The miracle which Toombs feared came to pass. In the blackest hour ofthe Lincoln administration, his own party despaired of his election. TheNational Republican Committee came to Washington and demanded that hewithdraw from the ticket and allow them to name a candidate who mighthave a chance against General McClellan and his peace platform.
And then it happened.
Sherman suddenly took Atlanta and swung his legions toward the sea. Ablack pall of smoke marked his trail. The North leaped once more withthe elemental impulse. A wave of war enthusiasm swept Lincoln back intothe White House. And a new line of blue soldiers streamed to Grant\'sfront.
The ragged men in gray were living on parched corn. Grant edged his bluelegions farther and farther southward until he saw the end of the mortaltrenches Lee\'s genius had built. The lion sprang on his exposed flankand Petersburg was doomed.
The Southern Commander sent his fated message to Richmond that hemust uncover the Capital of the Confederacy, and staggered out of histrenches to attempt a union of forces with Johnston\'s army in NorthCarolina.
Grant\'s host were on his heels, his guns thundering, his cavalrydestroying.
A negro regiment entered Richmond as the flames of the burning citylicked the skies.
Lee paused at Appomattox to await the coming of his provision train. Hisheadquarters were fixed beneath an apple tree in full bloom.
He bent anxiously over a field map with his Adjutant. His face wasclouded with deep anxiety.
"Why doesn\'t Gordon report?" he cried. "We\'ve sent three couriers. Theyhaven\'t returned. Grant has not only closed the road to Lynchburg, hehas pushed a wedge into our lines and cut Gordon off. If he has, we\'rein a trap--""It couldn\'t have happened in an hour!" Taylor protested.
"Order Fitzhugh Lee to concentrate every horse for Gordon\'s support andcall in Alexander for a conference."Taylor hastened to execute the command and Lee sat down under theflower-draped tree.
Sam approached bearing a tray.
"De coffee\'s all ready, Marse Robert--\'ceptin\' dey ain\'t no coffee init. Does ye want a cup? Hit\'s good, hot black water, sah!"Lee\'s eyes were not lifted.
"No, Sam, thank you."The faithful negro shook his head and walked back to his sorry kitchen.
Taylor handed his order to a dust-covered courier.
"Take this to Fitz Lee."The courier scratched his head.
"I don\'t know General Fitz Lee, sir.""The devil you don\'t. What division are you from?""Dunno, sir. Been cut to pieces so many times and changed commanders somuch I dunno who the hell I belong to--""How\'d you get here?""Detailed for the day.""You know General John B. Gordon?"The dusty figure stiffened.
"I\'m from Georgia.""Take this to him."Taylor handed the man his order as the thunder of a line of artilleryopened on the left.
"Which way is General Gordon?" the courier asked.
"That\'s what I want to know. Get to him. Follow the line of that firing.
You\'ll find him where it\'s hottest. Get back here quick if you have tokill your horse."Sam came back with his tray.
"I got yo\' breakfus\' an\' dinner both now, Marse Robert."Lee looked up with a smile.
"Too tired now. Eat it for me, Sam--"Sam turned quickly.
"Yassah. I do de bes\' I kin fur ye."As Sam went back to the kitchen he motioned to a ragged soldier whostood with his wife and little girl gazing at the General.
"Dar he is. Go right up an\' tell him."Sweeney approached Lee timidly. The wife and girl hung back.
He tried to bow and salute at the same time.
"Excuse me for coming, General Lee, but my company\'s halted there in thewoods. You\'ve stopped in a few yards of my house, sir. Won\'t you come inand make it your headquarters?""No, my good friend. I won\'t disturb your home."The wife edged near.
"It\'s no trouble at all, sir. We\'d be so proud to have you.""Thank you. I always use my tent, Madame. I\'ll not be here long.""Please come, sir!" the man urged.
Lee studied his face.
"Haven\'t I seen you before, my friend?""Yes, sir. I\'m the man who brought the news that General Stuart hadfallen at Yellow Tavern."Lee grasped his hand.
"Oh, I remember. You\'re Sweeney--Sweeney whose banjo he loved so well.
And this is your wife and little girl?""Yes, sir," Mrs. Sweeney answered.
The Commander pressed her hand cordially.
"I\'m glad to know you, Mrs. Sweeney. Your husband\'s music was a greatjoy to General Stuart."The little girl handed him a bunch of violets. He stooped, kissed herand took her in his arms.
"You\'d like your papa to come back home from the war and stay with youalways, wouldn\'t you, dear?""Yes, sir," she breathed.
"Maybe he will, soon.""You see, General," Sweeney said, "when my Chief fell, I threw my banjoaway and got a musket.""If I only had Stuart here to-day!" Lee sighed.
"He\'d cut his way through, sir, with a shout and a laugh," Sweeneyboasted.
A courier handed Lee a dispatch and Sweeney edged away. The Commanderread the message with a frown and crumpled the paper in his hand. Thewagons at Appomattox had been cut to pieces. His army had nothing toeat. They had been hungry for two days and nights.
"It\'s more than flesh can bear, Taylor--and yet listen to those guns!
They\'re still fighting this morning. Fighting like tigers. Grant\'sclosing in with a hundred thousand men. Unless Gordon breaks throughwithin an hour--he\'s got us--"Lee gazed toward the sound of the guns on the left. His face was calmbut his carriage was no longer quite erect. The agony of sleeplessnights had plowed furrows in his forehead. His eyes were red. His cheekswere sunken and haggard. His face was colorless. And yet he was calmlydeliberate in every movement.
An old man, flushed with excitement, staggered up to him.
Lee started.
"Ruffin--you here?""General Lee," he began, "will you hear me for just one moment?""Certainly."Lee sprang to his feet.
"But how did you get into my lines--I thought I was surrounded?""I came out of Richmond with General Alexander\'s rear guard, sir, sixdays ago.""Oh, I see.""Ten years ago, General Lee, in your house, I predicted this war. Lastweek I saw the city in flames and I hope to God every house was in ashesbefore that regiment of negro cavalry galloped through its streets.""I trust not, Ruffin. I left my wife and children there.""I hope they\'re safe, sir.""They\'re in God\'s hands."A courier handed Lee a dispatch which he read aloud.
"President Davis has been forced to flee from Danville and allcommunication with him has been cut.""General Lee," Ruffin cried excitedly, "this country is now in yourhands.""What would you have me do?""Fight until the last city is in ashes and the last man falls in histracks. Fools at your headquarters have been talking for two days ofsurrender. It can\'t be done. It can\'t be done. If you surrender do youknow what will happen?""I\'ve tried to think.""I\'ll tell you, sir. Thaddeus Stevens, the Radical Leader of Congress,has already prepared the bill to take the ballot from the Southern whiteman and give it to the negro. The property of the whites he proposed toconfiscate and give to their slaves. He will clothe the negro with allpower and set him to rule over his former masters."Lee answered roughly.
"Nonsense, Ruffin. I am better informed. Senator Washburn, Mr. Lincoln\'sspokesman, entered Richmond with the Federal army. He says that thePresident will remove the negro troops from the United States as soonas peace is declared. He has a bill in Congress to colonize the negrorace.""Stevens is the master of Congress.""If the North wins, Lincoln will be the master of Congress. We need fearno scheme of insane vengeance."Lee took from Taylor two despatches.
"General Mahone has taken a thousand prisoners--""Glory to God!" Ruffin shouted. "Such men don\'t know how to surrender!""And our cavalry has captured. General Gregg and a squadron of hismen--""Surrender!" the old man roared. "They\'ll never surrender, sir, unlessyou say so. Our wives, our daughters, our children, our homes, ourcause, our lives, are in your hands. For God\'s sake, don\'t listen tofools. Don\'t give up, General Lee--don\'t--"General Alexander sprang from his horse and approached his Commander.
Lee spoke in low, strained tones.
"I\'m afraid we\'re caught."He turned to the old man.
"Excuse me, Ruffin, I must confer with General Alexander."Ruffin\'s reply came feebly.
"With your permission I will--stay--at--your headquarters for a littlewhile.""Certainly."Taylor led the old man toward his baggage wagon.
"Come with me, sir. I\'ll find you a cot.""Thank you. Thank you." His eyes were dim and he walked stumblingly.
"Surrender, Taylor! Surrender? Why, there\'s no such word--there\'s nosuch word--"Lee and Alexander moved down to the little field table.
"We must decide,"............