The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-05-16
tViator, In Richmond Dispatchl
THE TRUE STORY OF GENERAL LEES
SURRENDER.

! fviator. in Richmond pspatchl
THE TRUE STORY OF GENERAL LEES
SURRENDER.
"The situation" ut Appomattox on
the 9th OF April, 1865, when Gen.
Lee sent q flag of truce to ask an
interview with Gen. Grant, was
simply this: There were only 1910
jaded, famished Confederates with
arms in their hands, nearly surroun-
ded by $4,000 Federal soldiers al
ready in position, with reinforce
ments constantly arriving. sGordon
fell back through the village and
moved TO meet an attack OF Sheri-
dan on the flank, while Gen. Cham
berlayne led the advance corps OF
the Army Of the james into the
Court House. A battery of the
Richmond Howitzers, which had
been engaged at Big Bethel in 1861,
stationed in the yard of Mr.. Peers,
on tho extreme northeast corner of
the village. fired the last gun OF the
day, and withdrew as the blue waves
were encircling it. The Federal
picket lines were advanced beyond
the 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 so many
sensational reports OF the meeting
between the two commanders, that
am glad to be able to refute them by
giving
GEN. LEES OWN ACCOUNT or WHAT oc-
cCGnEp,
As he gave it to some friends in his
house, in Lexington, but few DAYS
before his last illness. He said that
he had for duty that morning not
8 900 men. and that when he learned
from Gordon that there was heavy
infantry force in his front, he decided
10 see Gen. Grant. and ascertain the
terms upon which he could end the
contest. But before going to meet
him, be left orders with Longstreet
and Gordon To hold their commands
in readiness, determined as he was
10 cut his way through or perish in
the attempt. il such terms were not
granted as he thought his army en-
titled TO demand. He met Gen.
Grant between the picket lines. in
the open field. below the Appomat-
tox Court House.
THE HISTORIC APPLE TREE.
"You met under an apple tree,
did you not, General?" asked gen
tleman present. mo, sir!" was the
reply; 1--WE did not meet under an
apple tree, and | saw no tree near.
1t was in an open field. not far from
the main road" This 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 TO me the exact SPOT. The apple
tree which was cut TO pieces, and
even the roots OF which were dug up
aud carried off by relic-hnnters. was
fully quarter of n mile from the
place of meeting. and the only his
toric interest that could be attached
TO it was that Cen. Lee rested under
its shade n few minutes while wait
ing 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.
THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN LEE AND GRANT
| Gen. Lee said that when he met
Gen. Grant they exchanged polite
salutations, and he stated to him at
once that he desired conference in
refrence to the subject matter of their
correspondence. "Gen. Grant re-
turned you your sword. did he not,
General?' one of the company asked.
The old hero, Strengthening himself
up, replied in most emphatic tones:
"No, sirl he did not. He had no
opportunity of doing SO. I was de-
termined that the side-arms of off,
GERS should be exempt by the terms
of surrender, and of course I did not
offer him mine. All that was said
about swords was that Gen. Grant
apologized to me for not wearing his
own sword, saying that it had gone
off in his baggage, and he had been
unable to get it in time" This
spoils great deal of rhetoric about
"Grants magnanimity in returning
Lees sword. and renders as absurd
as it is false the attempts of Northern
artists to put the scene on canvas or
into statuary. Even Grants con-
nivance at this so-called "historic
scene" will not save it when the
world knows that r. E. Lee said that
, nothing Of u,e sort occurred. Gen.
Lee stated in this conversation that
he was accompanied, when he met
, Grant, only by Col. Chas. Marshall,
of his personal staff, who went with
one of Gen. Grants staff to find q
, suitable room in which to hold the
conference; that they were first
shown to vacant house, and declin-
/, ing to use that, they were conducted
! by Major MCLEAN to his house and
: shown into his parlor. Gen. Grant
: was accompanied by his staff officers,
and several of his generals (among
them Sheridan and Ord) entered the
8 room and participated in the slight
: general conversation that occurred.
, The two Generals went aside and
. sat at table, to confer together,
| when Gen. Lee opened the CONVEX
) sation by saying: General, I deem
5 it due to proper candor and frank
3 ness to say, at the beginning of this
: interview, that I am not willing even
: TO discuss any terms of surrender
. inconsistent with
THE HONOR OF MY ARMY,