Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-04-30
GENERAL GRANT.
Life and Public Services of the most
Distinguished american Citi-
zen OF To-Day.
His Record as Soldier in Mexico
A Capable and Brave Officer
His Military Renown.
The Story of the Campaign that Gull
minated in the Surrender of
Lee of Appomattox.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Concluded from, last meek. J


two miles, and in his anxiety lest the
fighting should recommence Lee now
volunteered to send an officer through
his own lines with the message to
Meade. Babcock's note was according
" transmitted in this way by Gen.
Forsyth, of Sheridan's staff, escorted
by confederate officer.
Lee then rode on to the village of
Appomattox, and selected the house of
farmer named Mclean for the inter-
view with Grant. Information was at
once sent back to Sheridan's head
quarters, not half mile away, where
the cavalry leader was impatiently
awaiting the arrival of his chief. Fir
ing, OF course, had ceased, and Sheri-
dan was at the very front with hand
full of officers.
AT GRANTS MERCY.
Aware that Grant now held the re-
mainder of the Army of Northern Vir-
glnia in his grasp, and indignant that
Lee should have continued to fight aft
er he had proposed to surrender, the
national trooper was inclined to con-
slider the confederate overture a ruse
intended only to gain time to escape.
lie was pacing up and down in little
farm-yard like panther in a cage
when the general-in-chef arrived and
assured him of the truth that Gen.
Lee, finding himself circumvented aud
surrounded, had indeed expressed a
willingness to surrender.
A few words from Sheridan explain
ed the situation in his front, and made
Grant aware how completely the con-
federate leader and the fragments of
the confederate army were at his mer-
cy. 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that had withstood, and repealed, and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 now absolutely in his power. He
proceeded at once to the interview.
The two armies came together in a
long valley at the foot of ridge, and
Appomattox was on knoll between
the lines which could be seen for miles.
The Mclean house stood little apart.
a plain building with veranda in
front. Grant was met by Lee at the
threshold. There was a narrow. hall
and a naked little parlor containing a
table and two or three chairs. Into
this the generals entered, each at first
accompanied by a single aid-de-camp,
but as many as twenty national officers
shortly followed, among them Sheridan,
aud a number of Grants own staff.
No confederates entered the room
but Lee and Colonel Marshall.
who acted as his secretary. The two
chiefs shook hands, and Lee at once
began conversation, for he appeared
more embarrassed than his victor He.
as well as his aidde-camp, was elabor-
ately dressed. Lee wore embroidered
gauntlets and FURNISHED sword, the
gift, it is said, of the State of Virginia,
while the uniforms of Grant and those
who accompanied him were soiled and
worn. Some had slept in their boots
for days, and Grant when he started
for Formaille, two days before, had
been riding around in camp without
sword. He had not since visited his
own headquarters, and was therefore
at this moment without side-arms. The
contrast was singular, and Col Mar
shall asked how it came about that his
chief and he were SO fine, while the ma
tional officers had been unable to keep
themselves free from the stains of bat
tie and the road. He replied that
Sheridan had came upon them sudden
denly day or two before, and they
were obliged to sacrifice their head
quarters 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 iuncture Lee and his
aid-de-camp were better dressed than
the men who had pursued them. Lee
was tall, fine in person, handsome in
feature, grave and dignified in bearing
if anything, little too formal There
was a suggestion of effort in his deport-
ment; something that showed he was
determined to die gracefully; hint Of
Cesar muflling himself in his mantle.
But apart from this there was nothing
to criticise.
GRANTS TERMS.
Grant as usual was simple and COM
posed, but with none of the grand air
about him. No elation was visible in
his manner or appearance. His voice
was as calm as ever, and his eye be-
trayed no emotion. He spoke and act
ed as plainly as if he were transacting
an ordinary matter of business. No
one would have suspected that he was
/ about to receive the surrender of an
army, or that one of the most terrible
wars of modern times had been brought
to triumphant close by the quiet man
without sword who was conversing
calmly but rather grimly with the elab-
crate gentleman in gray and gold.
The conversation at first related to
the meeting of the two soldiers in ear
lier years in Mexico, when Grant had
been a subaltern and Lee n staff officer
of Scott. The confederate general,
however, soon advcrted to the object
of the interview. II asked to see you,
Gen. Grant," he said, ito ascertain up
on 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 parole would be accepted
binding them to 90 to their homes and
remain there until exchanged or reliev-
ed by proper authority. Lee said he
had expected some such things as
these and made some other remark not
exactly relevant. Whereupon Gen.
Grant inquired: '.Do | understand,
Gen. Lee, that you accept these
termsP' 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 8,
1S65.-Gen. X. +. LEE, Command ng G. S.
AIN accordance with the substance of
my letter to you of the Sth inst, propose
t. rece We the. surrender of the. Army of
Northern Virginia, OH the following terms,
to-wit:
Rolls of all 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 desig-
nate.
The officers to give their individual pa
roles not to take arms against the United
States until properly exchanged, and each
company or regimental commander sign a
like parole for the men of their commands.
The arms, artillery, and public property
to be packed 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
allowed TO return to their homes, not to be
disturbed by United States authority so
long as they observe their parole and the
laws in force where they may reside. Very
respectfully, U. :. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
While Grant was writing he CHANGED
to look up at Lee, who sat nearly OPP
posite, and at that moment noticed the
glitter of his sword. The sight sug-
gested an alteration in the terms, and
he inserted the provision that officers