The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-05-08

| his hands some Two or tnree tnOQSanu prlSO-
ners. for whom he had no rations. Sheridan
at once said: II have rations for twenty five
thousand men,"
General Grant having signed his note,
General Lee conferred with Colonel Mar
shall, who wrote his brief note Of his &C
ceptance Of the terms of surrender offered,
General Lee striking out the sentence, II
have the henor to reply to your commune
cation" and substituting, "I have received
your letter of this date"
This terminated the interview, and Gener-
al Lee rode back to his headquarters, which
were three quarters Of mile northeast Of
the court house. sq .
I have thus given the substance, and for
the most part the exact language of General
Lees account of the surrender. It will ap-
pear from this that great deal that has been
said about "Grants magnanimity" in pro.
posing terms of surrender, and Lees warm
thanks.for the liberal terms accorded. ori-
ginated simply in the imagination Of the
writers. The truth is, Grant proposed the
only terms which Lee would have accepted,
and he knew too we'll the mettle Of that great
captain and the heroic remnant Of his army
which had so often defeated him no to re-
joice at an opportunity of covering himself
with glory bp accepting almost any terms OF
surrender.
have gathered a number of incidents Of
the surrounded which interested me and
may be of interest to your readers. Soon
after General Lee left the MCLEAN House,
owned by tho same gentleman at whose
house, near Bull Run, Beauregard had his
headquarters during the battle of July. 49,,
1861, Sheridan staiked in and said, rudely,
''I mean to have this chair"-taking up one
of the chairs in which the. Generals had
signed the terms of capitulation, and ex-
hibiting at the time $3.50 gold piece.
Major MCLEAN replied, "That chair is not
for sale General If you choose to take it
you have the physical power to do 3d." 81
mean to have it," was the curt rejoinder;
and the "Great Barn-Burner" gave, another
proof of his skill in petit larceny. The table
and other chairs were in like manner carried
off by Federal officers as souvenirs.
As soon as the flag of truce was hoisted
on Gordon's lines the offensive General Gus
tar ('Miss Fanny") came riding furiously
up to General Gordon, demanding in his own
name unconditional surrender" Gordon
drew himself up to his full height, and. With
crushing dignity, replied: Il can have no
negotiations with you, sir; and if the settle
ment of this matter rested between us there
could be no negotiations 6ut.6y the scord."
As showing the spirit of the men who
participated in the brilliant action that morn
ing it may be mentioned that many of them
crowded around the bearer of one Of the flags
of truce-a widely known and loved chaplain,
who, since the capture of his regiment at
Spotsylvania Cout House, had served with
great gallantry on General Gordon's staff
and eagerly asked if the enemy had sent in
to surrender their force on that road, think
ing that in Aanking us Grant had pushed a
part of his force too far. They had no
dream that they were to be surrendered.
But gradually the truth broke upon them,
and great was their chagrin when these
high-mettled victors in the last battle of the
Army of Northern Virginia learned that they
must yield to overwhelming numbers and
resource" after all their marches, bat
ties, victories, hardships and suferings, the
cause they loved better than life itself must
succumb to brute force. Many bosoms
heaved with emotion, and ,,N.
"Something on the soldiers cheeks
Washed off the stain Of powder"
After the flag of truce was raised Federal
scout was shot through mistake by his own
men, when trying to stop the firing, and
New York Major, under the influence Of
liquor, met his death by galloping up to a
Confederate battery and demanding its sur
render.
The women aud children of Appomattox
Court House had all left their homes du-
ring the battle Of the morning and upor
their return had to pass through Custar':
cavalry. miss Fanny" himself was very
rude to. them, and permitted his men to
kiss them as they passed.
Per contra, it affords me pleasure to say
that many of the Federal officers and mel
were very courteous and considerate. The
citizens of the village speak in especially
high terms of Gen. Chamberlayne (slnce
Governor of Maine who was delicately con
siderate of the feelings of the people, gentle
manly in his bearing, and generous towards
the vanquished.
When the arms were being stacked.
Gallant color bearer, as he delivered up the
tattered remnant of his flag, burst into tears
and said to the Federal soldiers, who recel'
we'd it: q Boys, this is not the first time you
have seen that flag. l have borne it in the
very fore front of the battle Of many
victorious field, and 1 had rather die than
surrender it now" "Brave fellow" said
General Chamberlayne. | admire your no
BILE spirit, and only regret that | have moi
the authority to bid you keep your flag and
carry it home as precious heirloom
The calm dignity of General Lee amid
.Lo,o try;pr, acones tho deen emotion will