standing there before us, thin, worn and famished, but erect, and with eyes looking level into ours, waking memories that bound us together as no other bond. Was not such manhood to be welcomed back into a Union so tested and assured?"
站在我们面前的是瘦弱、疲惫、饥饿但却挺直腰杆与我们平等对视的人们。他们唤醒我们心中将我们紧紧团结在一起的那些记忆。难道这些人不应受到欢迎,回到历经考验而更牢固的联邦中来吗?”
Responding to his command, "instantly our whole line, regiment by regiment, gave the soldier's salutation, from the 'order arms' to the old 'carry'一the marching salute. Gordon, at the head of the column, riding with heavy spirit and downcast face, caught the sound of shifting arms, looked up and, taking the meaning, wheeled superbly, making with himself and with his horse one uplifted figure, with profound salutation as he dropped the point of his sword to the boot toe; then facing to his own command, he gave word for his successive brigades to pass us with the same position... honor answering honor. On our part, not a sound of trumpet more, nor roll of drum; not a cheer, nor word nor whisper of vainglorying, but an awed stillness rather, and breath-holding, as if it were the passing of the dead!"
随着他的命令,“所有士兵,以团为单位向行进中的南方军行军礼,从‘立正持枪’到旧式的‘持枪礼’。戈登骑马走在队伍的最前面,心事重重,面容沮丧,听到操作枪支的声音,他抬头看了看,明白这意思后便气宇轩昂地转身,骑在马上,显示出高大的形象,他把剑端指向靴头,深深致意。然后面向自己的部队,命令后面的旅同样以行军礼的方式通过……用军礼回敬我们。而我们的军队没有号声,没有战鼓,没有欢呼,没有一句炫耀的言语和耳语,只有敬畏的沉默,使你屏住呼吸,就像目送死者的葬仪。”
From early morning until late afternoon the saluting soldiers of the South marched past the saluting Union soldiers, stacked their rifles and tattered Confederate flags and started for home. Counting the Union troops, almost 100,000 men had been in Appomattox Court House.
从清晨到傍晚,行着军礼的南方士兵从同样行着军礼的联军士兵面前走过,放下武器和破烂的军旗,启程回家。包括联军士兵在内,将近10万人来到阿波马托克斯。