The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-06-24

The campaign of Vicksburg was suggested
and developed by circumstances The e!ec-
tions Of 1862 had gone against the prosecution
of the war. Voluntary enlistment had nearly
ceased, and the draft had been resorted to;
this was resisted, and defeat or backward
movement would have mado its execution
| impossible. A forward movement to deci-
sive victory was necessary. Accordingly, l
| resolved to get below Vicksburg, unite with
| Banks against Port Hudson, make New Or.
leans baso and with that base, and Grand
| Gulf rs starting point, move our combined
forces against Vicksburg. Upon reaching
Grand Gulf, after running Its batteries and
| fighting battle, l received letter from
| Banks Informing me that he could not be at
Port Hudson under ten days, and then with
ouly 1000 men. The time was worth more
than tho renforcements. therefore deter
mined to push into the interior OF the enemy's
| country.
With large river behind US, held above
and below by the enemy, rapid movements
were essential to SUCCESS. Jackson was cap
| tured the day after new commander har ar
rived and when largo reinforcements were
daily expected Arapid movement west was
made, and the garrison Of Vicksburg was met
| in five battles and badly defeated. The city
was then successfully besieSed.
LEES SURRENDER
One Of the most interesting parts OF the
memoirs Is that which describes Lee's sur
render Following are extracts from this
portion:
| found General Lee had been brought into
| our lines and conducted to house belonging
t, Mr.. Mclean, and was there wi tn one
of his staff officers waiting my arrival. The
head of his column was occupying hill, a
portion of which was all apple orchard, across
"a RI IL
dams forces were drawn up in line Of battle
on the crest of the hill on the south side of
the same valley.
Before stating what took place between
General Lee and myself, / will give all there
is of the narrative Of General Lee and the fa-
nous apple tree. Wars produce many stories
of fiction, some of which arc told until they
arc believed. The war Of the Rebellion was
fruitful in tho same way. The story OF the
ample tree is one Of those fictions with slight
foundation Of fact.
AS have said, there was an apple orchard
on the side of the hill occupied by the Con-
federate forces. Running diagonally up the
hill was wagon road which at one point ran
very near one Of the trees, 80 that the wheels
on that side had cut off the roots Of the tree,
which made little embankment.
General Babcock reported to me that when
he first met General Lee he was sitting upon
this embanknent with his feet In the road
and leaning against the tree. 1t was then
that Lee was conducted into the house where
I first met him.
| had known General Lee in the old army,
and had served with him III the Mexican war,
but did not suppose owing to the differences
in our ages and rank, that ne would probably
remember me; while would remember him
more distinctly because he wds the chief engi-
ncer on the staff of General Scott in the Mex.
ican war; When had left camp this morn
! inc had not expected tho result so soon that
wa; then taking place, and consequently was
in rough garb, and, believe, without
sword, as I usually was when on horseback
on the field, wearing soldiers blouse for
coat, with shoulder straps of my rank 10 iu-
dicate who was to the army When went
into the house l found General Lee. We
greeted each other. and, after shaking hands.
took our seats. What his feelings were l do
not know Being man OF much dignity and
with an impenetrablc face, it WAS impossible
to say whether he felt inwardly glad that the
end had finally come or whether he felt sadly
over the result and was too manly to show 1t.
Whatever his feelings were, they were entirely
| concealed from observation, but my own
feelings. which had been quite apparent on
the receipt of his letter, were sud and de-
pressed. ! folt like anything rather than
rejoicing at the downfall Of foe that
had fought so gallantly, and had suf-
fered 50 much from cause which
1 believed to be one of the worst for which a
people ever fought, and for which th,re was
not the least pretext do not question, how.
ever, the sincerity Of the great mass OF tho
who were opposed to us. General Leg WAS
dressed in full uniform, entirely new, and
wearing sword Of considerable value, very
likely the sword that had been presented by
the State of Virginia; at all evrnts, it was an
entirely different sword from the one that
would ordinarily be worn in the field. In my
rough travelling suit, which was the uniform
OF private, with the straps OF general, l
must have con;rlsted very strangely wi Il n
man so handsomely dressed, six feet high,
and of faultlcss form. But this is not mat
ter that thought of until afterward.
General Lee and I soon fell into conJnrsa.
ton about old army times. Ho remarked that
| he remembered ME very well in the old army,
aad told him, as q matter of course, that |
remembered him perfectly, but owing to the
| difference in ycars-thero being about sixteen
years difference in our agcs--and our rank.
Thought it very likely hal not attracted his
attention sufficiently to be romomhere after
so long period Our conversation grew 50
pleasant that almost forgot The object Of
our meeting. General Ice at that time was
accompanied by one Of his stat officers, a
| Colonel Marshall. l had all of my staff with
me. good portion of whom were in the room
during the whole of the interview.