The soul of Lee became diffusive soul.
And as a forest fire in summertime
Leaps forward with quick bounds from brush to brush,
So swept his spirit the spirits of his men,
His brave surrender growing swiftly theirs.

It was a scene touched hearts of Blue and Gray,
When Federal firing of salutes was hushed,
And General Chamberlain received the yield
Of Southern arms and colors, — when the ranks
Struck tents, seized muskets, lifted up their flags,
Marched forth to sound of bugle, and the line
Of waiting Federals came to " Carry arms, "
Thus greeting their defeated countrymen.

Brave Gordon heard the shifting musketry
With its fine meaning, wheeled superbly round —
He and his horse a beauteous silhouette
Against the April blue — and gallantly
Saluting dropped his sword's point to his boot;
Then facing his command again gave word
To his brigades to pass in manual mode,
Honor thus answering honor of brave men.

For the last time parading, at a sign
They stacked their guns, against them set their flags —
Some kissing reverently the drooping folds
So long their beacons through the storms of strife —
And one by one in silence moved away
Across the wastes of war and vanquishment.
To see those tattered battle-banners trail
About surrendered muskets, deadly once,
Now impotent; to see heroic men,
The last of the Confederate soldiery,
The remnant of Lee's Army of Virginia,
Now ragged, hungry, helpless file away, —
Away by thousands, slowly, sadly file, —
Back to their bivouacs inglorious,
Companioned by the specters of defeat —
'Twas sight that brought to every witnesser
Upon the frontier line of victory
Tears unto eyes and quivers unto lips
And an unwonted clutching at the heart.