The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-31
Lees Sword at Appomattox.


We recently published paragraph from
the Bangor (Maine) Wing stating that when
General LEE met General GRANT at Apo
mattox Courthouse, he wore ga splendid
testimonial sword that had been presented
to him, and doubtless intending that tho
weapon should become the historic emblem
OF the lost cause at the national capital.
General GRANT prevented this by gracefully
waving the surrender OF the sword OF bis
vanquished foe, and hastily pencilling the
terms he demanded, passed the memoran-
dunn to LEE, who became visihly affected
with emotion OH perceiving the generosity
with which all the officers OF his command
were to be treated by their conqueror."
This story was denied upon the authority
OF General LEE himself by the Rev. j. W.
JONES. secretary OF the Southern Historical
Society, who published a letter in the Dis
patch repeating what General LEE had said
to him.. The New York Times says that
the statement which called forth the - com:
"munication printed in the Richmond
"(Va.) Dispatch" has been substantiated
by a letter from General GRANT; which let
5teris as follows:
a: WASHINGTON, D. c.; March 90, 1877
G. 4. Bontelte, ESQ, Bangor:
The Bangor Wing and Goasrier's account
Is strictly correct except in this:i3 Nothing
was said about swords, side-arms, baggage,
or private horses until wrote the terms of
surrender in which gave them at which
General Lee was much affected, and said
those terms would have 4 good effect upon
his army.
He had on apparently An entirely new
uniform and magnificent sword-such as
is not usually worn in the field-and it GER
tainly left tue impression thatthe expects
ton waste surrender it. i1.s4ss,..f:
Nothing was said in the preliminary con-
yersation to warrant the assumption that
anything more was to be granted to the
rebel army than that they were to be per-
mitted to return to their homes on laying
down their arms, and not to be molested iu
their persons SO long as they remained there
and obeyed the laws in force thercat.
e.~ ~ ~ ~. S. GRANT. i.
y Now; it strikes as that GRANT s'substan.
tiates" every point except the two which
were in dispute, and that as to these he
"substantiates what DR.. JONES said Of
them. The Bangor Wigs statement was
that General LEE had appeared wearing a
magnificent sword, which he intended
should become "the historic emblem. Of, the
lost cause" General LEE denied years ago
that he ever intended to surrender his
sword. !. Now, how does General GRANT
substantiate" the Bangor Why's state
ment9 Why, he, does not" substantiate"
IL ali. He expressly declares, on the con-
trary, that Nnothing was said about
swords" &C., before the terms were
penned, but adds, sit left the. impression,
that General LEE expected to surrender
L." tGRA9T does not say whether .it''
MAS the uniform or the sword that
left this impression. q It',,s left it,
So that the Bangor Wing has taken the
trouble to spoil It's own sensational story
eoneersing GRANTS generosity land
General LEES intention to turn :oyerto him
splensid testimonial sword which should
q become the historic emblem OF the lost
. cause::o e =. . .@-z
], wv; nov. EeprodHe from q Personal .Reni-
niscences Of Les'1 sa<statement 'oitG eneral
LEGS own account OF the surrender as writ
ten down from bis own lips by DR.. JONES:
General Lee said that when lie met Gen.