The National tribune., 1885-04-23
The Surrender Of Lee,

To THE EDITOR: have frequently seen &C
counts and communications in your paper from
old comrades in reference to the surrender of
Lee aud to the manner Of the first meeting of
Grant and Lee. These accounts have been
various and contradictory. Some have written
that the Generals first met in the open field :;
some that they met beneath wildwood tree
others that the first meeting took place under
an apple tree, while others still have declared
that they first came together in farmhouse.
While each of these stories may be partially
correct, they have been so different, and many
of them have been told by men who do not
pretend to have been there that | have thought
the personal report of one who was an eye
witness of this memorable affair, and who de-
scribes that which he himself saw aud that
which is rs fresh in his mind as though it &C.
Cured yesterday, would be of interest to many
of your readers.
! had charge Of the pioneer corps of the LIST
Me- Cav. At 2 o'clock on the morning of April
9, 1865 we lay down in an old cornfeld in
battle line directly in front of Lees army. At
sunrise the rebel forces emerged from the woods
opposite u.s. AS they deployed upon the plain
we could easily see their battlefags The rising
sun shone upon bayonet and scabbard, and its
rays were reflected back to us. 1t was a grand
sight. The greater part of the rebel hosts were
in plain view. But we had no time to think
upon this. The battle commenced. The rebel
infantry advanced. The bullets began to come
in hotter and hotter. and the cavalry fell back
before them. Sheridan rode up and down our
lines, paying no attention to the whistling
balls. For the last three or four days we had
formed regularly in tho night before Lees
army, only to be driven back in the morning
by his infantry. But this morning there was
to be change. Our infantry had arrived
during the night end taken post in our rear.
AS soon as the rebels ran foul of the boys
Al III
with him. The conflict lasted but short time
longer. Looking forward we saw the white
flag go up. This was at 1890 a. m. Firing in
our vicinity Immediately ceased, although off to
the right and left we heard the booming of can
non all day. The men knew that the war was
over. They shook hands, embraced, wept,
laughed, shouted. Arms were thrown down,
caps were thrown up cheers were given. songs
were sung. For myself, rode forward some
distance to : good point for observation. Soon
Grant, attended by his staff, rode out from our
lines, and Lee similarly attended. came forth
from the rebels. AS they neared each other
their attendants halted, and the two Generals
advanced alone. They met not over two rods
from large tree in the open field, and in a
minute or two passed to the shade of this tree.
They spent some time here in conversation and
then went off, and lost sight of them. This
tree, beneath which they stopped, was large
whtewood tree, about two feet through at the
base. Within two hours after the Generals had
left it you conldn't find piece of it as big as
a twocent piece. 1t had literally been dug up
by the roots. Even the old dead leaves on the
ground had been gathered as souvenirs. was
fortunate enough to get two pieces of the wood,
and have them tOday.
This Mr. Editor, is true account of the first
meeting on the 9th of April of Grant and Lee.
Other comrades may have seen other meetings
and described them, and these meetings may
have taken place beneath apple trees or i'll farm
houses. But however that may be, have not
written this for the sake of controversy, but
because l thought it might be interesting to
some comrades to hear the account of this affair
from one who was there and saw.-GEo. G.
GOODWIN, First Serg't, Co. II, LIST Me. Cav,
Skowhegan, Me.