The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-04-30
TIE SURRENDER OF LEE.
The areat story VEN Told.


The outward appearance of Lee and
Grant exhibited a marked contrast. The
former was IN full uniform, and he wore
gauntlets and the burnish-
ed sword which the state of Virginia
presented to him. On the other hand,
Grant was in undress uniform, and he
had neither.sword nor gloves.
One of Grants staff was profoundly
impressed by this singular contrast, and
could not refrain from iuterrogating
Col. Marshall.
"HoW is 1t, Colonel" he said, shat
you and your chiefs are so finely equip
ped, while we bear the evidences so
plainly Of hard and rough encounter
on the road.
THAT is easily explained" replied
the Colonel. "a day or two ago Sheri-
dan came suddenly upon us, and forced
rs TO sacrifice eur headquarter train.
AS We could save but one suit of clothes,
each of US selected the best suit that we
had-and that accounts for the differ
ence Of appearance.
The allusion to Sherldan's raid caused
little merriment, and, from the one
the seriousness of the occasion. Gen.
Grant Joined In the good humor of the
moment, and, to explain the absence OF
sword, stated that, when he started for
Farmville two day before, he had been
riding around in camp without q sword
since then he had not visited his own
headquarters, and was consequently
without his sIde-arms.
All explanations and apologies being
ended, the two commanders settled
themselves down to business. Lee was
stately, graves and perhaps formal; he
could not avoid being what by nature he
was. Grant, although the victor, was
somewhat embarrassed, his manner was
simple, his voice reassuring, mild, but
unmistakable in Its firmness. One
would have never mistrusted that they
were discussing the surrender of an
army.
Gen Grant had not personally met
Gen. Lee since the two were IN Mexico
together-the latter then on the staff OF
Scott, the former a subaltern. The con-
versation naturally hinged at first upon
the old recollecnons, and continued for
about i've minutes on the same line oil
thought. Then there was a slight
pause, which was broken by Gen. Lee,
who said:
81 asked to see you, General, to find
out upon what terms you would receive
the surrender of my army"
Gen. Grant thought moment and re
piled: MY terms are these: All of
ficers and men must become prisoners
of war, giving up of course all weapons
munitions and supplies But a parole
will be accepted binding officers and
men to go to their homes and remain
there until exchanged or released by
proper authority"
Lee responded to this with a remark
not particularly pertinent to the occa-
sion, whereupon Grant continued, ask
ing:
accept these terms ?"
EYES," replied Lee, falterIng. "If you
will put them in writing, will put my
signature to them"
Gen. Grant, without saying more, again
took seat at the table, and wrote the
following:
"APPoMATTox COURT HOUSE, Va
Apr, 8, 1S65.-GENERAL: In accord
ance with the substance OF my letter tC
you of the 6th inst, propose to receive
the surrender of the army of Northern
Virginia on the following terms, to- wit
Rolls OF all the officers and men to bt
made in duplicate, one copy to be giveI
to an officer to be designated by me, The
other to be retained by such officer Oh
officers as YOU may designate The of
ficers to give their Individual parole:
not to take up arms against the govern
ment of the United States until properly
exchanged, and each company or regi-
mental commander to sign a like parole
tor the men of their commands. The
arms, artillery and public property t
be parcked and stacked, and turned oVel
to the officers appointed by me TO re
ceive them. This will not embrace tht
side arms of the officers, nor their pri
Vate horses or baggage. This done
each of the officers and men Will not b,
allowed to return to his home, not to b(
distured by United States authorities 81
long as they observe their paroles anC
the laws in force where they reside.
u. 8. GRANT, Lieutenant General,
"Gen. r. Z. Lee"
It was noticed by those that were pre-
sent that, while Grant was penning thest
words, he CHANGED to look up, and hi
eyes fell upon the bright glitter of Gen
Lees sword. He paused for a moment
his mind conceived new thought, anC
he inserted in the document the PROV
sion shat this Will not embrace tn,
side arms of the officers, nor their prl
vate horses or baggage"
1t must be remembered that Gen. LIE
had verbally accepted the terms OF sur
render without this provision, and o
course he expected, as was highly pre-
per to surrender his sword to the victor
Grants magnanImIty, however, agai
got the best OF him. The wish was far
| thest from his hart to humiliate even hi
enemy. In accordance with this wIsl
Gen. Grant made no demand for Gen
Lees sword and no tender of it WAS Of
| fered.
Gen. Lee put on his spectacles to rea
what Grant had written. He was toucl
ed by the clemency of the vlctoriou
commander, and, on laying down tn
paper, SAID simply, in a husky tone
voice, "Magnanimous, General"
But he essayed to gain a few polnt
and remarked:
THE horses of my cavalry and art
lery, General, are the property of Ii
soldiers. 1t ls, hope, within the term
that they shall retain their property ?"
at is not within the TERMS" reptile
Grant.
Lee glanced at the paper again an
said:
mo, you are right. The terms do n
allow it,"
sand now" said Grant, az believe Il
war is ever, and that the surrender
this army will be followed soon by tn
of all the others. know tina: the me
and, indeed the whole South, are impO
erished. l will not change the terms
the surrender, Gen. Lee, but / will i
; struct my officers who receive the p
roles to allow the cavalry and artiller
men to retain their horses and. tai
them home to work their little farms
'1Such an act on your part, Gener'
replied Lee, twill have the best effect
the South"
He then sat down, and wrote out Il
following letter:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NoRTHEI
VIRGINIA, Aprip 8. 1S65.-GENERAL:
received your letter of this date contal
ing the terms OF the surrender of &
army of Northern Virginia as propos
By you. AS they are substantially q
, same as those expressed In your letter
the 9Th inst, they are accepted. W
proceed to designate the proper Office
! to carry the stipulation into effect.
ar E. LEE, General
"Lieut. Gen. =. s. GRANT"
While duplicates of the two lettC
were being made, the Union Gener;
present were seversllY presented to &c
} Lee. They were received rather cold
a but yet courteously.
s Pending the signing of the form
papers, Gen Lee stated that his N
l were starving, and requested Gen. Grs
: to provide ratIons for them. Grant
1 quired how many rations were wantt
: Lee could not answer the question, !
the reason that he had no idea of his o,
= strength.
"Wm $4,000 rstions suffice >" ask