Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 15.djvu/24

 XXIV "On our return from the interview with General Grant at McLean's house on April 9th, 1865, after some conversation with the staff on the incidents of the morning, General Lee directed me to prepare a general order to the army appropriate to the occasion. During the rest of the day I was so constantly occupied with details that I had no time to write the order; so that next morning, when the General called for it, it was not prepared. He then directed me to get into his ambulance, standing before his tent, and get to work at it at once, and placed an orderly on guard to prevent my being interrupted. As soon as I had made a draft in lead-pencil I submitted it to the General, who struck out a whole paragraph and made some verbal alterations, when I had the rough draft, thus corrected, signed by General Lee. This was copied and signed by him for corps commanders and staff officers, and many copies were made and his autograph procured as souvenirs by couriers and persons about headquarters."

The order as corrected by General Lee, and as it was issued to the army, is as follows:

H A N

General Orders, No. 9.

After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell the survivors of so many hard-fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them, but feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that would compensate for the loss that must have attended a continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen. By the terms of agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you His blessing and protection.

With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

R. E. L.

The soldiers were profoundly moved at the reading to them of this noble farewell address, and crowded around the loved chieftain to shake his hand. Responsive to their emotion, he touchingly said: "Men, we have fought through the war together; I have done my best for you; my heart is too full to say more." And grandly,