The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-04-30
THE SURRENDER OF LEE.
The Last Mem rable Scene in the Great
Civil War.
One of the most memorable scents

One of the most memorable scents
in American history is the surrender
of Lee, at Appomattox. The apple
treo at Appomattox Will live in ira
dition as long as the Stars and Stripes
wave. The apple tree is,
however, somewhat Of a
myth. Its only actual appear
ance was in the fact that Lee, not
Grant, sat under such tree when he
received Grants note in reply to his
offer to surrender. After the fall OF
Petersburg, Grant dispatched Shefi
dan at once, to intercept Lee, who,
with his army, was fastening TO DAN
vile to unite his forces with those OF
Johnston. After hot pursuit, Lee
turned off the main read, and his
army toiled all day along wood roads
and paths, winding through thickots,
unmo lested. 1t was dreary march,
and men and animals, worn down.
dragged themselves YEARLY along.
The next morning they struck the
| main road, and taking courage,
marched quite rapidly along until
dark, and encamped in the neighbor-
ing fields. That night Lee held a
consultation with his officers as to the
best course to be pursued. Il was a
gloomy council, and its Deliberations
were hurried by the boom of Sheri-
dams cannon IN front, showing that
their way was hopelessly blocked.
The end was reached.
LEES SURRENDER DEMANDED.
Grant, lowing how hopeless was
Lees condition, sent him a dispatch
from Farmerville, demanding the
surrender of his army, on the ground
that to hold out l,nger was useless
efftlailn OF blood Lee replied the
same lay, repudiating the insinuation
that bis case was hopeless, but con-
cluded with asking the terms he
would Offer" Tn . next day, Graut>re-
turned an nswer, sayiHg: Peace
being my first desire, there is but one
condition that insist upon, that the
men shall be disqualified from taking
up arms against the United States
Cover ment until properly eXchang-
ed" Lee, i'll reply, denied that he
proposed to surrender his army, but
to ask his terms, saying: $50 be
frank, L d. not think the emergency
has arisen to call for the surrender"
A. this time, it Is stated, Lee had
not more than ten thousand m n
with nuskets in their hands, to re-
sist Grants magnificent army. He
proposed to meet Grant at ten o'clock
next day, and talk the matter over.
The next day Grant sent letter
saying he had not received his letter
until 11:50, but would Immediately
push forward to the front to meet
him. This dispatch arrived just in
time to prevent an attack on Sheri-
dams cavalry. The bugles were
ready to sound the charge, when a
flag of truce raised in front OF
Gordon's troops, prevented it.
THE TERMS OFFERED.
The final correspondence then took
place as follows:
| APPoMATTOX COURTHOUSE,
April 9Th, 1865
In accordance with the substance
of my letters TO you. of the S5h in
slant, l propose to receive the surren-
der of the Armyof Northern Virginia,
on the following terms, to wit:
/ Rolls Of all the officers and men to
be made in duplicate, one copy to be
given to an officer to be designated by
me, and the other to be retained by
such officers as you may designate.
The officers to give their individual
paroles not to take arms against the
United States until properly exchang-
ed, and each company or regimental
commander to sign a like parole for
the men of their commands. The
arms, artillery and public property,
to be packed and stacked and turned
over to the officers appointed by me
to receive them. This willsnot en-
| brace the side-armS of the officers,
nor their private horses or baggage.
This done, each officer and man will
be allowed to return ito their homts,
not to be disturbed by the Unite d
States authority so long as they OBJ
serve their parole and the laws in
force where they reside.
Very respectfully,
u. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
Lee replied saying that he accepted
these terms, and that he would des-
ignate the proper officers to carry the
stipulations into effect. 1t was at
this time that Les was seated under
an apple tree, accompanied only by
single staff-officer. Col. Babeoek,
of Grants staff, rode up, salused him
and reported that General Grant WAS
riding along that road, litfl- WY
behind, and would soon Z, iis up
Lee at once told his aid TO ii1d prop
or place to receive him. Tie .Cttr.
seeing a man passing by, asked if