Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-04-22
The "Trus Story of General Lees Sur
render"

Correspondence Rich. Dispatoh.l
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 oC-
CURED,
as he gave it to some friends at bis house, in
Lexington, but few days before his last illness.
EIe said that be had for duty that morning not
eight thousand men, and that when be learned
from Gordon that there was heavy infantry
force in his front, lie decided 10 see Gen. Grant
and ascertain the terms upon which he could
end the contest. Bat before going TO meet him
be left orders With Llngstreet and Gordon to
held their com mao6s in readiness, determined,
as he was, to cut his way through, or perish in
the attempt. il such terms were not granted as
be thought bis army entitled to demand. He
met General Grant between the picket-iines. in
the open field. about two hundred yards below
Appomattoz Court house.
THE HISTORIC APPLE-TREE.
''You met under an apple tree, did you not
General?' asked a gentleman present. No,
sir!' was the reply; we did net meet under
an apple tree. and saw no tree rear. Ii was
in an open field not far from The main road. !"
IThis explodes the Historic apple tree, about
which SO much has been said A gentleman
who was within few feet OF the two generals
when they met, pointed out 20 me the exact
spot. The apple tree which was cut to pieces
aud even the roots Of which were dug up and
carried off by relic hunters was fully quarter
of mile from the place Of meeting, aud the
only historic interest that could be attached to
it was that General Lee rested under its shade
a few minutes while waiting for the return of
his flag OF truce The only tree anywhere near
the place of meeting was small locust thorn,
which is still standing about twenty yards from
the spot.
TdstyrGRVGEW BSrWEGT LES AND GRANT
General Lee said that when he met General
Grant they exchanged polite saiutatious and
be stated TO him at once that he desired con-
ference In reference to the subject matter Of
their correspondence. General Grant return
ed You your sword, did he not. General p one
of the company asked. The old hero, strai ght-
eniug himself up, replied in most emphatic
tones mo, sir be did not. He had DO op-
portunity of dong so [ was determined that
the side arms of officers should be exempt by
the terms of surrender, and of course L did not
Offer him mine. All that was said about swords
was that General Grant apologized to me for
not wearing his own sword, saying that 1t had
gone eff in his baggage, and he had been un-
aUR 10 get IL IN CtulC. LUIS epOliS great
deal of rhetoric about Grants magnanimity in
returning Lee s sword and renders as absurd
as il is false the attempt of NorEhern artists 10
put the scene on CANVASS or into statuary. Even
Grants cOunlvance at this so called historic
scene" will not save it when the world knows
that r. Il. Lee said that nothing Of the sort Oc-
Cured General Lee stated IN tins congersa-
tlon that be was ompanled when he met
Grant only by Colonel Charles Marshall of his
personal staff, who went with one OF General
Grant staff TO fiod suitable room iu which to
hold the conference that they were first shown
10 vacant house. and 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 officers, and
several of his generals (among them Sheridan
and Ord) entered the room and participated in
the slight general conversation that occurred.
The two generals went aside and sat a table to
confer together, when General Lee opened the
conversation by saying: General, Il deem ii
due to proper candor and trankness to say at
the very beginning of this interview that am
not willing even to discuss any terms OF surren-
der Inconsistent with
THE HONOR OF MY ARMY.
which am determined to maintain TO the last ~
Grant replied: | have no idea of proposing
dishonorable terms, General, but / would be
glad If you would state what you consider hon
orable terms" General Lee then briefly stated
the terms upon which be would be willing to
surrender Grant expressed himself as salts
fed with them; anu Lee requested that he
would formally reduce the propositions to wit.
ing. Grant at once did so with common lead
pencil, and handed the paper to Lee, who read
it carefully and without comment, excspt to say
hat mos of the horses we're the p,lvate pro-
perts OF the men riding them. General Grant
replied that such horses would be exemp, from
surrender, aud lhe paper was then handed 10
General Badeau, Grant secretary, aad copies
ln lex made by him.aDd Col. Marshall. While
Ibis was being done there were ltqulries afte r
the health OF mutual acQuaintances, but moth
ing bsariug on the surrender, except that Gen
erai Lee said that he had on his hands some
two or three Thousand prisoners for whom he
had no iations. Sheridan at once said:
have rations for 25 OOO men.
General Grant having signed his note, Gen