenced again. Another hundred guns at twelve to-day. Another hundred—can it be so? No, we do not believe it, but how can we bear such a doubt? Where are all our dear ones, our beloved soldiers, and our noble chief to-night, while the rain falls pitilessly? Are they lying on the cold, hard ground, sleeping for sorrow? or are they moving southward trinmphantly, to join General Johnston, still able and willing—ah, far more than willing—to avenge their country’s wrongs? God help usl—we must take refuge in unbelief.
APRIL 10th, 1865.—General Lee has surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. Oh, I wish we were all dead! It is as if the very earth had crumbled beneath our feet. In our minds all is chaos and confusion and yet, outwardly there is no difference. The skies are just as blue, the flowers just as bright; the mockingbirds are flitting in and out teaching their young ones how to fly and tonight they will be singing just as gayly as if this crushing sorrow had not come to us.
Father walked the floor all night long, I do not know if Mother slept but I know that not one of us went to bed, though I fell asleep for a little while but Father’s ceaseless tramp followed me even when I slept and he is still walking to and fro, from the front door to the back. He does not say a word and I can see Mother feels very uneasy. She is coming now with a cup of coffee and I am wondering if she can get him to take it. Father was so sure we would succeed.
