Confederate States partly-printed document No. 22. N.p., [1865?]. 1 leaf, 4to. Uncompleted but with contemporary ink inscription to verso near docketing printing: "Picked up by Sergeant John W. Burnett, Co. M, 198th Pa. Vols about April 6 or 7th 1865. Where it had been scattered with other documents found in Gen Robert E. Lee's Head Quarters Train of Wagons. Captured by Sheridan's Cavalry, about the 6th April. Many valuable public papers were wasted at this place by these 'Wild Riders.'" A later inscription below reads "John W. Burnett, Waltham Mass, Feb 11, 1896." A final inscription, perpendicular to the others: "Lee Army Surrendered Apr. 9th 1865".

John W. Burnett enlisted late in the war on 10 October 1864 as a private, mustering into Company M of the 198th Pennsylvania Infantry. Promoted to sergeant, he was riding with General Sheridan's cavalry on 6 April during the Battle of Sailor's Creek (alt. Sayler's Creek), the last engagement of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. At the start of April, Grant's army broke the defenses of Petersburg and General Nelson A. Miles cut off the South Side Railroad, the last supply line and route of retreat for the Confederates. Between April 2nd and 3rd, Lee's army evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, burdened by long wagon trains yet short on supplies. They hoped to restock at Lynchburg or Danville before joining General Joseph E. Johnston in North Carolina. However, the better-positioned Union Army kept pace and exploited the rough terrain to their advantage. It was here, witnessing his army's defeat upon a bluff, that Lee reportedly asked to General William Mahone, "My God, has the army dissolved?", to which Mahone replied, "No, General, here are troops ready to do their duty."

Burnett served with the 198th Pennsylvania In 1st Brigade, First Division, V Corps. His brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Joshua L. Chamberlain, later governor of Maine and president of Bowdoin College. On April 4, Chamberlain led his brigade to Jetersville, Virginia on the Richmond and Danville Railroad. Later joined by the rest of the V Corps, this early entrenchment ensured that Lee could not move south along the railroad. From their strong position, Lee's missive to Danville asking for supplies was intercepted. By the evening of the 5th, Generals Grant and Sheridan along with the II, V, and VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac were all at Jetersville, ready to advance on the Confederates. Once the battle was underway, the Confederates were observed moving west, and Union officers discovered wagon trains and infantry moving towards Danville. It is possible that this was the moment of this document's capture.

Condition: toned.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Documents, Letters, Manuscripts, Ephemera, Appomattox, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Generals]