Wichita eagle., 1888-02-24
nj conversation had

After little general conversation had
been indulged in by those present, tho
two letters were signed and delivered. and
the parties prepared to separate. Lee be-
fore parting asked Grant to notify Meatie
of the surrender, fearing that fighting
might break out on that front and lives
be uselessly lost. This request was com,
piled with, and two Onion officers were
sent through the enemys lines as the
shortest route To Meade-some of Lees
officers accompanying them 10 prevent
their being intertered with. At little
before O'Clock Gen Lee shook hands
with Gen Grant bowed to the other Off
GERS and with Col Marshall left the room.
One after another we followed and passed
out TO the porch.
Lee signaled to his orderly 10 bring up
his horse, and while the aniInai was being
bridled the general stood on the lowest
step and gazed sadly in the direction Of
the valley beyond where his army lay
now an army of prisoners. He smote his
hands together a number OF times in an
absent sort Of way; seemed not to see
the group OF Union officers In the yar,i
who rose respectfully at his approach and
appeared unconscious of everything about
him. All appreciated the sadness which
overwhelmed him, and he had the per
sonal sympathy of every one who beheld
him at this supreme moment of trial The
approach of his horse seemed to recall him
from his reverie and lie at once mounted.
Gen Grant now stepped down from the
porch, and moving towards him, salutcd
him by raising his hat He was followed
in this act of courteSy by all our officers
present; Lee raised his hat respectfully In
Acknowledgements and rode of TO break the
sad news to the brave fellows whom he
had so long commanded
Gen. Grant and his staff then mounted
and started for the headquarters camp,
which in the meantime had been pitched
near by. The news of the surrender had
reached the Union lines and the friug Of
salutes began at several points, but the
general sent orders at once To have them
stopped. and used these words In refer
ring to the occurrence; The war Is over,
the rebels are our countrymeu again, and
the best sign Of rejoicing after the victory
will be to abstain from all demonstrations
in the field. "
Mr.. Mclean had beer charging about
in manner which indicated that the cx-
citement WAS shaking his system 10 its
nervous center, but his real trials did not
begin until the departure Of the chief
actors in the surrender. Then the relic
hunters charged down upon the manor
house and made various attempts 10 jump
Mr.. McLean's claims 20 his own furni-
ture. Sheridan set a good example, how
ever. by paying the proprietor twenty
dollars in gold for the table at which I,es
sat for the purpose Of presenting il To Mrs
Custer, and handed il over to her dashing
husband, who started of for camp bear
ing il upon bis shoulder, and looking
like Atlas carrying the world. Ord paid
forty dollars for the table at which Grant
sat, and afterwards presented it TO Mrs.
Grant, who modestly declined IL and In
sisted that IL should be given TO Mrs Ord,
who then became its possessor. Bargains
were at once struck for all the articles In
the room, and il is even said that some
mementos were carried of in the shape Of
towers and other things for which no
coin Of the realm vas ever exchanged
Gen Horace Porter in The Century.