National Republican., 1885-03-28

One Of the odd features Of tho great
civil war was the fact that its first field
engagement Of any great consequence
and the ovent which marked its close
occurred on the same mans property.
The first battle Of Bull Run was partly
contested over the farm owned by Maj.
Wilmer MoLean, near Manassas, and IL
was in his house at Appomattox that
Lees capitulation took place. Maj. Nc
Lean was n Virginisp, born In Alexan-
dria, who had acquired tho title of maj or
In Florida, on account Of services during
one Of the Seminole wars. Returning
from Florida, he had married Mrs. Vir-
Einia b. Mason, acquiring with her an
estate called Yorkshire. 1t was located
about three miles northwest OF Manassas,
on the Centrevillo road, and here he
lived, content with the peaceful pursuits
Of agriculture, at the outbreak Of the war.
On the 10th Of July. 1861, while the
two armies were separated by Bull Run,
Gen. Beauregard sent Mai. Mclean word
that fighting would probably take place
around his house, and advised him to
take his family to place Of safety. which
he did the next morning by removing
them to the house of friend in Fau-
quier county. BeaureRard at once made
Mai. MoLean's house his headquarters.
During the artillery duel, which took
place on the 18th, the house was riddlod
by shells, one of which exploded and
spoiled the dinner which was being pre-
pared for Beaurognrd, and after the battle
sixty-two wounded confederatos were
quartered In tho house and the large
stono barn djoining which Maj. Mclean
had Just completed. At ono stage Of the
battle Of Bull Run the union forces occu-
pied the whole farm, far overlapping IL
on either side. Tho house, barn, and
other buildings were destroyed by them.
Maj. Mclean served Beauregard as q
scout for somo months and about the be-
ginning of 1862 took his family to Lunen-
burg county, but concluding that it would
for them where they would be safe from
wars dangers finally pitched upon Apo.
mattox as the place and bought house
there and moved into IL that year. Here
he lived quietly with his family until
April, 1866.
After the fall OF Richmond Lee endeav-
ored to escape by way Of Farmville and
Lynohburg. He had given orders to have
supplies forwarded from Danvillo to
Amelia court house, but the authorities
at Richmond had bunyled the orders and
the supplies went on to Richmond. His
army depleted, footsore, half clad, and
half fed could not help being caught In
the we'll planned pursuit Of Grant, and
on the 7th Of April was surrounded by
Sheridan, Meade and Ord. After the
correspondence which led to the confer.
euce to complete the terms of surrender
Grant pushed forward to meet Lee. He
and bis staff found Lee attended by Col
Marshall just outside Of tho village. Lee
was dismounted, Marshall holding hi,
horse near by. The place of meeting wa:
an old orchard through which newly
made road ran across the slope of the hill
Lee was sitting on the grassy bank with
his feet in tho road, either leaning
against or sitting near tree.
Shortly before tho meeting Of the Re-
publican national convention of 1880
Senator Conkling was taking ride
on the boulevard north of Now
York with ex-Collector Tom Murphy
Tho latter chanced TO recite some
lines that attracted Conkling's at
tention. Ho asked Murphy IL he had re-
cited them to any one else. aud being as
sured that he had not told Murphy not Il
do 80 for tho reason that he had in mine
an occasion when he could use them will
great effect. The place in his mind wa
the Chicago convention, and when h,
made his memorable speech putting
Grant In nomination thunders of applause
followed the recital Of the lines;
ITyou ask what state he halls from,
Our sole reply shall be-
He comes from Appomattox
And Its famous apple tree,
The apple tree of Appomattox has figured
in many narratives, as well as in Sena
tor Conkling's eloquent periods, bu
nevertheless it was not under an appl,
tree that Grant found Leo waiting for
him. Nor were the articles of capitula
tion written and signed under the shad,
of tree, as has been often published. Mrs
Philip Lee. Mai. AcLean's stepdaughter
then just 20 years old, and MIS-. Black
we'll, his oldest daughter, then about
years old, say IL was under q variety o
thorn tree that the cheftains met. Afte
exchanging fow words Lee mounted hi
horse and In company with Grant, Col
Marshall, and Grants staff rode TOWARD
the village. The villagers watched tn,
meeting of the two generals as best they
could from distance. When the caval
cade reached the village Maj. McLear
met them Intentionally and invited then
to his house to sign the agreements. Hi
invitation was accepted, and the whole
party proceeded thither.
1t fronts toward the north and is {
substantial brick, situated on the south
side Of tho road or street, ON each side o
which the few houses of tho village ar,
located. The house contains six rooms,
basement, most OF which is above ground
and double porch with flight Of step
leading up from the ground. Directly IL
front of the house was we'll, with
lattice summer-house built over it covered
with vines. A walk leading from the roat
curved around the house, leading past tn,
we'll. Situated on the road to tho left o
the front of the brick building was laI G,
franc building, formerly hotel, th,
brick house in which the capitulatior
was signed having at that time consti
tuted the private residence Of the hote
proprietor
The brick was double house, larg,
hall in which was staircase running
through tho center. To the left of tn,
hall was the parlor in which the paper
were signed. The room was quite large
about eighteen feet square. with the doc
on the side opposite mantel and tw,
windows in each of tho other sides. Th,
furniture consisted of large mahogany
handicapped octagonal table about foui
feet across the top, a large old-fashionet
mahogany secretary, a sofa, and o hand
some set OF chairs. One large and fou
small pictures in dark brown frames
representing hunting scenes, hung upol
the walls. None of the family was il
the house at the time of the surrender
except Maj. Mclean. 10 10 suppose,
that the papers were signed upon tn
large octagonal table, but the famil,
think the secretary was used also, a
when they returned to tho house the,
found the desk leaf down and some pa
pers on 1t. As one OF the union gen
erals who was present took tn
table there is no doubt the articles o
capitulation were actually signed upon il
Maj. Mclean was offered a small sum 70
the table, but he deemed it 90 insignia
cant that when it was handed to him h