Richland beacon., 1885-06-20
Gen. Lees Surrender,
As prscEl BED IN TIE FORTHCOMING BOOK
OF GEN. L. s. GRANT.

months, will contain the following
"Reminiscences of Lees surrender: II
fcund Gen. Lee had been brought
into our lines and conducted TO
home belonging to Mr.. Mclean, and
was there with one of his staff officers
waiting my arrival. The head OF MS
column was occupying the hills.
portion of which was an apple orchard
across little valley from the court
house. Sheridan's forces were drew
up.i line of battle on the crest of
tile 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 tie 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
way. The story Of the apple tree
is one of those tictions with a slight
foundation of facts. As have said.
there was an apple orchard on the
side of the hill occupied by the Con-
fedate forces. Running diagonally
up the hill was wagon road, which
at one point ran very near one of
the trees, so that the wheels on that
side had cut off the roots OF the tree
which made little embankment.
Gen Babcock reported to me, that
when he first met General Lee he
was sitting upon this embankment
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. / had known
! General Lee in the old army and had
served with him in the Mexican war,
bat did not suppose, owing to the
differences in our ages and rank that
he would probably remember me,
while l would remember him more
distinctly because he was Chief En-
rineer on the staff of General Scott
in the Mexican war. When / had
left the camp that morning l had
not expected the result so soon that
then was taking place. | was in a
rougn garb and I believe without Il
sword as l usually was when on
horse back on the field, wearing q
soldiers blouse for coat with shout
der straps of my rank to indicate who
Twas to the army. When l went
into the house I found General Lee.
We greeted each other and shaking
hands, took our seats. What his
feelings were I do not know: being Il
man Of much dignity and with an
impenetrable 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 it.
Whatever his feelings were, they
were entirely concealed from obseva-
ton but my own feelings, which had
been quite apparent on the receipt
of his letter were sad and depressed.
/ felt like anything rather than rejoic-
ing at the downfall of foe that had
fought so long and gallantly and had
suffered so much for the cause which
l believed to be one of the worst for
which people ever fought, and for
which there was not the least preteyt
1 donot question however the sim
celity of the great mass of those who
were opposed to us. General Lee
was dressed in full uniform, entirely
new and wearing a sword of consider
able value, very much like the one
presented to him by the State OF
Virginia, At all events it was entire
" different sword from the one
that would ordinarily he worn in the
field. In my rough travelling suit
which was the uniform of a private
with the straps of a General, 1 must
have contrasted very strangely with
man 30 handsomely dressed, six
; feet high, and of faultless form, but
this was not a matter that 1 thought
of until afterwards. Gen. Lee and ]
soon fell into conversation about old
army times. He remarked that he
remembered me very well in the old
army and I told him, rs matter o.
course, that 1 remembered him per-
fectly, but owing to the difference il
years, there being about sixteen
years, difference in our ages and oul
rank, l thought it very likely I had
not attracted his attention sufficient
" to be remembered after such g
long period. Our conversation grew
so pleasant that almost forgot the
object of our meeting. General Let
at that time was accompanied by one
of his staff officers (Col. Marshal),
had all of my staff with me, a goot
! norton Of whom were in the room