Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-07

shroukA huu hoOut q H1lie West Vi tno
town. and sharp encounter occurred
about dusk between them and the
Fifteenth New York Cavalry. The
picket line fell back through the town,
followed hard by the enemy. and 1t was
in leading this pursuit that the CON-
mander of the cavalry, Lieutenant.C Colo.
mel Root, was killed in the center of the
village. This was the last life lost at
Appomattox. On Sunday morning
battery was placed in my front yard,
100 yards from the courthouse, and an
artillery duel with the Federals began.
From this battery the last shots were
fired by the Army of Northern Virginia.
About o'clock that Sunday morning
word. was brought General Lee, who
had ridden up under one of the apple
trees on the banks of the creek, that the
infantry was in his front several thou
send strong According to the decision
of the council the night before he imme-
diately sent forward from this point the
flag of truce. This was the only part
played in the closing drama of the war
by the famous apple tree of Apo
mattox.' General Lee and General
Grant never met under its houghs; in
fact the latter never got within 200
yards of the apple tree. He rode
through the village about an hour after
the flag of truce entered his lines, and
was met by General Lee on the brow of
hill, half way between the town aud
the apple orchard. Here the two chief.
tains conversed a while and turned and
rode together into the town.
THE SURRENDER.
"Meeting Wilmer Mclean in front of
the courthouse, General Lee asked him
where they could do some writing, and
the party was escorted by that gentleman
to his own house, where in the parlor,
the articles of capitulation were drawn
up and signed. An hour or SO later Cen
eral Lee passed me on his return to camp.
He was alone and rode thoughtfully, his
head bowed upon his breast, as though
in deep thought. He did not seem de.
pressed, but looked like one who, while
conscious of having done his best, had
been compelled to submit to the inevi.
table, feeling at the same time the terri.
BILE Importance of the step he had taken.
After the surrender both generals retired
to their respective headquarters, and, if
| mistake not, neither came into town
again. Both, think, left on Tuesday,
General Grant leaving General Gibbon
to complete the surrender and parole Of
ficers and men,"
During Colonel Peers narrative he
pointed out many points of interest.
The spot where the two great leaders
met is marked by pile of stones, while
nearly mile up the road, on the brow
of the hill, stands the solitary poplar
under which the Confederate command.
er stood while delivering his farewell ad.
dress to his troops.
The Mclean house, where the articles
of surrender were signed, is long. com.
Portable looking, red-brick dwelling, with
porch running its entire length. Over
the parlor door hangs q picture of the
room, representing it when the articles
of surrender were being signed. Wilmer
Mclean, who owned the house at the
time, was refugee from the first battle
of Manassas, bringing his family here to
escape the horrors of war. In 1869 the
old place passed into the hands of N. II.
Ragiand, its present owner. His son,
L. L. Ragland, is merchant and postmas-
ter in the village.
The only time when the town awakes
70 any degree of life is on court days.
They are periods of great interest to the
Virginia farmers and people flock to
town from far and near. Two resident
lawye transact the local court business,
and the Judge of the County Court is al
lowed to practice before the Circuit
Court.
A strong effort is being made to have
the courthouse and Jail removed to Ap-
pomattox station three miles distant.
This place contains more inhabitants
than it's sister town and is growing as
rapidly as the average Virginia town:
Then several brands of whisky are sold
here. The country surrounding Appom-
attox Courthouse is poor and uninviting,
and there is little to attract strangers
save it's rich mine of historic Interest,"
Cor. phil. Times.