The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-05-08
APPOMATOX.
The True Story Of General Lees Sur
render.
[From the Richmond Dispatch.


render.
GFrom the Richmond Dispatch.
"The situation" at Appomatox on the 9th
of April, 1865, when General Lee sent q
flag of truce to ask an interyieN. with Gen
Grant was simply this There were only
$500 jaded, famished Confederates with
arms in their hands, nearly surrounded by
eiohtv thousand Federal soldiers already in
position, with reinforcements constantly ar
irving. Gordon foil back through the vii,
lape and moved to meet an attack Of Sheri.
dan on the flank, while General Chamber.
layne 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 ward of Mr.. Peers, on the extreme north
east corner of the village, fired the last gun
of the day, and withdrew as the blue waves
were encircling it. The Federal picket line
was 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 published so many sensational re-
ports of the meeting between the two COM
mapdets that am glad to be able TO rcfute
them.by giving General Lees own account
of what occurred as he gave it to some
friends at his house in Lexington, but a few
days before his last illness. He said that he
had for duty that morning not eight thou
sand men, and that when he learned from
Gordon that there was heavy infantry force
in front, he decided to see Gen. Grant, and
ascertain the terms upon which he could end
the contest. But before going to meet him,
he left orders with Longstreet and Gordon
to hold their commands in readiness, deter
mined, 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 Appomattox Court
House.
"You met under an apple tree, did you
not, General?" asked gentleman present.
"No, sifp was the reply, 1--WE did not meet
under an apple tree, and saw no tree near:
It was in an open field near 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 Gen
erals 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 and carried away by relic hunters, was
fully a quarter of a 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 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.l
General Lee said that when he met Gen.
Grant they exchanged polite salutations, and
he stated to him at once that he desired a
conference in reference to the subject matter
of their correspondence General Grant
returned you your sword, did he not Gener.
al ?" one of the company asked. The old
hero, Strengthening. himself up, replied in
emphatic terms: "No, sirl He had no op.
portunity of doing so. I was determined
that the side arms of officers should be ex-
empt by the terms of surrender, and OF
course 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 with his
baeeaee. and he had been unable to get il
in time" This spoils great deal Of rhet
oric about "Grant's magnimity in returning
Lees sword" and renders absurd as it is
false the attempt of Northern artists To put
the scene on canvass or statuary. Even
General Grants own conniyance at this SC
called "historic scene" will not save it when
the world knows that Robert f. Lee said
nothing of the sort occurred] General Lee
stated in his conversation that he was oc
companied when he met Grant only by Col
Charles Marshall, of his personal staff, who
went with one of General Grants staff te
find a suitable room in which to hold the con
ference; they were first shown to vacant
house, and declining to use that, were con
Quoted BY MCLEAN to his house and showr
to his parlor. General Grant was accompa
MED by several of his staff officers, and seve
raj of his Generals (among them Sheridan
and Ord, y entered the room and participated
in the slight general conversation that oc
Cured. The two Generals went aside ant
sat at table to confer together, when Gen
Lee opened the conversation by saying
" General, | deem it due to proper eando
and frankness to say at the very beginning
of this interview, that I am not willing eveI
to discuss any terms of surrender inconsis
tent with the honor of my army when
am determined to maintain to the last -
Grant replied: Il have no idea of prOp9,lp1I p9s p
dishonorablc terms, General, but | would b.
glad if you would state what you cons'de
honorable terms" General Lee briefly ST.,
ted The terms upon which he would be vii
ling to surrender. Grant expressed himsei
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