The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-04-12
fCorrespondence of the Richmond Dispatch.

WITH EVERGREEN AND IMMoRTELlEs FROM
LEXINGTON. .@..s.s,ss. .a-a
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch]
APRrL 8. 1873.
"The situation" at Appomattox on the
9th of April. 1865, when General Lee sent
flag of truce TO ask an interview with Gene
raj Grant, was simply this: There were only
1900 iadcd, furnished Confederates with
arms in their hands, nearly surrounded by
efatty thousand Federal soldiers already
in position, with rcinforcements constantly
arriving. Gordon fell back through
the village and moved to meet an at
tack of Sheridan on the flank, while
General Chamberlayne led the advance
corps of the Army of the James into the
Courlho, A battery of the Richmond
Howitzers, which had been engaged at Big
Bethel in 1861, stationed in the yard Of Mr..
Peers, on the extreme northeast corner
Of the village, fired the last gun of the day,
and withdrew as the blue waves were encir-
cling it. The Federal picket line was advan-
ced beyond tho village, and that little band OF
heroic spirits seemed about to be inundated
when suddenly the white flag WAS displayed.
and the firing ceased. There have been
published so many sensational reports Of the
meeting between the two commanders that
am glad to be able TO refute them by giving
GENERAL LEES OWN ACCOUNT OF WHAT 90,
CURED,
as he gave it TO some friends at his house, in
Lexington, but few days before his last ill
uess. He said that he had for duty thai
morning not eight thousand men, and that
when he learned from Gordon that there
was heavy infantry force in his front, he
decided to see General Grant and ascertain
the terms upon which he could end the cop'
test. But before going to meet him he lefl
orders with Longstreet and Gordon to hold
their commands in readiness, determined, as
he was, to cut his way through, or perish In
the attempt, if such terms were not granted
as he thought his army entitled to demand
He met General Grant between the picket.
lines, in the open field, about two hundred
Yards below ApponattoX Courthouse.
TIE HISTORIC ArPLE-TREB.
"You met under an apple-tree, did you not
General:" asked a gentleman present "No
sir! !" was the reply we did not meet un'
der an applc-tree, and I saw no tree near
1t was in an open field not far from the main
road" I'rhis exp!odes the "historic apple
tree" about which SO much has been said
4 gentleman who was within u few feet ol
the two generals when they met pointed out
to me the exact spot. The apple-trce which
was Gu. to pieces, and even the roots o
| which were dug UP and carried of by relic
hunters, was fully quarter OF mile from
| the place of meeting, and the only historic
interest that could be attached to it was that
General Lee rested under its shade few
minutes while waiting for the return Of biz
flag of truce. The only tree anywhere neal
| the place of meeting was small locust thorn
| which is still standing about twenty yards
| from the spot.]
THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN LEE AND GRANT.
General Lee said that when he met Gene
raj Grant they exchanged polite salutations
and he stated to him at once that he desired
a conference in reference to the subject mat
| ter of their correspondence. "Genera Z"
Grant returned you your sword, did ne not
General?" one Of the company asked. The
old hero, Strengthening himself up, replied
| in most emphatic tones: /" No, sir |! he die
not. He had no opportunity of doing SO.
was determined that the side.arms of officer
should be exempt by the terms of surrender
and of course did not offer him mine. Al
that was said about swords was that Genera
Grant apologized to me for not wearing hi
own sword, saying that it had gone off in hl
baggage, and he had been unable toget it il
time.S This spoils great deal OF rhetoric
about "Grtut's magnanimity in returning
I,ee's sword" and renders us absurd as it i.
false the attempt Of northern artists to pu
the scene on canvass or into statuary. Ever
Grants connivance at this so-called " historic
scene" will not save 1t when the world
knows that K. L. Lee said that nothing o.
the sort occurred.] General Lee stated IL
this conversation that he was accompanied
when he met Grant only by Colonel Charles
Marshall of his personal statt, who went
with one of General Grants staff to tipd
suitable room in which to hold the confer.
ence; that they were first shown to va
cant house, aud declining to use that were
conducted by Major MCLEAN to his house
and shown into his parlor. General Grant
was accompanied by several of bis staff Of
ticers, and several of his generals (among
them Sheridan and Ord) entered the room
and participated in the slight general con
yersation that occurred. The TIVE generals
went aside and sat at a table to confer to-
cether, when General Lee opened the con
versation by saying: General, deem II
due to proper candor and irankness to say
at the very beginning OF this interview thal
am not willing even to discuss any terms Of
surrender inconsistent with
TIE HONOR OF MY ARMY,
which / am determined to maintain to the
lost.n Grant replied {: +" I have no idea ol
proposing dishonorable terms, General, but
| would be glad if you would state what you
consider honorable terms" General Lee
then briefly stated the terms upon which be
would be willing to surrender. Grant ex,
pressed himself as satisfied with them, ana
Lee requested that he would formally rednce
the propositions to writing, Grant a. once
did so with common lead-pencil, and
BANDED the paper to Lee. who read ii care
fully and without comment except to say that
most OF the horses were the private property
Of the men riding them. General Grant replied
that such horses would be exempt from sur
render, and the paper was then handed to