Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-04-20
LEES LAST COUNCIL or WAR.

His leading generalS-longstre 7
Pickett, Gordon, Heth and others werek
Summoned. The condition of affairs
was discussed 1t was a gloomy hour. !
1T is said that Lee was much depressed. 8
They did not at this moment know thath
our infantry under Ord and Griffin were
south of them, but supposed that theirf
way was disputed only by Sheridan. ItE
was decided to force passage. The at /
tack was made, but the volleys of mus s
kerry and vigorous cannOnade, and thef
Hong lines of men in blue, of white andk
lcolored soldiers, convinced Lee that hes
had little chance of escaping, The skir- {
'mishing was kept up through the days
both parties too wearied and exhaust. \
I ed to fight a general battle-yet eachF
moment of delay made Lees condition.
SmOre hopeless,
SUNDAY MORNING.
1 The second corps was in position onE
.Sunday morning, awaiting the order toe
advance, when a flag of truce was dis
aplayed in front of Miles division. Capt.I
sJ. D. Cook, of Gen. Miles staff was sentl
I to receive it. He was met by Col. Tay-|
/ lor, of Lees staff, who brought motel
sfrom Gen. Lee, wishing a suspension of
shostilities, to take into consideration the
terms offered by Grant on Saturday.
aGen. Meade signifed by note that he
: had no authority to enter into an armis-
atice, but would wait two hours befOre|
aattacking, and would communicate with
] sGen. Grant.
Before the expiration of the time Gen.
sGrant arrived, and a correspondence
with Lee followed, which resulted in the
appointment Of place OF meeting for a
amore full consideration of the terms
: proposed by Gen. Grant.
MEETING OF GEMS. GRANT AND LEE.
1 In the little village of Appomattox
4Court House there is q large square
4brick house, with portico in front, the
5residence of Wilmer Mclean. Roses
Eare budding in tn garden, violets and
4daf'odils are already in bloom and the
Strees which shade the building are green
with the verdure of spring. Gen. Lee
xdesignated it as the place for meeting
EGen. Grant. It was little past two
@o'clock on Sunday afternoon when Gen.
81 Lee, accompanied by Gen. Marshall, his
schief of staff, entered the dwelling. A
wfew minutes later Gen. Grant, accompa.
5nied only by Col. Parker of his staff, the
schief of the Six Nations, man of re-
s3markable powers and of great acute.
siness OF perception although he is an
s3Indian. -... ...
81 The meeting was in Mr.. McLean's
4 aparlOr, square room, carpeted, furnish
Bed with sofa, centre table, &c. Gen. Lee
sswas sitting by the table, drest in suit
Ssot gray-cOat, pants and vest all OF
gray. Time has silvered his hair and
5sbeard, giving him venerable appear
sance. He stoops a little, as if he haC
ID borne great and heavy burdens. HI
wore an elegant sword, the gift Of hi'
s4friends
Gen. Grant had left his sword behind
Nand appeared in the same suit which ht
sShad worn in the field through the event
6ful days-a plain blue frock, with dou
81 bic rows Of buttons, and shoulder straps
g bearing the three silver stars-the insig
"a mia of his rank as Lieutenant General
81 The meeting was cordial. After salu
81 tatiOnS the two commanders sat down
Splaced their hats on the table and con
Nyersed as freely as in other days whel
81 both We're in the service of the United
Estates. Gen. Lee alluded to the CORES
sspondence which had passed betweel
IS them.
IN General, l have requested this inter
Myiew to know more fully the terms
(which you propose" said Gen. Lee.
~. Gen. Grant replied that he would gran
a3sa parole to officers and men, that thu
ssoflicers might retain their side arms anC
sstheir personal effects. Gen. Lee assent
aaed to the proposition and did not asl
81 for any modification Of the terms, whicl
S. were then engrossed. The paper wa
lalsigned by Gen. Lee at half past thre
IS o'clock.
f After he had affixed his signature
"a Gen. Lee asked for Gen. Grants under
sastanding of the term personal effects
Swhich had been given in that instru
93ment.
VI Many OF my cavalrymen own thei
he said.
I!g think that the horses must b
Msturned over to th3 United States" wa
81 the reply.
|. II coincide in that opinion" wa
Ex& LCC LNJOludSIs
gs But" said Gen. Grant, 81 will in
E struct the officers who are appointed t,
Escarry out the capitulation to allow thos
M who own horses to take them home
M They will need them to do their sprin
Mplowing and to till their farms"
81 Allow me to express my thanks 70
81 such consideration and generosity o.
Myour part. 1t cannot fail Of having
Mgood effect" General Lee replied, wit
M visible emotion at the magpanimit
M which Gen. Grant had displayed.
N After further conversation Gen. LIE
Hexpressed a hope that each soldier G
BE- his army might be furnished with Gel
AtifCate or some other evidence of pa
s. role, to prevent them from being force
into further service by Confederate cor
IS Mscripting officers.
81 will order such certificates to b
Hissued to every man." said Gen. Gran
81 aud as soon as the preliminaries wei
E settled, the headquarters printing pres
81 was put to work striking of blanks fc
Mthat purpose. .....
E Gen. Lee said that he had not ii
s. sslightest idea Of the number of me
Zcomposing his army, as no returns ha