Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-06-18
miscellaneous &eadlua.
GRANTS HISTORY OF THE WAR.


CRAMPS HISTORY OF THE WAR.
THE STORY OF APPOMATT0x As TOLD By
THE CoN0UER0R.
Gen Grants book, now in course Of publi-
cation, will contain the following reminis-
cences of Lees surrender:
II found that General Lee had been
brought into our lines and conducted to a
house belonging to Mr.. Mclean, and was
my arrival The head of his column was
occupying hill, q portion of which was an
apple orchard, across little valley from
the Courthouse. Sheridan's forces were
drawn up in line of battle on the west of a
hill on the South side of the same valley.
"Before stating what took place between
Gen. Lee and myself l will give all there
is Of the narrative of Gen. Lee and the ia
nous apple tree. Wars produce many sto-
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
fictions with slight foundation of fact.
AS have said, there was an apple orchard
on the side of the hill occupied by the Con-
federate 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 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 L
first met him.
"I had known Gen. Lee in the old army,
and had served with him in the Mexican
war, but did not suppose, owing to the diff
ference in our ages and rank, that he would
probably remember me, while / would re-
member him more distinctly because he was
chief engineer on the staff of Gen. Scott in
the Mexican war. When I had left camp
that morning had not expected the result
so soon that was then taking place, and con-
sequently was in rough garb, and, believe,
without sword, as I usually was when on
| horseback on the field, wearing soldiers
blouse for a coat, with shoulder straps of
my rank to indicate who was to the army.
When went into the house I found Gen.
Lee. We greeted each other and after shak-
| ing hands took our seats. What his feelings
were do not know. Being man of much
dignity and with an impenetrab BILE face, it
was impossible to say whether he felt in
wardly 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 observation. But my own feelings,
which had been quite apparent on receipt
of his letter was sad and depressed. felt
like anything rather than rejoicing at the
downfall of foe that had fought so long
and gallantly, and had suffered SO much
for cause which I believed to be one of
and for which there was not the least pre-
text. do not question, however, the sim
cerity of the great mass of those who were
opposed to US.
"Gen. Lee was dressed in full uniform,
entirely new, and wearing q sword of con-
siderable value, very likely the sword that
had been presented by the State of Virginia.
At all 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 a private
with the straps of a general, l must have
contrasted very strongly with man so
handsomely dressed, six feet high and of
faultless form. But this was not a matter
that thought of until afterwards. Gen. Lee
and soon fell into conversation about old
army times. He remarked that he remem-
bered me very we'll in the old army, and
told him, as matter of course, l remem-
bered him perfectly, but owing to difference
in years, there beingabout sixteen years diff
fererence in our ages and our rank, thought
it very likely had not attracted his atten-
tion sufficiently to be remembered after
such long period. Our conversation grew
of our meeting. Gen. Lee, at that time
was accompanied by one of his staff officers,
Col. Marshall. I had all Of my staff with
me, good portion of whom were in the
room during the whole of the interview"
AN APOLOGY TO M'CooK.
"In the article on the battle of Shiloh,
which wrote for the Century Magazine, l
stated that Gen. A. Med. McCook, who
commanded the division of Buell's army,
expressed some unwillingness to pursue the
enemy on Monday, April 7, because of the
condition of his troops. Gen. Badeau, in
his history, also makes the same statement
on my authority. Out Of justice to Gen.
McCook and his command must say that
they left a point twenty-five miles east OF
Savannah on the morning of the 9th. From
the heavy rains of few days previous and
the passage of trains and artillery the roads
were necessarily deep in mud, which made
marching slow. The division had not only
marched through this mud the day before,
but it had been in the rain all the night
without rest. 1t was engaged in the battle
of the second day and did as good service as
its position allowed in fact, an opportunity
occurred for it to perform conspicuous act
of gallantry, which elictied the highest COM
mendation from division commanders in the
army of Tennessee. Gen. Sherman in both
his memoirs and report makes mention of
this fact. Gen. McCook himself belonged
to a family which furnished many volun-
teers to the army. l refer to these circum-
stances with minuteness because did Gen.
McCook injustice in my article in the Gen.
t,7.y, though not to the extent one would
suppose from the public press. I am not
willing to do any one an injustice, and if
convinced that have done one 1 am always
willing to make the fullest admission"
THE CAPTURE OF vICKsBURG.
ga Vicksburg newspaper, (Which we re-
ceived regularly while before Vicksburg,
through the courtesy of the Rebel pickets,)
Yankee boast that they would take dinner
in Vicksburg that day, that the best recipe
for cooking rabbit was, Catch your rabbit
first This paper at this time and for some
time previous was printed on the plain side
of wall paper. The last number was printed
on the 4th, and announced that we had
caught our rabbit l have no doubt that
Pemberton commenced his correspondence
on the Sd with two fold purpose, first to
avoid an assault which he knew would be
successful, and second to prevent the cap
ture taking place on the great national holi-
day, the anniversary of the Declaration of
American Independence, by holding out for
better terms as he did. He defeated his
aim in the latter particular. On the 4th of
July at the appointed hour the garrison of
Vicksburg marched out Of their works and
formed line in 'front.' stacked arms and