Feb. 12, 1864 12:00 PM
Rivington, North Carolina, Town Hall

Robert E. Lee was not happy. In fact, he was quite morose. One normally is when something one spends three years of one's life fighting for officially fails. However, he was determined to get through this with his dignity intact.

Lee approached the table that had set up for this meeting. On the other side stood George B. McClellan. "General," opened Lee, "I have here the signed instrument of surrender for the Army of Northern Virginia." He produced a sheet of paper he had been carrying, and handed it to the Union commander.

McClellan unrolled the paper and read it. "This all seems very good and aboveboard, General Lee. I'm afraid I must ask you for your sword now."

Lee drew the long steel blade, which didn't really have much place in combat these days. "My sword, sir. It is a fine sword. Please take good care of it."

"That I shall." McClellan then turned to his chief aide. "Col. Key, it is time."

"Yes, sir. Lt. Coltrane!"

"Sir!" answered an officer in blue.

"Place General Lee under arrest." Lee felt the blood drain from his face. This had not been mentioned in the North's terms. Not at all.

Part 9.2: Theme Song

Just the good ole Rebs,
Takin' up their arms
Beats all you saw, makin' trouble with McLaws since the start of the war.

Straightenin' the curves,
Flattenin' the hills,
Someday the Union might get 'em but the war never will.

Fightin' a waaaar, the only way they know how.
Well, that's a lot more than McClellan allows.

Just the good ole Rebs,
Wouldn't change if they could.
Fightin' the Union though they won't get the goods. (Yee-haw!)

Part 9.3: The Big Chase

Feb. 12, 1864, 12:05 PM

General Lee, was led out the Town Hall with his hands tied in front of him. The first thing he noticed was that this Lt. Coltrane had no clue on how to tie a knot. "Have we surrendered, sir?", asked a Rebel soldier. "Yes, son, we have. The Army of Northern Virginia no longer exists. I'm not your General anymore."

Coltrane seemed to be leading him quite close to his own horse, Duke (his beloved Traveler having died of bad water two months ago). Three steps to one side, and his foot was in the stirrup. He was on the horse! Coltrane seemed slow to react as Lee started to dash off. "Lay down your arms, men! This is for me alone!" Lee shouted. As the Union lieutenant got on his own horse (named "Flash"), other Union men started to run after him on foot... only to trip over the guns the Southerners had just laid down in well-chosen places. Lee smiled.

He headed out of town, hoping that Duke and his own old body could take this. Behind him, Lieutenant Roscoe P. Coltrane was in hot pursuit. Lee fervently started to wonder where he could possibly flee to. There were Union troops all around, and there was no telling who he could trust to seek shelter with. If McClellan put out a reward, anyone might conceivably betray him. All he knew was it was wrong for Young Napoleon to put a surprise arrest on him like that. If McClellan had informed him in advance, he might have given himself up and been led off. He could, after all, be considered to have committed treason against the USA.

There seemed to be a ditch coming up. It looked wide, perhaps ten feet. Could Duke jump across and land in one piece? Could Coltrane follow successfully? Only one way to find out. Here was the jump. Lee sailed through the air and came down on the other side just fine. But Coltrane tried the same jump, and Flash fell halfway across. Coltrane decided he'd have to shoot his horse (the poor beast had two broken legs). He realized that his immediate superior, Captain J.D. Hogg, would be displeased.

Lee's chest was bothering him. He hauled Duke up to a tall tree and got down to the ground. His legs turned to jelly, and he sat beside the tree. Why couldn't he feel one arm? So this is how it ends, he thought, as the chest pain grew worse. He was grateful to die a free man.