The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-05-17
9istorit Shetrh,
APPOMATTOX.
True History of Gen. Lees Surrender

The situation at Appomattox on the
9th of April, 1865, when General Lee
sent flag of truce to ask an interview
with General Grant, was simply this (.
There were only 1900 jaded, famished
Confederates, with arms in their hands,
nearly surrounded by eighty thousand Fed
eral soldiers already in position, with rein
forcements constantly arriving, Gordon
fell back through the village and moved
to meet an attack of Sheridan on the flank,
while General Chamberlayne lead the ad-
vance corps of the Army of the James
into the Courthouse. A battery of the
Richmond Howitzers, which had been en-
gagged at Big Bethel in 1861, stationed in
the yard of Mr.. Peers, on the extreme
northeast corner of the village, fred the
last gun of the day, and Withdrew as the
blue waves were encircling it. The Fed
eral 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 pub.
lished so many sensational reports of the
meeting between the two commanders that
l am glad to be able to refute them by
giving
GEN. LEES ACCOUNT OF WHAT OCCURRED,
as he gave it to some friends at his house,
in Lexington, but few days before his
last illness. He said that he had for duty
that 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 contest, But before going to
meet him he left 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,
IT 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 Courthouse.
THE HISTORIC APpLE-TREE.
"You met under an apple-tree, did you
not, General?' asked a gentleman pres
ent "No, sirw was the reply; 1--WE did
not meet under an apple-tree, and l 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 and carried off by relic hun
ters, was fully quarter Of mile from
the place of meeting, and the only historic
incident that could be attached to il was
that General Lee rested under its shade a
few minutes while waiting for the return
of his flag of truce. The only tree any
where near the place of meeting was a
small locust thorn, which is still standing
about twenty yards from the spot.]
ENTERvIEw BETWEEN LEE AND GRANT.
General Lee said that when he met
Gen. Grant they exchanged polite saluta-
tions, and he stated to him at once that
he desired conference in reference to the
subject matter Of their correspondence.
General Grant returned you your sword,
did he not, General 2" one Of the company
asked. The old hero, Strengthening him
self up, replied in the most emphatic tones;
''No, sir he did not. He had no oppor-
t,lnity of doing so was determined that
the sidc-arms of officers should be exempt
by the terms of surrender, aud Of course |
did not offer him mine. All that was said
about swords was that General Grant
apologizcd to me for not wearing his own
sword, saying that it had gone of in his
baggage. and he had been unable to get u