Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-28
APPOMATTOx
And the Famous Apple Tree.
co-...nondencs philadelphia Times.l

correspondence Philadelphia Times.l
In 1861 Wilmer Mclean, acuiet
,itizen, owned a farm lea Bull Run
in Prince William county.
on Sunday, the 2lst Of July, in
hat year the great armies FLASHED for
he FIRST time his fields were devas-
ated and his home despoiled. He
Jumped at the conclusion that the
var would be waged in front Of Wash
ngton, and so, to get away from the
iuss, he pocketed his household goods
md moved southwark to the I'M
,roubled hills of Appomattox. Strange
ioes it seem that he should have be-
held the first act and the last act OF
the war in Virginia, but it was imme-
around him that the conflict
had its beginning and end. He was
at Manassas when the gay youngrebel,
and plumed, gave Mcdowell
that first sockdolager, and he was here
at Appomattox when the same rebel
ranged, shoeless, shirtless, the recip.
lent OF a thousand blows-stacked
forever.
In Mrs. McLean's parlor Grant and
Lee met to agree upon the terms OF
surrender. The house is a two story
brick structure, with a porch extend
ing the full length Of its front. II
was intended originally for a tavern,
The yard is a square grass plot, Dor
dered by six towering locust trees,
A huge willow that stood at the time
of the surrender has been cut away,
stump and all. In the middle Of the
yard is a well Of sweet water. Tho
summer house that covered the well
is gone. At the edge Of the porch are
a number OF geranium pots with flow.
ers in bloom. The palings are white
with a fresh coat oflime and altogeth'
er the property is as neat and pretty
as it is possible to make it. A wide
hall leads from the porch through the
middle of the house. 1t was with one
room only-the parlor to the left Of
the entrance-that the commander;
had anything to do. An alleged en-
craving or the historic conference
hangs over the parlor door but the
villagers say that several OF the Fed
eral officers who show their fine uni,
forms in the picture were not present
except in the engraver's accommoda.
ting eye. The room would seat com.
fortably fifty or more persons. There
is a window at each end and both win.
dows are wide. The fireplace j.
screened by a pictured board. Around
the room are portraits Of Ragland
beauties and beaux, and while Mrs.
Ragland's furniture aud ornaments
make the historic parlor quite pretty,
they also make it commonplace. The
big chair in the corner suggests tender
counting episodes rather than Incl.
dents Of hard campaigning.
A pleasant breeze was swaylng the
tops Of the locusts as we left the Nc
Lean house and passed once more
through the village, clear over which
my companion swore that he could
knock a base ball in sky. scraping
curve. Here at this wheelwright
shop fell the dashing Root. the last
officer Of the Army Of the Potomac to
die. Further along we see an oak
and black gum, uninteresting Of theiT
own account, but which enable the
villager to get the bearings of the now
up-torn locust where Grant and Lee
first met to talk. That spot is in az
open field, about two hundred yards
north of the Courthouse and vel
down the slope towards the Appomat
tox. When we forded that stream thu
clear, spring water flowing over sand,
bottom did not so much as wet thl
hubs of our buggy-wheels. II is les
then ten yards in width at this tin c
though in stormy weeks, when thu
red soil above takes to itself some
thing Of the fuidity as well as tn.
color of blood, the rivulet truly swell
into a river and passes eastward it
one hundred and fifty miles to tn
james with rush and roar tina
tell Of the highland bed wherei
it was born. The SQUIRE
of the stream is three miles above
spring that is visited daily by dark
boys who balance buckets upon thei
heads with as much dexterity as th
thumb of the sweet swell at Lon.
Branch throws into the twirl Of hi
cane.
The spot where stood Lees appl
tree is soon reached, as leaving th
creek we 60 a part Of the way up th.
slope and halt by roadside orchard
Persons have said that the hole lei
by the removal of the stump is not
visible. If so, it is microscopic. TIL
driver showed US near about" an
put nigh the place where the hol
ought to be. The day after the SUI
render the tree was removed root an
branch by soldiers who wanted relic
to take home to their wives and sweet
hearts. And as apple wood is app
wood, several other trees in the sam
orchard were cut up into relics ais,
This season a crop of oats was take
by Farmer e. G.. Hicks from the feel
aud September stubble now make
the whole hillside brown. 1t is tru
? that Lee held a brief council undo
the apple tree, and the story Of ii
tree is not a myth.
The weary leader was hemmed
on all sides. The thousand days
! fighting were over and the one day
parley had come. The Army
Northern Virginia had spent il
7 strength in many msneuvers, in tir,
less marches and in terrific battle
Hungry, sore and sick, the poor rem
, nant Of a once seemingly invincib
. host now under the bright light Of q
' April moon slept its last sleep wit
Q th knapsack for its pillow. From Il
apple tree the rebel chief sent out h
white sign Of peace-a poor, torn ra
but now fatelull Riding down hi
{ and across the stream. be met Graz
{ near the locust. County Clerk GeOrJ
: IT. Peers saw Grant and Lee NEE
I They saluted, chatted, touched hat
b wheeled and rode in opposite dire
: tons. To appearance it was an ord.
! nary meeting Of two mounted me
Soon afterward Lee returned from Il
further. side Of the creek aud, wit
: Grant, entered the Mclean hous
Then the yanquished captain rejoin,
his comrades, and under a poplar, nc
iourishingin its growth on the far
of j. W. Flood, one mile northeast