The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-10-14

gence that Sheridan had come up The
railroad track and was across the road il
Lees front. In the afternoon Lee ar
rived and encamped on the brow of
hill about mile from town. AbOu
halfway between, through u fortil(
meadow, runs AppomattoN Creek, cross
ing the road near an old apple orchard.
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
"I went into the Confederate camr
that night and learned from IN officer
that council of war had just been held
by General Lee and his generals, at
which it was decided that if Sheridan s
cavalry was the only obstruction in front
an attempt would be made early the next
morning to cut through, but if Ord s
infantry should arrive during the night
there would be nothing left but surren-
der. Lees pickets had been thrown
through and about mile west OF the
| town, and sharp encounter occurred
n5out dusk between them aud the 10Th
New York cavalry Tho picket line fell
back through the town, followed hard
by the enemy, and it was in leading this
pursuit that the commander of tho cavul-
ry, Lieutenant Colonel Root, WAS killed
III the centre of the village. 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 Fcdcrals began. From this battery
the last shots were fired by the Army of
Northern Virginia. About 9 o'clock that
Sunday morning word was brought
General Ice, 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.
Lhls was the only part played III the
closing drama OF the war by the famous
apple tree of AppomuttoX. General
Lee and General Grant never met undCr
its boughs; in fact, the latter never got
within two hundred yards of the apDlc
tree. lie 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 Il hill, half way between
the town and the apple orchard. Here
the TWO chlcttams conNerSCd awhile, then
turned and rode together into the town."
THE SURRENDER.
'Nccting Mr.. 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 capitu!ution
were drawn up and signed. An hour or
SO later General Lee passed ne on his
return to camp. He was ulonr, and rode
slowly and thouShtrully, his head lowed
! upon ms breast, rs though in deep
thought. lie did not seem depressed,
al I1l-. 4 :
OF having done his best, had been com
Pelled to submit to the inevitable, feel
ing ut 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, if !
mistake not, neither came into town
again. Both, J. think, left on Tuesday.
| General Grant leaving General Cibbon
to complete the surrender and parole
officers and men"
During Colonel prcrs's narrative he
pointed out many points OF interest.
The spot where the two great leaders
met Is marked by Il pile of stones, while
nearly mile up the road, on the brow
OF the hill, stands the solitary poplar
under which the Confederate command
cr stood while delivering his farewell
address to his troops.
The Mclean house, where the articles
of surrender wcro signed, is Il long, com
notwithstanding, red brick DWELLING,
with porch running its entire lcngth.
Over the parlor door hangs u picture Of
the room, representing it when the
articles of surrender were being sioncd
MIR. Wilmer Mclean, who owned the
house at the time, WAS refugee from
the first battle OF Manassas, bringing his
family here to escape tie horrors of wal.
In 1863 the old place passed into the
hands of Mr.. n. II. Ragland, its present
owner. His son, Mr.. II. II. Ragland, is
n merchant and postmaster in the vii
lagc.
The only time when the town awakcs
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 moro inhabitants
than It's sister town and is growing as
rapidly as the average interior Virginia
town. Then several brands of whiSkcy
arc sold here. The country surrounding
AppomGttox Courthouse is poor and un
inviting and there is little to attract
strangers save it's rich mine Of historic
interest
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split Tcn-DolInr Notes.