Surrender at Appomattox

While Generals Grant and Lee were in conference, arranging the conditions of the latter’s surrender, Ward’s battery from Mississippi occupied such an advanced position in the Confederate line as not to know what was going on at army headquarters, and having received no orders to cease firing, consequently its guns were opened upon the Federals whenever they were in sight or range, notwithstanding the latter called to them to cease firing, and, also, waved handkerchiefs at them. The officers of the battery thought it quite strange that firing had ceased everywhere else, and, after a consultation, dispatched Lieut. T. to Maj. Pogue, who commanded the battalion of artillery, for orders. As the lieutenant rode along he noticed an unusual number of blue coats within the lines, and saw groups of Confederate and Federal officers in conversation, and said “the thought took possession of him that the Confederates had won the day and captured a terrible lot of prisoners.” Finally, he reached Maj. Pogue’s tent, and, after saluting him, announced that “his battery had cleaned out the enemy in its front, and that the Captain was waiting instructions to move further to the front, and had sent him for orders.”
“Orders!” exclaimed the Major, “why, the jig is up!”
“It is?” said the Lieutenant.
“Yes! The surrender occurred more than an hour ago” continued the Major, but before he could finish the Lieutenant wheeled his horse and went dashing back to his comrades. As he reached them he whooped and yelled louder than ever.
“Hurrah! Boys the jig is up. We’ve scooped ‘em in. Old Grant’s surrendered to Marse Bob and his fellows and our fellows are all up the road there a-shaking hands and a-swapping greenbacks and Confed money for war relics. I swear it’s a fact. I saw it with my own eyes and Maj. Pogue told me so.” 

About that time the Major came galloping up and the Lieutenant exclaimed:
“There he comes now. He’ll tell you all about it.” But before the Major could speak the Lieutenant asked:
“Hasn’t the surrender taken place Major?”
“Yes” he said, and again the Lieutenant whooped and yelled:
“I told you so. Hurrah for our side!” and the officers and men joined in and yelled till their throats were sore. 

All this time the Major, who was still in his saddle, was trying to get in a word or two, but all in vain. Great tears were coursing down his cheeks, and when the Lieutenant noticed this he called out:
“By granny boys, the news is so good, see, the Major is actually crying.” At last there was a lull, when the Captain remarked:
“Tell us all the particulars, Major.”

The Major, with some effort, and in a husky voice, complied; but he told them Gen. Lee had surrendered to Gen. Grant, his eyes were not the only ones that were filled with tears. The Lieutenant looked confounded, then bursting into tears, said:
“Well boys, I don’t believe it was ever intended for us to win.”