Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-04-20
The Surrender at Appomattox G. III.


Generals Grant, Ord and Sheridan,
with three or four staff officers each, went
UP TO the Court-H louise, and Of our staff
there were three, a senior aid, the chIef OF
staff, and The adjulant general. The town
consists of five houses, a tavern ana d
courthouse, all on one street, anG that
was boarded up at one end 10 keep the
COWS oul. On the right hand side as he
wenI in, was the principal residence, ow'
ned by Mr.. Mclean and 10 his house
| General Grant was conducted 10 meet
General Lee. At the fence, the whole
party dismounieL, and alking up mar
row gYass plat TO The house noticed Gen
era! Lees horse nbbing there in charge
OF an orderly who was holding his own
as well
General Grant entered The house with
one or two Of his staff, and the rest OF
US sal down on The plazza and waited.
! Mr. Mclean was out there too, but was
so much excited that he did not know
where his pump "as. or il he had any, ,or
! # moi, couldn't lell US where there was q
spring. Ii a faOmcnt Col. Bobcock
came out smiling. whlrled his hat around
his head once and bec.oned Generals Ord
and Sheridan to come in. They walked
the floor silently as people do who have
Ilbe hrsi peep a! a baby, and after while
! General Lee came out and signa!Ied TO
his orderly to bride his horse.
While his was being done he stood on
the lower step Of lhe piazza, 1--WE had all
risen respectfully as be passed down and
looking over into The valley towards bis
army, smote his hands together several
umes in an absent sort o. way. utterly
unconscious Of tie people about him, and
seeming to see nothing I'LL his horse was
led in iron, Of him. As he stood there he
appeared 10 be about siXly years OF age,
tall, soldeFly figure Of maa, with foil
grey beard, new suit of grey clothes,
high, grey felt bat with a cord, long buck
skin gaunlIets, high riding boots, and a
beautiful sword. lie was al! that our
fancy had painted him, and lie had the
sympathy of all Of us as lie rode away.
Jrs, as he gathered up his 5tldIe Gen.
crI Grant went down the steps, and pas
sing in front Of his horse, touched his hat
to Gen. Lee, who made similar salute,
and then left lie yard and returned TO his
own lines with his ofderl y and single staff
officer who had accom- panied him TO the
Interview, and was said TO have been Col.
Marshall. bis Chief of Staff, quiet look
log man in speclacles, looking more like
one oi though, than one Of action. Gen
Grant presented something Of contrast
TO General Lee in the way of Uniform. not
only in color, but in style and general ef
feet. lie had sugar.loaf hat almost pc
cuIar to himself, frock.coat unbu!loned
and srlashei with mud. dark vest, dark
blue psnlaIoons tucked into top boots,
muddy also, and no sword.
His cuuntenance was NOT relaxed al ALL
and mol muscle OF his lage lOId tales on
| his thoughts. II he was very much pleas
ed by the surrender Of Lee, nothing in his
air or manner indicated il. The joyful
occasion didn't seem TO awaken in him
responsive echo, and re went and noun.
ted his horse and rode away silently, to
send off dispatch which should eIeclrlty
the North, and set all the church bells
ringing on this happy Sunday evening
! Northern PaDer.