Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-06-05
[ Special Correspondence Of the MY. World ]
Where Leo surrendered.

Where Leo Surrendered,
FACTS ABOUT A CONTROVERTED POINT
IN HISTORY AND NEW LIGHT ON 1T.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May 2S-
Reading Il paragraph in one of the
dailies cpntrovtTting the assumed his
tOrical fict that General Lee surren-
dered beneath All apple tree at Apo
mattaX Court House, ! bethOught me
Of an artist friend of mine who had
been an eyewitness of the scene and
had designed Il sketch OF the famous
locality aud of the house where the
two afterwards consulted together up
on the terms Of surrender. A copy ut
this was in my possession, aud | took
II look at it, The two IRE rer resented
on horseback, under what bears
striking resemblance in the picture to
an apple tree in general COntuur.-
Grant is seated upon small hlack
horse that he ~ delighted to ride while
in the field. To his lrGt rear nTp Gen.
sherman and Colo Il Lewis Merrill.
General Lee is seated upon his famous
gay stalli IN ; his right hand raised in
IA graceful gesture. The ground gent
~ slopes away to the left of the PIC
ture, amt on thus slope are halted Lees
y rs0nal staff and escort, while III the
distance there are camps with troops
drawn up in front Of them, hivouac
fires showing here and there, and ar
tiIicry and wagon parks.
McLcau's house, in W iCh the arti-
clcs Of surrender were signed. is two
story frame, with wide verandas. after
the fashion OF Southern houses, aud
in the distance looks very like the
former headquarters of Major Andre,
the LefiprtS mansion in Br0uklyn.
The following conversation contains
what my friend had to say on the sub
iect. and will settle several historical
facts. l iuclose his full name and adj
dress for private reference bat at his
request shall simply designate him Hs
Mr.. X. pre- missing, however. that he
and his work are well aud favoruUly
known IN your city.
COTrespOndeut-M Mr.. X, there is q
paragraph going the rounds which
says that Lee did not surrender to
Grant under an apple tree. Is that n
fact ?
MIR. X My recollection Of the cir
cumstancrs attending the surrender of
General Lee il about the same-it is
in the main correct. | was ON the
right of our line with the cavalry
when the flag of truce came in. After
the firing censPd we descended to the
bank OF "A small creek aud converted
with the opposing cavalry skirmish-
Prs. They informed us that General
LIE had gone up to the town 10 meet
General Grant. They met al the house
of MIR Mclean. There were no APP
pie trees near the house that | could
sre-nOthing hut locust. walnut and
willow trees. ! made a sketch of the
house, which | have in my possession.
CT might interest the readers of
the WORLD to read your recollection
Of the events that followed.
Mr.. X The next morning, the
memorable 10th of April, 1860, | was
with those who went out to the edge
Of the town with General Grant To
meet Lee and make final arrangements
in regard to the surrender. 1t had
been raining that morning, but at the
time they met IL was not raining
General Grant halted on the level
ground at the top Of "A knoll, General
1. Zee advanced up the hill from the di-
rcction of his camp. which lay in the
valley and on the hillside beyond. y
little way down the kmull, where his
pickets were posted. he left his staff
officers and came on alone. As he
reached the level. General Grant step.
ned his horse out hriskly 10 meet him
Both Generals raised their hats in sa-
lutte. and drawing near each other con
versed for more than an hour Lee
appeared To do oil the talking. Grant
sat perfectly still on his horse, with
his cloak thrown Curelessly back and
his hnnds crossed on the p0mmel Of
his saddle | diSmOunted and made
my ske ch, not more than twenty feet
from them at the time. THE next
morning flashed the sketch toy put
ting i'm the surroundings Grant wore
the sugar loaf shape, stiff trimmed reg
ulation hat, covered with oil cloth,
aud had on blue "lOnk His pa2ta-
looms were inside the boots Lee had
on white felt hat, with the rim turn
ed up tlat against the cTnWn on both
sides. He wore blue cloak. or tel
ma, aud his pautalnons inside his
boots. and rode gray horse After
eonversing some time they rode away,
accompanied 10y the staff of each, To
the Mclean mansion,
C.-Aud it was not an apple tree
they met under?
Mr.. X 800 Thr tree under which they
met. NJ the edge of the town, was not
an apple tree.
C.-Was McLean's house a bead
quarters
MIR XII think not. 1 understood
the day befnre--the 9th-that Lee was
waiting at the house Of Mclean when
Grant came up. ! have the original
Ut that sketch In my possession now