The Role of Media in the American Civil War

4.1. The Surrender at Appomattox

By the spring of 1865, few remained from the original 800 000 men of the confederate army. While fighting the Gettysburg campaign, the army of the Northern Virginia comprised of 75 000 men, however, two years later General Robert Lee lead only 25 000 men to protect the South. William Matthews, the editor of the Lancaster Gazette from Ohio hastened to say: “Poor Lee! Struggling like a child in the hand of a giant determined to destroy him” (1). Being literally captured when trying to join the Johnston’s army of Tennessee, Lee saw no other choice but to surrender. On 9^th April 1865, Lee made an appointment with the Union General Ulysses Grant to arrange the terms of surrender. The two generals met in the town of Appomattox Court House. In the book “The Union Restored”, Harry T. Williams found symbolism in the meeting:

Lee came to the meeting accompanied by one staff officer and formally attired: a gleaming splendid martial figure. Grant came in from the line, a dozen generals and staff officers following him, and wearing his customary careless dress. There was a symbolism in the confrontation – Lee the knightly soldier, the representative of a way of war and of life that was disappearing, and Grant, the businessman in uniform, the exponent of future war. (90)

The Tri-Weekly Herald from Newberry in South Carolina described the mood in the McLean house, where the meeting took place, in the article “General Lee the Prisoner of War”: “General Lee tendered his sword to Grant in token of surrender. That officer, however, with a courtesy for which we must accord him due respect, declined to receive it saying: Gen. Lee keep that sword. You have won it by your gallantry. You have not been whipped, but overpowered, and I cannot receive it as a token of surrender from so brave a man.” (1)

Considering the terms of surrender, Grant was more than generous. Under the parole that they would fight no more, Lee’s soldiers would not be prosecuted for treason and in addition they were allowed to retain ownership of the horses and side arms. Lee knew these magnanimous terms would prevent the army to join Johnston’s army or to create a guerrilla groups and keep on fighting. With the evident appreciation of this concession, he assured: “This will have the best possible effect upon the men. It will be very gratifying and will do much toward conciliating our people.” (qtd. in Holzer 1145)

After the negotiations finished, Lee issued the last order to his army. The order n.9 starting with the sentence: “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.” Almost two hundred words later, he gave farewell to men whom he had lead since June 1, 1862: “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.”

The majority of the southern soldiers took the surrender with great deal of melancholy. They fought for the cause they had considered right, however as the cause was lost, it was time to go home to their families. On the other hand, the Columbia Phoenix in the article “Sad Details” mentioned those who refused to surrender: “A considerable number swore that they would surrender, and made their way to the woods. Generals Gary and Rosser of Virginia with a few followers cut their way out and escaped” (2). It was later revealed that Gary joined Jefferson Davis and helped with moving the cabinet south, whereas Thomas Rosser was captured in May 1865. The Phoenix continued with the description of the mood in the confederate camp:

During Sunday and Monday, a large number of Federal soldiers and officers visited our camps and looked curiously on our commands, but there was nothing like exultation, no shouting for joy. And no word uttered that could add to the mortification already sustained. On the contrary, every symptom of respect was manifested, and the Southern army was praised for the brave and noble manner in which it had defended our cause. (2)

The northern press reacted to the recent events with an unconcealed contentment. The Boston Evening Transcript from Massachusetts commented on the general enthusiasm in the article “General Rejoicing”: “The joy of your population this morning, as the intelligence of the surrender of Lee’s army spread, hardly knew bounds” (2). In the “Story of Three Days” a reporter of the New York Daily Tribune described the feelings of the northern population: “Our feelings are in a state of gladness that can hardly be imagined. Men see in the capture of the greatest army of the enemy an end to their hardships and a return to their homes” (1). C.W. Willard announced Lee’s capitulation in the Vermont newspapers Green-Mountain Freeman:

The long contest – the four years of the internal strife – is virtually over. The rebel army of Northern Virginia, which has been the strong power of Jeff Davis, has laid down its arms. The soldiers composing it have gone to their homes, never more to be found fighting against the Union. With the surrender and dispersion of the army commanded by Gen. Lee, the last hope of Jeff Davis and the leaders of the rebellion expires. (1)

Although the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered in the middle of April 1865, it took another 2 moths to finish the war officially. After the capture of Richmond, the Confederacy government moved south into hiding and therefore, it was under competence of the generals to surrender their armies. The last confederate general to surrender was Stand Watie, the commander of the Indians in the western theatre.

The northern newspapers Raftman’s Journal published the article “The Past and Present” summarizing the war:

When the rebellion first broke out, the so-called Democratic Leaders and presses, all over the land, proclaimed that it was impossible to conquer the South – that the rebels were invincible and more than a match for the Northern troops – and that it was too big a contract for the Government ever to succeed in re-establishing its authority over the Seceded States. If the rebels, by the aid of the money and ships of the aristocracies of Europe, and the encouragement and sympathy of the Copperhead leaders in the North, could have accomplished their purposes, then, indeed, the above predictions might have been fulfilled, and the cause of American freedom forever destroyed. But what is the condition of affairs at present? Precisely the reverse! Instead of rebels being invincible, they are defeated on every battle-field. The Northern freemen are more than a match for Southern slave-drivers and traitors. And the Government, instead of being powerless to assert its authority, is to-day sweeping with an irresistible force through the very heart of the rebellious territory. Soon again will the starry flag of our Government float in triumph over every foot of our vast domain. (2)

After Lee and Johnston surrendered, everybody but former confederate President Jefferson Davis knew that the war ended. He was desperately seeking the possibility to establish a government in exile in Europe. However, he was arrested by federal troops in Georgia on 10^th May 1865. In spite of two years spent as a prisoner in Fort Monroe, Davis’s fate was a way more pleasant than the one of his northern counterpart.