The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-10-13
MANNING CLARENDON COUNTY WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 49, ls

from the west came in with the intclil
gence that Sheri Fan had come up th'
railroad track and was across the road /!
Lees front. In the afternoon Lee al
rived and cncamped on the brow OF
hill about mile from town. A6oli;
halfway between, through fe"tllc
meadow, runs Appomattox Creek, cross.
ing the road near an old apple orchard.
4 COUNCIL OF VAR.
81 went into the Confederate camp
that night and learned from an officer
that council Of war had just been held
by General Lee and his generals, al
which it was decided that ii Sheridan
cavalry was the only obstruction in front
an attempt would be made early the next
morning to cut through, bat if Ord's
infantry should arrive during the night
there would be nothing LETT but slrren-
der. Lees picl,ets had been thrown
through and about mile wes. OF the
town, and a sharp encounter occurred
about dusk between them and the 18th
New York cavalry. The picket line fel!
back through the town, followed hard
by the enemy, and it was in leading tins
pursuit that the commander OF the caval-
ry, Lieutenant Colonel Root, was killed
in the centre of the viilase. This was
the last life lost at Appomattox. On
Sunday morning battery was planted
in my yard one hundred 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 8 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 thousand strong. Accord
ing to the decision Of the council the
night before, he Immediately sent for
ward 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 AppomattoX. General
Lee and General Grant never met under
its boughs; in fact, the latter never got
within two hundred 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 a hill, half way between
the town and the apple orchard. Here
the two chieftairs conversed awhile, then
turned and rode together into the town. "
THE SURRENDER.
"Meeting Mr.. Wilmer Mclean in
front OF the Courthouse, General Lee
asked him where they could Go some
writing, and the party was escorted by
that gentleman to his own house, where,
in tue parlor, the articles OF capitulation
were drawn up and signed. An hour or
so later General Lee passed me on his
return to camp. He was alone, and rode
slowly and thoughtfullv, his head bowed
upon his breast, as though in deep
thought. lie did not seem depressed,
but looked like one who, while conscious
of having done bis best, had been COM
PEELED to submit to the inevitable, feel
Ing at the same time the terrible i'm
portance of the step he had taken, After
the surrender both generals retired to
their respective headquarters, and, ii /
mistake not, neither came into town
again. Both, I think, left On Tuesday,
General Grant leaving General Gibbon
to complete the surrender and parole
officers and men.
During Colonel Peers's 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
address to his troops.
The Mclean house, where the articles
of surrender were signed, is long, com
fortable-looking, red brick dwelling,
with a porch running its entire length.
Over the parlor door hangs picture Of
the room, representing it when the
articles of surrender were being signed.
Mr.. Wilmer Mclean, who owned the
house at the time, was a refugee from
the first battle of Manassas, bringing his
family here to escape the horrors of wal.
In 1860 the old place passed into the
hanQS OF VII. N. II. httSSIauu, us present
owner. His son, Mr.. I. T. Ragland, is
merchant and postmaster in the vii
lage.
The only time when the town awakes
to 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
lawyers transact the local Court business
and the Judge Of the County Court is
allowed 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 its sister town and is growing as
rapidly as the average interior Virginia
town. Then several brands of whiskey
are sold here. The country surrounding
Appomattox Courthouse is poor and uls
inviting and there is little to attract
strangers save its rich mine Of historic
interest.
split Ten-DoliGT Notes.