The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1885-06-17
GRANTS HISTORY OF THE
WAR.
%ho Story of Appomattox as r rold
BY tho Conqueror.

y
Will contain the following reminiscent
ces of Lees surrender:
81 found that Gen. Lee had heen
brought iuto our lines and conducted
to bouse belonging to Mr.. Mclean,
and was there with one of his staG
officers waiting nv arrival. The head
OF his column was occupying hill, a
portion oil which was an apple orchard
ncross little va;,ey from the Court.
house. Sheridan's forces were drawn
up in line of battle on tie west of hill
on the south side Of the same valley.
Before stating what took place
between Gen. Lee and myself | will
give all there is of the narrative Of
Gen. Lee and the famous apple tree.
Wars produce many stories of fiction.
some OF which are told until they are
believed. The war of the rebellion
was fruitful in the same wav.\ The
story of the apple tree is one of those
fctions with a slight foundation of
fact. AS l have said, there was an
apple orchard or the side OF .Le bill
occupied by the Confederate 3o,ces.
Running diagoualIy up the hill was n
wagon road, which at one point rat
very near one Of the trees, so that the
wheels on that side had cut off the
roots of the tree. which made a little
emoankmeut. Gen. Bahcock reported
to me that when he first met General
Lee he was sitting upon this embpnk-
ment with his feet in the road and
leaning against the tree. 1t was then
that Lee was conducted into the house
where first met him.
81 had known Gen. Lee in the old
army, and had served with him in the
Mexican war, hut did not SUPPOSE
owing to the difference in our ages
and rank, that he would probably
remember me, while would remem ber
him more distinctly because he was
chief engineer on the staff Of General
Scott in the Mexican war. When |
had left camp that morning had not
expected the result so soon that then
was taking place, and consequently
was in cough garb, aud, / believe,
without sword, as / usually was
when on horseback on the feid, wear.
ing soldiers blouse for coat, with
shoulder straps OF my rank to indicate
who l was to the army. When | went
into the house | found Gen. Lee. We
greeted each other and after shaking
hands took our seats. What his feel,
lngs were | do not know. Being n
man of much dignity and with All i'm.
Penetrable face, it was impossible to
cay whether he felt inwardly glad that
the end had finally come or whether
he felt sadly over The result and was
too man y to show it. Whatever his
feelings were they were entirely con.
cealed from observation. But my own
feelings, which had been apparent on
receipt of his letter, were sad and
depressed. felt like anything rather
than rejoicing at the downfall of fee
that had fought s, long and gallantly.
and had suffered 50 much for a cause
which | believed to be one of the worst
for which n people ever fought, and
for which there Was not the least pre-
text. l do not question, however, the
sincerity Of the great mass of those
who were opposed to u0.
General Lee was dressed in full
uniform, entirely new, aud wearing a
sword Of considerable value, very
likely the sword tho. bad been pre-.
sented by the State of Virginia. AT ali
events it was an entirely different
sword from one that would ordinarily
be worn in the field. In my rough
travelling suit, which was the uniform
OF private with the straps Of a gen
eral, 1 must have contrasted very
strongly with man 30 handsomely y
dressed, six feet high and faultlcss
form. But this was not matter that
l thought Of until afterwards. General
Lee and ! soon fell into cor versation
about old army times. lie remark cd
that he remembered me very well in
the old army, and I told bin, as a
matter Of course, ! remembered him
perfectly, but owing to difference in
years, there being about sixteen years
difference in our ages and our rank,
thought it very likely 1 had not at.
tracted his attention sufficiently to be
remembered after such a long period
Our conversation grew so pleasant
that / almost forgot tho object of our
meetinp Con ee M that .;nno 1,as