is over." His own health had not been good, and the doctors assured him that, by submitting to an operation, they could set him up. This he did in March 1865, with satisfactory results. Speaking of his young son, in a letter to his wife at this time, he said, "He is my constant companion and nurse in one. His manners are very soft and gentle, and he is as watchful and solicitous about my health as a mother." Soon the news came of the surrender of Lee, and the fall of the Southern cause. The condition of his beloved Virginia was indeed lamentable; but he did not receive full details of the ruin until after he had left England.
On the 2nd of May, 1865, Maury sailed from Southampton with his son "Brave," under orders from the Confederate Secretary of the Navy. He had sent out, in advance, a quantity of torpedo material for the defence of the Southern coasts and ports. This represented the results of his inventive genius, and of his studies during his residence in England; but when he arrived at St. Thomas, in the West Indies, he received the crushing tidings of the total collapse of the Confederacy, and of the assassination of Lincoln. He went on to Cuba, whence he sent his son back to Virginia. He considered it to be the wisest and most honourable course for himself, now that all armed resistance on the part of Virginia had ceased, that he also should surrender his sword, which had been drawn by her order and for her defence. His letter stating this intention was directed to "The United States Officer commanding the squadron of the Gulf," and was by him forwarded to the Government at Washington.[1]
| Sir, | At sea, May 25th, 1865. |
In peace, as in war, I follow the fortunes of my old native State, Virginia. I read in the public prints that she
- ↑ Published in the Washington National Intelligencer of June 16th, 1865, without comment.
