Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-04-24
From Richmond Dispatch.l
APPOMATTO&-
Conclusion of the True Story OF Gener-
al Lees Surrender.
APRIL 9, 1878.

Sllupi1 Iulo' lhClO "SAO 0iJ 49,
ljaded, famished Confederates witharm
in their hands, neBrly surrounded b
eighty thousand Federal soldier
already in position, with reinforcement
constantly arriving. Gordon fell bacl
through the village and moved to NEE
an attack of Sheridan on the flank
while General Chamberlayne led tn
advance corps Of the Army of tht
James into the Courthouse. A batter!
of the Richmond Howitzers, which haC
been engaged at Big Bethel in 1851
stationed in the yard OIL Mr.. Peers, OF
the extreme northeast corner of thC
village, fred the last gun Of the day
and withdrew as the blue waves were
encircling it. The Federal picket line
was advanced beyond the village, anC
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 pub.
lished so many sensational reports Of
the meetings between the two com
manders that l am glad to be able to
refute them by giving
GENERAL LEES OWN ACCOUNT OF WHAT
OCCURRED,
as he gave it to some friends at his
house, in Lexington, but few days be-
fore his last illness. He said that he
had for duty that morning not eight
thousand men, and that when he learn.
ed from Gordon that there was heavy
force in his front, he decided to
see General Grant and ascertain the
terms upon which he could end tie
contest. But before going to meet
him he left orders with Longstreet and
Gordon to hold their commands in
determined, as he was, to cut
his way through, or perish in the at
tempt, if such terms were not granted
as he thought his army entitled to c
mand. He met General Grant
between the picket-lmes, in the open
field, about two hundred yards below
AppomattoX Courthouse.
THE HISTORIC APPLE-TREE.
"You met under an apple-tree, did
you not, General?0 asked gentleman
present. "No, sir!' was the reply; "wc
did not meet under an apple-tree, and
| saw Ro 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. \
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 and
carried off by relic-hnters, was fully
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 a 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
General Grant they exchanged polite
and he stated to him at
once that he desired a conference in ref
erence to the subject matter Of their
correspondence. General Grant re-
turned your sword, did he not,
General!" one of the company asked
The old hero, Strengthening himself up,
replied in most emphatic tones: "NO,
sir. he did not. He had no opportu-
nifty of doing so. | was determined
that the side-arms Of officers should he
exempt by the terms of surrender, and
of course | 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 it
had gone off in his baggage, ard he
had been unable to get it in time. y
[ This spoils great deal of rhetoric
about Grants magnanimity in return
ING Lees sword" and renders as absurd
as it is false the attempt of northern
artists to put the scene on canvass Oh
into Statuary. Even Grants conniv
ance at this so-called "historic scene
not save it when the world knows that
Il Z. Lee said that that nothing OF
the sort occurred. General Lee stated
in this conversation that he was accom-.
panied when he met Grant only 10y
Colonel Charles Marshall, of his per
sonal staff, who went with one of Gen
eral Grants staff to find a suitable
room in which to hold the conference
that they were first shown to vacant
house, and declining to use that were
conducted by Major Mclean to hi,
house and shown into his parlor. Gen
eral Grant was accompanied by severa
of his staff officers, and several of his
Generals (among them Sheridan and
Ord entered the room and partici
pated in the slight general conversation
that occurred. The two generals went
aside and sat at a table to confer to
gether,. when General Lee opened The
conversation by saying: " General,
deem it due to proper candor anC
frankneSs to say at the very beginning
of this interview that ! am not willing
even to discuss any terms of surrender
inconsistent with
THE HONOR OF NY ARMY,
which / am determined to maintain tC
the last" Grant replied: 81 have nc
idea OF proposing dishonorable terms
General, but | would be glad if yor
would state what you consider hOnora
bic terms" General Lee then briefly
stated the terms upon which he wouiC
L - Hi. -, e,,--ronIar Grant aNnrnS