Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-06-12


Il found Gen. Lee had been brought into
our lines and conducted to a house belonging
TO a Mr. Mclean, and was there with one OF
his staff officers waiting my arrival. The
head of his column was occupying hill, a
portion Of which was an apple orchard,
across the little valley from the court house.
Shcridan's forces we're 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 bet een
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 aro told until they arc
believed. The war ofthe rebellion was fruit
full in the same way. The story OF the apple
tree is one OF those fctions with a slight
foundation OF fact"
"As have said, there was an apple Or
ohard on the side OF the hill occupied by the
Confederate forces. Running dagonaly up
the bill WAS a wagon road which at one point
ran very near one Of the trees, 30 that the
wheels ON that side had cut OF the roots OF
the tree, which made a little embankment.
Gen. Babcock reported to me that when he
first met Gen. 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"
II had known Gen. Lee in the old army,
and had served with him in the Mexican war,
but did not suppose, owing to the difference
in our ages ard rank, that he would probably
remember me while would remember him
more distinctly because he vas the chief en-
gineer on the staff of Gen. Scott in the Mexi-
can war. When had left camp that morn
ing, had not expected the result 30 soon
that then was taking place, and consequently
was in rough garb, and, believe without
sword, as | usually was when on horseback
on the field, wearing a soldiers blouse for q
coat, with shoulder straps Of my rank TO indi
cate who was to the army. When | went
into the house found Gen. Lee. We greet
ed each other, and after shaking hands took
our seats What his feelings we're | do not
know being man Of much dignity and with
an impenetrsble face, il was impossible to say
whether he felt inwardly glad that the end
had finally come, or whether he felt sadly ov-
er the result, and was too manly TO show it.
Whatever his feelings were, they we're entire
| ly concealed from observation but my own
feelings, which had been quite apparent on
the receipt OF his letter. were sad and depress-
ed. felt like anything rather then rejoic-
| ing at the downfall OF foe that had fought
so long and calamity, and bad suffered so
much for cause which believed to DO one
OF the worst for with people ever fought,
'and for which there was not the least pretext.
DO not ques ION, however, the sincerity OF
the great mass Of those who were opposed
| to us. Gen. Lee was dressed in full uniform,
entirely new, and wearing a sword OF consid
cradle value, very likely the sword that had
been presented by the state of Virginia; at
} all events 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 a General | must have contrasted
very strangely with a man 20 handsomely
dressed, six feet high, and of faultless form.
But this was not a matter that l thought OF
until afterward.
Gen. Lee and | soon fell into u oonversa-
ton about old army times. He remarked
that he remembered me very we'll in the old
army, aud told him as a matter OF course
remembered him perfectly, but owing to the
difference in years-there being about ak
teen years difference in our ages-and our
rank, l thought il very likely had not at.
tracted his attention sufficiently to be re-
membered after such long period. Our con-
versation grew 80 pleasant that almost for
got the object Of our meeting. Gen. Lee at
that time was accompanied by one OF his staff
officers, a Col. Marshall. had all of my
staff with me, a portion of whom we're in the
room during the whole of the interview"