The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-06-28
GEN. SHERIDAN.
He Writes a Chapter on the Last
Days of the Rebellion.

Gen. Sheridan communicates to
the North American Review of July
a chapter of history on "The Last
Days of the Rebellion" He begins
by saying he feels it his duty to do
this, as public attention has been
occasionally called to some of the
events. After showing how he
headed Lee off after the break at
Petersburg, burned trains, captured
artillery and obtained the ratIons
sent from Danville, he gives this
picture Of the final scene:
In the meantime, Gen. Lee came
over to McLean's house in the vii
lage of Appomattox court house. l
am not certain whether Gen. Bah
cock, of Gen. Grants staff, who had
arrived in advance of the general,
had gone over to see him or not.
We had waited some hours, and l
think about u o'clock Gen. Grant
arrived. Gen. Ord, myself and many
others were in the main road lead
ing through the town, at point
where Lees army was visible. Gen.
Grant rode up, and greeted me with,
Sheridan, how are you ? l replied,
4 am worry well, thank you He
then said, Where is Lee? Ireplied,
There is his army down in the
valley; he is over in that house
(pointing out McLean's) J, waiting to
surrender to you Gen. Grant, still
without dismounting, said, Come,
let US go over He then made the
same request to Gen. Ord, and we
all went to McLean's house. Those
who entered with Gen. Grant were,
as nearly as | can recollect, Ord,
Rawlins, Seth Williams, Ingalls,,
Babcock, Parker and MYSELF the
staff officers, or those who accom-
panied, remaining on the outside on
the porch, steps and in the yard.
On entering the parlor we found
Gen. Lee standing in company with
Col. Marshal, his aid-de-camp. The
first greeting was to Gen. Seth Viii
liams, who had been Lees adjutant
when he was superintendent Of the
military academy. Gen. Lee was
then presented to Gen. Grant, and
all present were introduced. Gen.
Lee was dressed in new gray uni
form, evidently put on for the oc
casion, and wore handsome sword. !
He had on his face the expression
of relief from a heavy burden. Gen.
Grants uniform was soiled with |
mud and service, and he wore no
sword. After few words had been |
spoken by those who knew Gen. Lee,
all the officers retired, except, per-
haps, one staff officer of Gen. Grants,
and the one who was with Gen. Lee. |
We had not been absent from the |
room longer than about five min
utes when Gen. Babcock came to the
door and said: The surrender has
taken place-you can come in again
"When we entered Gen. Grant
was writing on little wooden, ell
liptical shaped table purchased by
me from Mr. Mclean and presented
to Mrs. @. A. Custer) the conditions
of the surrender. Gen. Lee was
sitting, his hands resting on the hilt
of his sword, to the left of Gen.
Grant, with his back to a small
marble topped table, on which many
books were piled While Gen. Grant
was writing, friendly conversation
was engaged in by Gen. Lee and his
aid with the officers present, and he
took from his breast pocket two dis
patches, which had been sent to |
him during the forenoon, notifying
him that some of his cavalry, in |
front of Crook, were violating the
agreement entered into by with
drawing. I had not had time to
make copies when they were sent,
and had made a request to have
them returned. He handed them to
me with the remark, Il am sorry. 1t
is possible my cavalry at that point
of the line did not fully understand
the agreement
FAbout an hour was occupied in
drawing up and signing the terms,
when Gen. Lee retired from the
house with a cordial shake of the
hand with Gen. Grant, mounted his
chunky, gray horse, and lifting his
hat, passed through the gate and
rode over the crest of the hill to his
army. On his arrival there we heard
wild cheering, which seemed to be
taken up progressively by his troops,
either for him or because of salts
faction with his last official act as q
soldier"