The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-08-08

| Marshall, who acted as his secretary. Inc
| two chiefs shook hands, and Lee at once be-
gan a conversation, for ne appeared more
unembarrassed than his victor. He, as well
as his aid-de-c camp, was elaborately dressed.
Lee wore embroidered gauntets and
FURNISHED sword, the gift it is said, of the
State of Virginia, while the uniforms OF
Grant and those who accompanied him were
soied and worn. Some had slept in their
boots for days and Grant when he started
for Farmville, two days before, had been rid
ing around in camp without a sword. lie
had not since visited his own headquarters,
and was therefore at this moment without
sidearms. The contrast was singular, and
Col. Marshall was asked how it came about
that hi. 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 head4uar-
tiers train; and, as they could save but one
suit of clothes, each hurriedly selected the
best that he had, and so it was that at this
juncture Lee and his aids-de-camp were bet
ter dressed than the men that had pursued
them. Lee tall, fine in person. hand
some in features, grave aDd dignifed in
bearing-:t anything a little too formal.
There was suggestion of effort in his de-
pertinent; something hat showed he was de-
termined to die gracefully; hint of Cesar
mufling himself in his mantle. But apart
from this there was nothing to criticise.
GRANT s TERMS.
Grant, as usual, was simple and composed,
hut with none of the grand air about him.
No citation was visible in his manner or APP
pearance. His voice was calm ever,
and his eye betrayed no emotion. He spoke
and acted as plainly as if he were transact
ing an ordinary matter of business No one
won have suspected that he was about to
receive the surrender of an army, that
one of the most terrible wars of modern
times had been brought 10 triumphant
close b. the quiet man without a sword who
was conycrsng 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 Il subaltern
and Lee a staff officer Of Scott The rebel
General, however, soon adverted TO the OBJ
ject of the interview. 4" l 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 of war, giving up of course all
ammunition, weapons, and supplies, but that
a parole would be accepted binding them to
go to their homes and remain there until eX-
changed or relieved by proper authority.
Lee said he had expected some such things
as these and made some other remark not
exactly relevant Whereupon Grant in
qurcd: do l understand, Gen. Lee, that
you accept these termsY' YES said Lee,
and if you will put them into writing / will
sign them"
Grant then sat down to the little table and
wrote the following letter:
AFFIRMATION COURT HOUSE, April 9, '65.
Gen. r. T.. Lee, Commanding G. ;. A:
In accordance with the substance of my
letter to you OF the Sth inst, / propose to
receive the surrender of the Army of North
ern Virginia on the following terms, to wit:
Rolls of ali the officers and men to be made
in duplicate, one copy to be given 10 an officer
designated by me, the other to be retained
by such officers as you may designate.
The officers to give their individual paroles
not to take arms against the United States
until properly exchanged, and each company
or regimental commander sign n like parole
for the men of the commands.
The arms, artillery, and public property to
be p cked and stacked, and turned over to
the officers appointed by me to receive them.
| This will not embrace the side-arms of the
oibcers, nor their private horses or baggage
1hI, done, each otlcer and man will be al
lOwed o return to their homes, not TO be dis
turucd by United States authority SO long as
they observe their parole and tue laws in
force where they may reside. Very respect
fully, L. :. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
bile Grant was writing he Glanced to
look up at Lee, who sat nearly opposite, and
at that moment noticed the glitter of his
sword. The sight suggested an alteration in
the terms and he Inserted the provision that
Otrcers should tie allowed to retain their side
| arms, horses and personal property. Lee
had accepted Grants conditions without this
stipulation, and doubtless expected 10 sur
| 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
feelings of a soldier. He said at once that
the conditions were magnanimous, 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 animals? Grant
said the terms would not allow this Lee
| took the paper again, and CHANGING over it
said: mo, you are right. The terms do not
allow it." Whereupon Grant replied: Il
believe the war is now over, and the surren-
der of this army will be followed soon by that
of all the others. / know the men, and indeed
the whole South, are impoverished. / viii
not change the terms of the surrender, Gen.
Lee, but | Will instruct my officers who re-
ceive the paroles to allow the cavalry and
artillery men to retain their horses and take
them home to work their little FARMS Lee
again expressed his acknowledgment and said
this kindness would have the best possible
effect.
He then wrote ont his letter in these words;
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA, April 8, 1865.
States Army:
GENERAL have received your letter of
this date containing the terms of surrender
of the Army of Northern Virginia, as pro-
posed by you; as they are substantially the
same as those expressed in your letter of the
Sth inst, they are accepted. l will proceed
to designate the proper officers to carry the
stiDulat onS into effect. Very respectfully,
year Obedient servant
r. f. LEE General.
While the conditions were being copied
the various Union officers were pre-
sented to Lee. He collected
and courteous, Lowing to each, but
offered none his hand. One. Gen. Seth VIII
Hams, who had served closely with him in
the old army, attempted to revive old mem
cries, but Lee repealed the advance colby.
He was in no mood to remember ancient
friendships, or to recall pleasantly his service
In the army of which he was now a prisoner
! or under that flag which he had betrayed.
He had, however, another request to make.
His men were starving; they had lived, he
said, on two ears of corn a day Tor several
DAYS. Would Grant supply them with food
mere was train OF cars at IynchUurg
loaded with ratIons which had come from
Danyille for his army. Would Grant al 'ow
them 10 be distributed among the prisoners.
Grant, however, told him that this train had
been captured the day before by Sheridan
| Thus, at the moment of his surrender Lee
was absolutely dependent for supplies
| upon his couQueror. Grant of course,
acquiesced in the request and asked
how many rations Lee required. But the
! rebel General declared that he could not an
! swer the question. He had no idea of his own
! strength. No return of the brigades had
! been made for several days. Besides those
/ lost in the battle-killed, captured, and
wounded or left on the roadsde-the men had
/ been deserving and struggling by thousands
/ He could not tell what number he had left.
4 Al. his public and private papers had been
/ destroyed to prevent their falling into the
/ Federal hands. Grant finally inquired if 25-
/ 600 ratlons would suffice, and Lee replied he
! thought that number would be enough
! Twenty five thousand, therefore, was Lees
/ estimate at AppOmattOx of the number he
/ surrendered. Grant turned TO the officer OF the
! commissariat on his stan and directed him
/ 10 issue %, 600 rattons that night TO the Army
! of Northern Virginia. The order was Obeved
! and before the rebeis gave up their arms
! they were fed by their enemies Lee also
/ requested Grant 10 notify Meade of the sur
, render. so that no lives might needlesslv be
/ lost on that 'front.' and on account of the dis
lance TO heades headquarters two Union
/ officers were again dispatched with a rebel
escort through the lines of the Army Of
Northern rginia, this time CARRYING tn
news of the Surran1pr of that