The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-08-27
Gbe Western DRmDrrat.
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.
CHARLOTTE, N. G..

following Interesting cAe'o"'
Il is not the purpose nor mission of your cor
respondent to determine at what point OF Bis
retreat the idea of surrender OF his army was
first forced upon the mind of Gen. Lee, or to
seek to designate the disaster, or succession o!
disasters. that finally brought his army to a con-
dition that placed it out of his power longer to
decline the terms offered BY Gen. Grant. de
abandoned the Petersburg lines with an army
less than twenty eight thousand, OF all arms,
pursued By an army of not less than eighty
thousand He had previously accomplished
successful retreats in the face OF an enemy
equally as numerous, and so long as there was
possible chance of uniting with Johoston-or,
failing in that, reaching Lyuchburg-it is pre-
misable that the commander-in- chief kept his
own counses on the subject, or impaired them
to bis staff in confidence. But with Petersburg,
Richmond was lost, and the GLOW upon the
morale of the army was too great for 1t to with
stand. The army lost its organization and cOhe-
sive qualities; it fell into fragments piecemeal,
and left its debris at every cross road ar every
river ford upon the line of retreat. Ii was the
nucleus of that army only that laid down their
arms at Appomattox Courthouse. Moreover,
1t was known to the rank and file Of the army
on the 7th, while the retreat and pursuit was
still in progress, that correspondence between
the two generals had been opened, which could
have no other object than a surrender.
The opening note of this correspondence was
dictated by Grant from his headquarters dis
tant ten miles from Appomattox courthouse, on
the Walker Church road, under date of April
7th. This note, addressed "Gen. r. K. Lee,
Commanding q. S. A. is as follows:
"GENERAL-The result of the last week must con-
vince you of the hopeessness offurther resistance
ON the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this
struggle. feel that 1t is so, and regard it as my
duty to shift from myself the responsibility OF any
further efusion OF blood by asking of you the sur
render of that portion of the Confederate Southern
army, known as the Army of Northern Virginia.
Very respectfully, your ob't serV't,
U. GRANT,
Lieut.. Gen. Cong Armies United States "
This note was received through flag oftruce by
the hand of courier and General Lee, accompa-
MED by several of his staff, rode down the Buck
ingham pike to the Sweeney settlement, and the
frame shanty where Joe Sweeney the banjost was
born. Here they dismouuted, entered the field,
and under the famous Appomattox apple-tree the
,subjoined reply was penned:
"ArR1L It'll.
"GENERAL,-I have received your note of this day.
Though not entirely OF the opinion you express of
the hope of further resistance on the part of the
Army of Northern Virginia, reciprocate your de-
sire to avoid useless efusOn of blood, and there
FORE before considering your proposition, ask the
terms you will offer on condition ofits surrender
~
To Lieut.. Gen. GRANT, Cong Armies U. S.
The reply was dispatched and this terminated
the correspondence of that day, truce being
still observed along the lines
The aprle-tree, which was one of an orchard
on Sweeney's lot owned by Mr. Wilson Hx,
has long since disappeared, root and branch
The lot is now planted in corn, but the hus-
bandman has regarded the spot, and the site of
the tree is distinguishable by an excavation
upon which no has been planted. On the
morning of Saturday, April Sth, the correspon-
,dence was renewed by Grant, who proposed to
meet General Lee, to designate officers to
confer with officers of like rank to be named by
Lee, to meet at any point most convenient or
agreeable, for the purpose of arranging definitely
the terms upon y hicn the surrender of the forces
should be received.
This second note from General Grant was re-
ceived by Lee late on the afternoon of the Sth
and be replied immediately, stating that he
would be pleased to meet General Grant in per-
son at III A. NJ. on the morrow, Sunday ION
the old stage road to Richmond, between the
picket lines of the two armies" The meeting
proposed by Lee for 10 A NJ, Sunday, did not
take place, because, as Grant says in his answer
thereto, it "couId lead to no good" and as he
had ono authority to treat the subject of
peace" ....
MS tnlro note from Grant was received by
Lee on the picket line, on the old stage road
below the courthouse, whittier he had gone to
meet Grant. In reply, at once sent, Lee re-
,quested an Interview in accordance with the
offer made in Grants note of the eighth, and at
poon on the ninth the first personal interview
between the Generals took place on the old
stage road, under honey pod locust tree, near
the court house, and not far from the point pro-
posed for the meeting at 10 A. NJ. Each was
accompanied by their chiefs of staff and order
lies. 1t was at this meeting that it was said
Gen. Lee rendered his sword to Gen. Grant,
who declined to accept it. The citizens who
were distant witnesses to this interview, deny
upon meeting. The salute usual between mill
tary men was passed, in which the sword was
.eleyated and held forward moment
After conference that did not last FIVE min
utes, there was move, aud Grants Chief of
Staff said, "Sball we go to General Lees head
quarters, or shall Lee 60 over to Grants" This
was preliminary TO the adjournment to the resi-
.dence of Mr. Wilmer Mclean, on the southwest
extremity of the village, where the articles of
.capitulation were drawn and signed Gen Lee
was attended only by Col. Marshall one of his
.statt. Gen Grant vas attended by two or more
OF his staff, and q number of Yankee Gen.
erals bobbet in and out as the business procee-
.ded, which lasted more than an hour
While the interview with reference TO the
surrender was progressing in the parlor of the
Mclean mansion, a strange scene was beipo
enacted without in the mingling of tho officers
of both armies, that now lay apart lullcd in mo-
mentary peace by the terms of an armistice.
On the Yankee side were to be seen Generals
Ord hon EriA opl