The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-11-06

when the Army of Northern Virginia
passed into history. There were few
men in Appomattox that spring. Some
were with Lee around Richmond, others
with Joe Johnston in the South, and
others again were sleeping on the fields
of Gettysburg, Antietam and Chancel-
lorsville. There were anxious wives,
broken hearted widows and childless
mothers among us, and the few who re-
mained could easily see the dark clouds
gathering closer over the Confederacy.
Lee, driven out of Richmond and up
rooted from Petersburg, was hurrying
his weary troops toward the western
mountains, with the sleuth-hounds of
Grant and Sheridan pressing hard be-
hind. On Saturday morning, April 8,
a few stragglers reached Appomattox
with the information that Lee was close
at hand, while terrified country people
from the west came in with the intelli
gence that Sheridan had come up the
railroad track and was across the road
in Lees front. In the afternoon Lee
arrived and encamped on the brow of a
hill about mile from town. About
halfway between, through fertile
meadow, runs Appomattox creek, cross
ing the road near an old apple orchard.
COUNCIL OF WAR.
q 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, 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 lett but
surrender. Lees pickets had been
thrown through and about mile west
of the town, and sharp encounter oc-
cured about dusk between them and
the Fifteenth New York Cavalry. The
picket line fell back through the town,
followed hard by the enemy, and it was
in leading this pursuit that the COM
mander of the cavalry, Lieutenant Col
onel Root, was killed in the centre of
the village. This was the last life lost
at Appomattox. On Sunday morning
a battery was planted in my yard 100
yards from the Court House and an ar
tilery 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 TIE creek, that the in
fantry was in his front several thousand
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 Appomat-
tox.' General Lee and General Grant
never met under its boughs; in fact, the
latter never got within two hundred
yards ofthe 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 and the apple
orchard. Here the two chieftains con-
versed awhile, then turned and rode to-
gether into the town.
THE SURRENDER.
Meeting Mr.. Wilmer MCLEAN in
front of the Court House, 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 General Lee passed me on
his return to camp. He was alone and
rode slowly and 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 retir-
ed to their respective headquarters, and,
if l mistake not, neither came into town
again. Both, l think, left on Tuesday,
General Grant leaving General Gibbon
to complete the surrender and parole
officers 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 comman-
der stood while delivering his farewell
address to his troops.
The MCLEAN house, where the arti-
cles of surrender were signed, is a long,
comfortable looking, red brick dwelling,
with porch running its entire length.
Over the parlor door hangs picture oi
the room, representing it when the ar
ticles of surrender were being signed.
Mr.. 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 oi
war. In 1869 the old place passed into
the hands of Mr.. N. H. Ragland, its
present owner. His son, Mr.. L. L.
Ragland, is merchant and Postmaster in
the village.
The only time when the town awake:
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 i
allowed to practice before the Circul
Court.
A strong effort is being made to have
the Court House and Jail removed t'
Appomattox Station, three miles distant
This place contains more inhabltant
than its sister town and is growing a
rapidly as the average interior Virgins
town. Then several brands of whisk
are sold here. The country surround