The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-05
GENERAL LEES FAREWEIIATAP-
IS 'i'e1 1'--'7r POMATTOx. s,-~
'SpAKTiNBUha, s. G., November l

~ ,S.-,s,- iSpARTANBUna, s. G., November l..
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
Believing that there is nothing connected
with the lHe and history Of our lamented General
Lee but what win be OF interest TO his countrymep,
request you to publish the following incident, Of
which I was witness; and notice Of which
hayenever seen in print ~ -
I,,About noon, on Sunday, April 9, 1885, 1t was
known to the troops that General Lee had surren-
dered; Although we may have previously specu-
lated on the possibility Of such an event, It was
| impossible TO have anticipated the shock which
the announcement occasioned. a short time pre-
yious, when General Custer had been seen enter
ing our lines under nag OF truce, report was
started that he had come to surrender his COM
mand.i All hearts were llghteped by this news,
ana the faces Of the men became radiant with Joy.
But soon the true tidings came that, not General
Custer; but that General Lee was about to surren.
der. The grief OF the soldiers was too. deep for
utterance. Scarcely wosd was spoken. Some
of the men might have been Seen silently arrang.
ing their klapsacks; others sitting quietly aside
with an occasional, tear stealing to their eyes,
while others gave vent to their feelings In abrupt
and broken imprecations.
But with ali this thought seemed TO press heav.
ily; 6!1r tabors our wounds, the loss OF our CON-
rades, our sutierlngs ocr victories, are all IL Van
But in that hour there was no thershs Of censare
for our leader We knew he had done all that
nan could do, and lie was even then dearer to us
than ever. When he was seen returning from
his interview with General Grant, we rushed
eagerly towardhim. His quart tiers being near, we
followed him to them, and~hen he had dIsmount-
ed, those OF his men who were present gathered
| around him, while cries OF General Lee Ia speech
| from General Lee 70 were heard all around
Having removed his hat preparatory to speaking,
the CRY c: down IN 'front.' coming from those in
the rear, was obeyea, and we Enelt around him.
| had never seen the General pres ent u finer or
| more noble appearance than he did on that occa-
sion He was the picture OF hero, and Tas cer-
tainly one OF natures finest specimens Of man.
His brow was sad, and his cou1tenance betokened
great and noble spirit struggling with emotions
| within. After all noise had ceased, he said In
slow and most impressive accents: "RH Friends
Il have thought Iit best to surrender the army
to General Grant. You Will be permitted to
return home; ofdcers retaining their horses
and side arms hope you Will reach home
in safety and find your friends" The General
could control himself no longer. His lip began to
culver, tears rolled down his face, he covered it
with his handkerchief, turned and moved away.
His men gave vent to their feelings in loud soo',
and in that tnrong OF hardy veterans who had
brayed death on the battlefield, do not think
there was one who did not shed bitter tears.
This scene was 30 vlridlJ impressed on my
mind that do not think have failed to report
his language seroattns. ] have certainly given
the substance Of 1t. G. A. KIRKLAND,
Formerly member Of Company "K," "Palmet-
to Sharpahpoters.n - -i--@---SsS-