The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-19
BATTLEFIELDS OF THE WAR
Extract from General Sheridan's Last
Days of the Rebellion"
The Part He Took in the Closing Scene-The
Count of Paris Tells of the Fight
at Little Round-TOp.
North American Review for July.

North American Review for July.
General Sheridan begins by saying that he
feels it is his duty to do this, as public atten-
ton 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 pic
ture of the final scene:
I'm the meantime, General Lee came over
to McLean's house in the village OF Apo
mattox Courthouse. | am not certain
whether General Babcock, of General Grants
staff, who had arrived in advance of the Gen
eral, had gone over to see him or not. We
had waited some hours and, | think, about
II or l o'clock General Grant arrived. Cen
eral Ord, myself and many officers were in
the main road leading through the town, at
point where Lees army was visible. Gen
eral Grant rode up and greeted me with,
Sheridan, how are your l replied I am
very WE'LL thank you He then said:
Where is Lee| l replied: There is his
army down in the valley; he is over in that
house pointing out McLean's), waiting to
surrender to you General Grant still
without dismounting, said: Come, let us go
over He then made the same request to
General Ord, and we all went to McLean's
house. Those who entered with General
Grant were, as nearly as | can recollect, Ord,
Rawlins, Seth Williams ingalls,, Babcock,
Parker and myself; the staff officers, or those
who accompanied remaining outside ON the
porch steps and in the yard. On entering
the parlor we found General Lee standing
in company with Colonel Marshal, his aide
de-camp. The first greeting was to General
Seth Williams, who had been Lees adJutant
when he was superintendent of the Military
Academy. General Lee was then presented
to General Grant, and all present were intro
duced. General Lee was dressed in new
gray uniform, evidently put on Tor the occa-
sion, and wore a handsome sword. He had
on his face the expression of relief from
heavy burden. General Grants uniform
was soiled with mud and service. and he
wore no sword. After few wo~A; mad been
sPoAel Nv Use VINO knew General Lee, all
tne officers retired, except, perhaps, one stan
officer of General Grants and the one who
was with General Lee. We had not been abb
sent from the room longer than about we
minutes when General Bahc0ok came to the
door and said: The surrender has taken
place-you can come in again.
When we re-entered General Grant was
writing on little wooden, elliptical-shaped
table purchased by me from Mr.. Mclean
and presented to Mrs. G. A. CUSTER the con-
ditions of the surrender. General Lee was
| sitting, his hands resting on the hilt of his
sword to the left of General Grant, with his
back to small handicapped table, on which
many books were piled. While General
Grant was writing friendly conversation was
engaged in by General Lee and his aid with
the officers present and he took from his
breast pocket two dispatches, which had been
sent to him by me during the forenoon, mott
flying him that some of his cavalry, in front
| OF Crook, were violating the agreement en-
tered into by Withdrawing. 1 had not had
time to make copies when they were sent, and
had made request to have them returned.
He handed them to me with the remark, L
am sorry. 1t is possible that my cavalry at
that point of the line did not fully under
stand the agreement
About one hour was occupied in drawing
up and signing the terms, when General Lee
retired from the house with a cordial shake
of the hand with General 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 satisfaction with
his last official act a soldier"