The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-07-30

6uCOuuOoIS walCh 0lotAhS4AohO LIS COu~
nection with the Army Of the Potomac, be-
long to a branch of history which it is for
eign to the purpose of this paper, at pres
emit, to consider. The surrender of Lees
collapse of the C~onfederacy were brilliant
episodes In his career.
After continuous efforts to escape his en-.
vironments, Lee at last realized that he
was at Grants mercy, and he offered to
surrender; General. Grant az usual was
grand air about him. No citation wa visi-
Bile In his manner Or appearance. His
voice was as calm as ever, and his eye be-
plainly as if he were transacting an ordi:
nary matter of business. No one would
have suspected that he was about to re-
ceive the surrender of an army, or that n
pf the most terrible wars of modern times
had been brought TO a triumphant close by
the quiet man without a sword, who was
conversing calmly, but rather grimly, with
the elaborate gentleman in ray and gold.
The conversation at first related to the
meeting of the two soldiers in earlier years
in Mexico. when Grant had been a subal-
tern and Lee a staff officer of Scott. The
rebel General, however, soon adverted to
the object of the interview. 81 asked to
see you, General Grant," he said, "to as
certain upon what terms you would receive
the surrender of my army?" Grant re-
PHCo ohoo " NC hcu Q
come prisoners of war, giving up, of course,
all ammunition, weapons and supplies, but
that parole would be accepted binding
them to go to their homes and remain there
until exchanged or relieved by proper au-
such things as these, and made some other
remark not exactly relevant. Whereupon
Grant inquired: D I understand, Gem
eEal Lee. that you accept these terms?"
EYES," said Lee, "and it you will put them
fpta xursfspv 7 xrs1 cs-, kIa~-
Grant then sat Town to the little table
and wrote the following letter:
APPoMArTox CouRT-HoUsE. April 9. 1866
General r. T.. Lee, Commanding O.. s. Ain
to you Of the sth inst, I propose to receive the
surrender Of the Army of Northern Virginia,
on the following terms, to wit:
duplicate one copy to be given to an officer
designated by me, the other to be retained by
S1 TRe o ofieers a so yS give @ tSe aei india dual paroles
not to take arms against the United States
until properly exchanged, and each company
for the men Of their commands.
The arms, artillery and public property to
be packed and stacked, and turned over to
This viii not embrace the side-arms Of the
officers, nor their private horses nor baggage.
This done, each officer and maj will be al
turbed by the United States authority so long
as they observe their parole and the laws in
fofHe where g. = she gn may Tes,ds; xsrG resps1ot-
While Grant was writing he CHANGED to
look up at Lee, who sat nearly opposite,
and at that moment noticed the glitter OF
his sword. The sight suggested an altera-
ton in the terms, and be inserted the pro-
vision that officers should be allowed to
retain their side-arms, horses and personal
property. Lee had accepted Grants con
ditions without this stipulation, and doubt
less expected to surrender his sword. But
this humiliation he and his gallant officers
were spared. When the terms were writ
ten out Grant handed the papers to his
| cles to read them. He was evidently
touched by their general clemency, and
especially by the Interpolation which saved
said at once that the conditions were mag
unanimous, and would ave a very good eff
feet upon his army.
He next attempted to gain a little more.
The horses of his cavalry, he said, were
the property of the soldiers. Could these
men be permitted to retain their animals?
Grant said the terms would not allow this?
Lee took the paper again, and glancing
over 1t again said: mo, you are right.
The terms do not allow it.b Whereupon
over. and the surrender of this army will
be followed soon by that of all the
others. I know the men, and indeed
the whole South, are impoverished. will
not change the terms of surrender, General
Lee, but will instruct my officers who re-
artillery men to retain their horses and
take them lone to work their little
farms" Lee again expressed his acknowl-
edgment and said this kindness would
have the best possible effect.
He then wrote out his letter In these
words: A
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN We
GINA. April 9, 1S85.-LIEUrENANT-GENERAL
q. S. GRANT, Commanding q. s.. A.: General:
7 have received your letter of this date, CON
tanning the terms of surrender of the Army of
Northern Virginia, as proposed by you; as
they are substantially the same as those ex-
accepted: I will proceed to designate the
proper officers to carry the stipulations into
ant, r. e. LEE, General.
the various Union officers were presented
to Lee. He was collected M courteous,
bowling to each, but offered lone his hand.
One, General Seth Williams, who had
served closely with him in the old army,
| attempted to revive old memories, but Lee
repealed the advance coldly. He was in
no mood to remember ancient friendships,
or to recall pleasantly his service in the
army of which he was now q prisoner,
or under that flag which he had
betrayed. He had, however, another re-
quest to make. His men were starv-
ing; they had lived, he said, on two ears of
corn a day for several days. Would Grant
supply them with foodf There was a
train of cars at Lynchburg loaded with ra-
tions which had come from Danville for
his army. Would Grant allow them to be
distributed among the prisoners? Grant,
however, told them that this train had
been captured the day before by Sheridan.
Thus, at the moment of his surrender Lee
was absolutely dependent for supplies
upon his conqueror. Grant, of COURSE, &C.
| uuioscod in fha ranueSf and aSkpd h0u
many rations Lee required. But the rebel
General declared that he could not answer
the question. He had no idea of his OWL
strength. No return of the hrigades had
lost in the battle-killed, captured and
wounded, or those left on the roadside-the
men had been deserving and struggling by
thousands. He could not tell what mum
Der he had left. All his public and private
papers had been destroyed to prevent
their falling into the Federal hands. Grant
finally inquired if %, 1000 rations would suf.
fee, and Lee replied he thought that mum
Der would be enough. Twenty-Five thou
sand, therefore, was Lees estimate at Ap.
Grant turned to the officer of the commits.
sariet on his staff and directed him to is.
sue % 200 rations that night to the Army
of Northern Virginia. The order was
obeyed and before the rebels gave up theil
arms they were fed by their enemies.
" AloAP 0POAo WON oL6ACuy o Low
more words were exchanged by the mel
who had opposed each other SO long, they
again shook hands, and Lee went to tn,
porch. The Union officers followed anC
saluted him, and the military leader of the
rebellion mounted his horse and rode off q
his army, he and his soldiers prisoners o
war. As the great rebel entered his owl
lines the men rushed up to their chief
breaking ranks, and struggling to toucl
his hand. Tears streamed down his cheek
l - L. IL --- --I
the war together. I lave done the best
could for you" They raised a few broker
cheers for the leader they had followed il
20 many a fierce battle and arduous march
and the career of the Army of Northern
Virginia was ended. Grant also returnet
at c to his headquarters, now pitches
almost at the front of Sheridan's command
As he approached the Union lines the new
had passed before him and the firing o
salutes began, but he sent at once to sto
them, aThe war is oyer.O he said. 9Th