t part in the struggle, and
presently when the smoke cleared away Dick uttered a shout.

"What is it?" exclaimed Colonel Winchester.

"A white flag! A white flag!" cried Dick in excitement. "See it waving
over the Southern lines."

"Yes, I see it!" shouted the colonel, Warner and Pennington all together.
Then they stood breathless, and Dick uttered the words:

"The end!"

"Yes," said Colonel Winchester, more to himself than to the others.
"The end! The end at last!"

Thousands now beheld the flag, and, after the first shouts and cheers,
a deep intense silence followed. The soldiers felt the immensity of the
event, but as at the taking of Richmond, they could not comprehend it all
at once. It yet seemed incredible that the enemy, who for four terrible
years had held them at bay, was about to lay down his arms. But it was
true. The messenger, bearing the flag, was now coming toward the Union
lines.

The herald was received within the Northern ranks, bearing a request that
hostilities be suspended in order that the commanders might have time
to talk over terms of surrender, and, at the same time, General Grant,
who was seven or eight miles from Appomattox Court House in a pine wood,
received a note of a similar tenor, the nature of which he disclosed to
his staff amid much cheering. The Union chief at once wrote to General
Lee:

Your note of this date is but at this moment (11:50 A. M.) received,
in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg
road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at this writing
about four miles west of Walker's Church, and will push forward to
the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on
this road where you wish the interview to take place will meet me.

It was a characteristic and modest letter, and yet the heart under the
plain blue blouse must have beat with elation at the knowledge that
he had brought, what was then the greatest war of modern times, to a
successful conclusion. The dispatch was given to Colonel Babcock of
his staff, who was instructed to ride in haste to Lee and arrange the
interview. The general and his staff followed, but missing the way,
narrowly escaped capture by Confederate troops, who did not yet know of
the proposal to suspend hostilities. But they at last reached Sheridan
about a half mile west of Appomattox Court House.

Dick and his comrades meanwhile spent a momentous morning. It would