The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-02
THE APPoMATTox APPLE TREE.
Only Quo Northern snIah 'sgho Got Por-
tIon of tho Famous Relic.

| Only Quo Northern 'nIah ssgho Got a Por-
tlon of tho Famous Relic.
A recent article in The Atlanta Con-
stitution said all the published state,
ments that numerous persons in the
north had relics from the Appomattox
apple tree were absolutely false. It
stated, upon the authority of Confed-
crate generals who were present at the
surrender of Gen. Lee, that only one
man connected with the Union force
had ever obtained any portion of that
tree and that he had only portion OF
the root or trunk. 1t explained that
the whole tree had been cut to pieces
by members of the Confederate army
before the Union forces came upon the
ground, and that the master of trans
portation of the Union army who, at
Gen. Lees request, supplied the Con
fetlerate army with rations, was only
able to secure the last remaining por.
ton of the tree, and that it was forty
eight hours after he appeared before
any other member of the Union forces
had access to the field. The article also
added that the sole possessor OF piece
of this historical tree north of Mason
and Dixon's line was Col. Bates, now
of Philadelphia.
The writer of The Inquirer ascertain
ed that the person referred to was
George II. Bates, at present proprietor
of the Oriental hotel in this city, who
was at tho time Of the surrender of
Lees army master OF transportation Of
the army Of the Potomac. Mr. Bates,
when questioned upon the subject
gave his statement Of the matter as fol-
lows:
Yes, sir. The statement is correct,
and am the man referred to. When
| have heard and read accounts Of per-
sons having canes and other articles
made from that famous tree l have
been amused, because | know that | am
the only man north of Mason and Dix
ons line who ever obtained relic
from that tree. This is what occurred
on that memorable April day when
Lee surrendered / was master of
transportation in the Army of the Po-
tomac. Immediately upon Gen.
Grants return after his meeting with
Gen. Lee, who had surrendered, in
compliance with Gen. Lees request to
have food sent to his starving troops,
received orders to prepare train Of
wagons with rations and to take them
beyond our lines under the flag OF
truce into the enemy's lines and report
to Gen. Lee.
"A speedily gathered nineteen wag.
on loaded train of rations passed
through our lines and passed along
the road near the famous tree under
which Lee had waited for Gen. Grant
| inquired for the Confederate gener-
ais headquarters and finally l found
it, where with Gen Lee and his staff
officers brief time was spent pleasant
". Then l asked some Confederate.
standing around to unload the wagons
but they refused, whereupon l ordered
my subordinates to dismount and un
load, which they did grudgingly.
"Well, about halt past or s p. IN.
we started with the empty wagons,
back TO our lines. On the way | saw
Confederate soldiers hacking away at
the stump OF the tree which few
hours previously had sheltered Gen.
Lee from the suns rays In reply to
my inquiry the relic seekers said they
wanted souvenirs to keep of the tree
under which their general had sur
rendered. Then there was nothing
left but the root. / Immediately took
jack knife and cut out piece, which
l have preserved to the present time,
and another piece which l handed to
my carpenter, who carved out ring
with heart on it, which I have also
kept. l was given pass by Gen. Lees
adjutant general to 60 in and out OF
,he lines at will. l have also preserved
Nat. Here it is" The document was
then shown to the writer, signed by
Gen. Lee and coun:ersigned, bearing
date April 9, 1868.
Mr.. Bates continued his story by
saying that on his next visit TO the
cnemy's lines not the slightest vestige
of any portion of that tree, branch or
root remained, and with the exception
of Gen. Grant and his two staff Off
GERS, Gen. Rawlings and Col. Leete,
no Union officers or soldiers passed the
lines until forty-eight hours later. He
therefore feels convinced that the
statement made by the southern jour
nal is correct, that only Confederates,
with the exception of himself, obtain
ed any portion of that historical tree.
There we're other apple trees at
distance, but still in the vicinity Of
the place of surrender, which the
Union relic hunters speedily laid I'M
der tribute.
Mr.. Bates showed the writer the
pieces he obtained-the root, which Is
three by six In dimensions, and the
ring with the heart craven on it,
Philadelphia Inquirer.