The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-10-13

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railroad track and was across the road il
Lees front. in the afternoon Lee az
rived and encamped on the brow of {
hill about mile from town. About
halfway between, through fertile
meadow, runs AppomattoX Creek, cross
ing the road near IN old apple orchard.
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
81 went into the Confederate camp
that night and learned from an Officer
that a council Of war had just been held
by General Lee and his generals, at
which it was decided that if Sheridan $
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 tho night
there would be nothing left but surrcn-
der. Lees piclscts had been thrown
through and about miic west OF the
town, and sharp encounter occurred
about dusk between them and the 18th
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 commander OF the cayal-
ry, Lieutenant Colonel Root, was killed
in the centre OF the VILLAGE. This was
the last life lost at Appomattox. On
Sunday morning II battery vas planted
in my yard one hundred yards from tho
Courthouse, and an artillery duel with
the Eodcrals 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 thousand strong. Accord
ing to the decision OF the council the
night before, he Immediately sent for
ward from this point the flag Of trace.
Ihls was the only part played III the
closing drama OF the war by the famous
apple tree of AppomattoX." General
Lee and General Grant never met unuer
Its boughs; in fact, the latter never got
within two hundred yards Of the apple
tree. lie rode through the VILLAGE about
an hour after the flag of truce entered
ms lines, and was met by Gcmcral Lee
on the brow of hill, half way between
the town and the apple orchard. Here
the two chicftains convcisod awhile, then
turned and rode together into thc town.
THE sURNEND&R.
Injecting Mr.. Wilmer Mclean in
front of the Courthouse, General Lee
asked him where they could do some
writing, and the party was escorted 10y
that gentleman to his own house, where,
IN the parior, tue articles Of capituhtion
were drawn up and signed. An hour or
so later General Lee passed me on his
return to camp. he Ms alone, and rode
slowly and thoughtfuliy, his head bowed
upon his breast, as though in deep
thouoht Hn liL NOT .,on,m ln,'r,.,..,j
but locked liL,, onn who v.I,Io n,,,,s,.;,,,,"'.
OF having done his bnst hoI hn,,, cn,,,
pcllcd to submit to tbr imnv;trhIm fn"i-
ing at The same tinr H. t~,r;}i, IN.
portanco of thc sfr,, Inc LnJ fnl,nn Ait,,,.
the surrender both generals rntir.j tn
their rcsncctv, hroi1IInrtnr, n,'I ;r
mistake NOT neither came Xxx tn,.,,
again. Both 7 thinl; Irrt on 'r,osIa,.'
General Grant leaving General C;iI,l,H,
to complete the surrender aud n,rnlr
officers and men
During Colonel pcprs's n,rrot:vn lo
pointed out many no;nts of nt,.rnsf
The spot where the two or.ot lroInr.
mot iG rnork.l In, , ,,;Io ~ 'st,,,,,,. ,,l,;i
nearly mile rp the road on thn hrny
of the hill, stands the solitary noDlnr
under which the Confederate cnmmanI-
cr stood while DELIVERING his farewell
address to his troops
The Mclean house. where the articles
of surrender were signed. ism lonm com
tablc-looking, red brick DWELLING,
With porch running its entire lenmtH
Over the parlor door haus,s y nictur1 nf
the room, reprcscntjnn if When tIn
articles of surrender were Ln;nr eiopcI
housc ot tbc t;r,n w. , ,f,,,.o, f.,,,,
fnniit, ro t W a,''''.t'S, ni'