870 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OF 
The whole of the next day was spent by the confederate army in collecting 
their remaining ordnance, arms, &c. for giving over, and in calling in to the 
benefit of the parole such of the stragglers as could be reached : in this way 
11,000 men actually present at the first summons became 25,000 who took 
the parole; the arms were 11,000, and the guns more than 100. 
As soon as terms were agreed on, parts of the federal army commenced to 
retrace their steps towards its base of supplies; which were conveyed to it 
with much difficulty, even though the S. S. railroad, of peculiar gauge, 
was being altered to suit the northern rolling stock, at the rate of 16 miles 
a day. Of the supplies it possessed on the spot some was immediately sent 
in to the confederate army, which had subsisted generally for the last seven 
days on two days full rations of bread, and a little more of meat, and such 
trifles as they could pick up. Both armies were worn by long marching, 
little food, and want of sleep, but the confederates far the most so; now, in 
the almost unnatural quiet, all rested, and a feeling of fraternization began 
to arise between the two armies. It was only when I left the fighting men 
and came northward amongst the politicians that I heard bitterness and 
boasting, and longing for cowardly revenge. 
General Lee, in friendly conversation after the surrender with General 
Meade, mentioned three instructive facts, which I will briefly recount. He 
said that the south had never been able to shew so fine or so confident an 
army since the disastrous day of Gettysburg ; that at the opening of the 
present campaign he had had but 40,000 men, (as he paroled 25,000 and as 
nearly 25,000 more had already passed prisoners through the hands of the 
Provost Marshal, and as he must have lost at least 10,000 killed and 
wounded, it is probable that he meant 40,000 present in the ranks, and that 
20,000 more must have been sick, team-drivers, artificers, &e.); and more¬ 
over, that he had desired to withdraw the army from Richmond towards the 
south-west ever since last autumn, but that the political authorities would 
not consent. 
Various particulars of the American military system in the field struck me 
as very interesting; but as this account of the actual operations has become 
so long, I will reserve notice of them to a future communication. 
I have the honor to be, 
Your most obedient Servant, 
H. SMYTH, Major, 
Royal Artillery. 
