, 1890-06-19

Only One Northern Man Who Got a Por
tIon of the Famous Relic

TIE NFFSW~ ! lON NFFGC nee
Only One Northern Man who Got n Por-
tIon of the Famous Relic
A recent article in The Atlanta Con
stitution said all the published state
ments that lei persons in the
north had relics from the Appomattox
apple tree were absolutely false. 1t
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 a 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.
federate army with rations, was only
able to secur the last remaining por.
ton Of the tree, and hat 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 a 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 WIS
George III. Bates, at present proprietor
of the Oriental hotel in this city, who
was at the 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 I have
been amused. because l know that / am
the only man north of Mason and Dix.
on,s line who ever obtained a relic
from that tree. This is what occurred
on that memorable April day when
Lee surrendered. l was master OF
TRANSPORTATION in the Army of the Pc.
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 a train of
wagons with rations and to take them
bkyond our linea under the fac nj
tr,,ca into the NANNY, l;ras md reror,
To Gen Lee
"a speedily gathered nineteen war.
on loaded train of ratiops passed
through our lines and nessed along
the road near the famous tree npdep
which Lee had waited for Gen. Grant
I inquired for the Confederate gener.
ais be~adouarters and finally T found
n where with Gem Leo and HE sto
officer. a brief time vos snsrt nIoosont.
Iv Then T asked Gonna confsdarotes
standing around to unload the WAGONS
hut tbev refnsed wberennon orderod
INV spbordinotes IN -d;smount and M
load which thew did ~pri,doinoIv
"W,lI about half mast 4 or m
wa started with the emptv WAGON,
hack to our lines On the wav Sow
C~onfederate soldiers bacLipo away n,
the stump Of the tree which n faw
hours previously had sheltered Gen.
Loo from the snn's raw, In ranlv to
NV inouirv the relic seekers said thew
wanted souvenirs 10 Teen Of the trs.
under which their general had sur.
rendered. Then there was nothing
left but the root. l Immediately took
Il lack knife and cut out a piece. which
/ have preserved to the present time,
and another piece which l handed te
my carpenter, who carved out a ring
with a heart on it. which 1 have also
kept. | was given a pass by Gen. Lees
adjutant general to go in and out OF
the lines at will. l havo also preserved
that. Here it is" The document was