The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-04-16

named Mclean for the interview with Grant
Information was ~ onoe sent back to 6hcri-
dams headquarters not half mile away,
where the cavalry leader was tmpatieuty
awaiting the arrival OF his chef. Firing, of
| course. had ceased, and sheridan was at tho
very front with handful OF oficers-
| AT GRANTS MERCY.
| Aware that Grant now held the remainder
OF the Army of Northern Virginia IN his
| grasp, and indignant that Lee should have
continued TO fight after no had proposed TO
surrender the national trooper was inclined
| 70 consider the rebel overture ruse intended
| only TO gain time co escape. He was pacing
| up and down I'm q little farmyard like pam
| Their In a cage when the General-in-Chief ar
| rived and assured him Of the truth that Gen.
Lee, finding himself ciroumvented and sur
rounded, had indeed expressed Willingness
| to surrender.
| few words from Sheridan explained the
| situation In his front, and made Grant aware
| how completely the ebel leader and the frag-
| ments OF the rebel army were at his mercy.
| With the Army OF the Potomac on the north
| and east, and Sheridan and Ord on the south
and west, the enemy that had withstood, and
| repealed. and averted, and avoided Grant so
| long was absolutely In his power. He pro-
ceeded ut once to the interview.
| The two armies came together In a long
| valley at the foot OF q ridge, and Appomat-
tox was on knoll between the lines which
| could be seen for miles The Mclean house
stood little apart, plain building with ve-
| randa in front. Grant was met by Lee ut the
threshold. There was q narrow hall and a
naked little parlor containing a table and two
| or three chairs. Into this the gentlemen on
| terod each at first accompanied by single
aid-de-camp, but rs many as twenty national
| officers shortly followed. among them Sheri-
| dan, Ord, and a number of Grants own staf.
No rebel entered the room but Lee and Col.
| Marshall, who acted as his secretary. The
| two chiefs shook hands, and Lee at once be-
gan a conversation, for he appeared more
unembarrassed than his victor. He, as well
| as his abide camp was deliberately dressed.
Lee wore embroidered gauntlets and a
FURNISHED sword, the gift, X Is said, or the
State of Virginia, while the uniforms OF
| Grant and those who accompanied him were
soiled and worn. Some had slept in their
i boots for days, and Grant, when he started
for Farmville, two days before. had been rid
| ing around In camp without sword. He
| had not since visited his own Headquarters
| and was therefore at this moment without
| sidearms. The contrast was singular, and
1 Col Marshall was asked how IL came about
| that his chief and he were SO fine. while the
| national officers had been unable to keep
| themselves free from the stains of battle and
! the road. He replied that Sheridan had come
upon them suddenly day or two before, and
| they were obliged to sacrifice their headquar-
| tiers train; and, as they could save but one
| suit of clothes each hurrietly selected the
| best that he had, and so it was that at this
| juncture Lee and his aids-de-camp were bet
4 urebseu tutn Inc men ndu puTSutu
them. Lee was tall, fine in person. hand
| some in features, grave and dignihed In
| bearing-if anything, little too formal
| There was O suggestion OF effort I'm his de-
| pertinent: something that showed he was de-
| termined to die gracefully; hint OF Caesar
muffiing himself I'm his mantle. But apart
| from this there was nothing TO criticise.
GRANT TERMS
| Grant, as usual, was simple and composed,
but with none of the grand air about him.
Nn xyfS .la tn nr "a
pearance. His voice was as calm as ever,
and his eye betrayed no emotion. He spoke
and acted as plainly as IL he were transact
ing an ordinary matter OF business. No one
| would have suspected that he was abost to
receive the surrender OF an army, or that
| one OF the most terrible wars OF modern
times had been brought to a triumphant
| close by the quiet man without sword who
| was conversing calmly but rather grimly
| with the elaborate gentleman in gray and
| god.
The conversation at first related to the
| meeting of the two soldiers In earlier years
in Mexico, when Grant had been a subaltern
and Lee a staff officer Of Scott The rebel
| General, however, soon adverted to the OBJ
| ject of the interview. a. asked to see you,
| Gen. Grant" he said, "to ascertain
upon what terms you would receive
the surrender of my army" Grant replied
that the officers and men must become
| prisoners or war, giving up of course all
| ammunition, weapons, and supplies. but that
Il parole would be accepted binding them TO
go TO their homes and remain there until ex-
changed or relieved by proper authority.
| Bee said he had expected some such things
| as these and made some other remark not
exactly relevant. Whereupon Grant in
CURED: Do L understand, Gen. Lee that
you accept these termsy! "Yes," said Lee,
land If you will put them into writing will
sign them"
Grant then sat down TO the little table and
! wrote the following letter:
APPoMATTox COURT HOUSE, April o, IS.
Gen. X. f. Lee. Commanding G. s. A:
In accordance with the substance OF my
| letter TO you or the Sth inst, L propose to
receive the surrender of the Army of North
ern Virginia oil the following terms, to wit:
Rolls OF ali the officers and men TO be made
In duplicate, one copy TO be given TO an officer
designated by me, the other to be retained
by such officers as you'may designate.
The officers togive their individual paroles
not to take arms against tho United States
until properly exchanged, and each company
| or regimental commander sign q like parole
for the men of their commands.
The arms, artillery, and public property to
| be y cked and stacked, and turned over TO
| the officers appointed by me TO receive them.
This will not embrace the side-arms of the
officers, nor their private horses or baggage.
| This done, each officer and man Will be al
lowed TO return to their homes not to be dis
I turbed by United States authority so long as
| they observe their parole and the laws In
| force where they may reside. Very respect
| fully, u. s. GRANT, Lieutenant General
While Grant was writing he Glanced to
look up at Lee, who sat nearly opposite, and
| at that moment noticedsthe glitter of his
sword. The sight suggested an alteration in
| the terms, and he inserted the provision that
| officers should be allowed to retain their side
| arms, horses, and personal property. Lee
| had accepted Grants conditions without this
| stipulation, and doubtless expected 10 ssur-
| render his sword. But this humiliation he
and his gallant officers were spared. When
the terms were written out, Grant handed
the papers to his great antagonist,
who put on his spectacles to read
them. He was evidently touched by
| their generous clemency. and espec ally by the
| Interpolation which saved so much TO the
| feelinls of "a soldier. He said at once that
! the conditions were magnnnimous. and would
have a very good effect upon his army.
He next attempted to gain a little more.
The horses OF his cavalry he said. were the
property of the soldiers. Could these men
| be permitted To retain their animalsI Grant
said the terms would not allow tnis. Lee
took the paper again, and glancing over IT
said: mo. you are right. The terms DO not
! allow IL" Whereupon Grant replied: 81
| believe the war is now over. and the surren-
der OF this army wiz he followed soon by that
of all the others. know the men. and indeed
| tho whole South, are Impoverished. ! win
not change the terms of the surrender, Gen.
Lee, but will instruct my Officers who re-