Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-04

TREE, &C.
One of the most memorable scenes in Amer
les l.history is the surrender of Lee at Apo
mattox. The apple tree at Appomattox will
live in tradition as long as the Stars and Stripes
wave. The apple tree is, however, somewhat
of a myth. Its only actual appearance was in
the fact that Lee, not Grant, sat under such a
tree when he received Grants note in reply to
his offer to surrender. After the fall of Peters
burg Grant dispatched Sheridan at once to
intercept Lee, who, with his army, was hasten
ing to Danville to unite his forces with those of
Johnston. After hot pursuit Lee turned Off
the main road, and his army toiled all day along
wood roads and paths, winding through
thickets unmOlested. 1t was dreary march,
themselves YEARLY along. The next morning
they struck the main road, and taking courage
marched quite rapidly until dark, and en-
Lee held consultation with his officers as to
the best course to be pursued. 1t was gloomy
council, and its deliberations were hurried by
the boom Of Sheridan's cannon in front, show
ing that their way was hopelessly blocked. The
end was reached.
LEES SURRENDER DEMANDED.
Grant, knowing how hopeless was Lees con-
dition, sent him dispatch from Farmvile de-
handing the surrender of his army, on the
ground that to hold out longer was a useless eff.
fusion of blood. Lee replied the same day, re-
pudiating the insinuation that his case was
hopeless, but concluded with asking the ''terms
he would Offer The next day Grant returned
an answer, saying: "Peace being my first de-
sire, there is but one condition that insist
upon, that the men surrendered shall be dis
qualified from taking up arms against the
United States government until properly ex-
changed" Lee, in reply, denied that he pro-
posed to surrender his army, but to ask his
terms, saying: ITO be frank, do not think the
emergency has arisen to call for the surrender.
AT this time, it is stated, Lee had not more
than ten thousand men with muskets in their
proposed to meet Grant next day at ten O'Clock
and talk the matter over. The next day Grant
sent a letter saying that he had not received
his letter until 11:5O, but would Immediately
push forward to the front to meet him. This
dispatch arrived just in time to prevent an at
tack OF Sheridan's cavalry The bugles were
raised in front of GOrdons troops prevented it.
THE TERMS OFFERED.
The final correspondence then took place, as
follows:
APPOMATTOx COURT HOUSE,
April Sth 1865.
In accordance with the substance of my
letters toyou of the 9Th inst, propose to re-
ceive the surrender of the Army of Northern
Virginia on 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 to
be designated by me, the other to he retained
by such officers as you may designate. The
officers to give their individual paroles not to
take arms against the government of the Uni
leu SJiteS unCll properly exchanged, and each
company or regimental commander to 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,
their homes, not to be disturbed by United
States authority SO long as they observe their
parole and the laws in force where they reside.
Very respectfully.
us. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
Lee replied, saying that he accepted these
terms, and that he would designate the proper
officers to carry the stipulations into effect It
was at this time that Lee was seated under an
apple tree accompanied only by single staff
saluted him, and reported that Gen. Grant was
riding along that road, a little way behind, and
would soon come up Lee at once told his aid
to find proper place to receive him. The lat
ter, seeing man passing by, asked if there was
house near. The man pointed to an empty
house near by, partly i'll ruins. But Lee, refus-
ing to receive Grant in such a desOlate looking
building, the man offered his own farm house,
little way of.
THE MEETING BETWEEN GRANT AND LEE.
Thither Lee proceeded, and soon Grant, accom-
panied by his staff and several generals-among
them Sheridan-rode up. These two heroes met
with frankness and informality. Lee wore his
sword, but Grant was without his, and observ-
ing that the former noticed it, said: " must
apologize, General, for not wearing my sword
d 1t had gone of with my baggage when re-
y
troduced the subject which had brought them
together, and asked Grant to state in writing
the terms on which he proposed the Army Of
Northern Virginia should surrender Grant sat
down at a table and wrote the terms as given in
the above letter. He then handed it to Lee,
who, after reading it carefully, asked what he
meant by private horses" as most of the cav
airy owned their horses. The latter replied
they must be turned over to the government.
Lee acknowledged the justice of this, when
Grant said that he would "instruct his officers
to let those men who owned their horses retain
them as they would need them to till their
farms"
While this document was being copied the two
generals conversed Familiarity about West Point
times and old army friends. At length, allud-
ing to the business before them, Lee said he had
two or three thousand federal prisoners and was
afraid he had not rations sufficient to supply
replied, 81 have rations for 10000 men," The
document having been copied, Col. Marshall
began his reply with II have the honor to reply
to your communication &c. Lee scratched it
al out. and In a clear, soldierly hand wrote,
General, have received your letter of this
date, containing the terms of the surrender of
the Army Of Northern Virginia, as proposed by
you; as they are substantially the same as those
expressed in your letter of the Sth inst they
are accepted. will proceed to designate the
feet" Thus ended the interview between the
two great leaders in the most memorable war
of modern times. Three days later the cOnfed-
crate army was drawn up as for o parade and
the sOldiery stacked their arms and piled to-
gether their flags. Reduced by Struggling and
prisoners, only about %, 900 remained and of
this number not more than half had arms to
lay down.
GRANT AND SHERMAN.
The Characteristic Letters that Passed