The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-02-01
LEES SURRENDER.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT AS TOLD BY
AN EYEWITNESS.

GRAPHlC ACCOUNT AS lOLD BY
AN EYEWITNESS.
Closing Scenes at AppOmattOx---Why
Gen. Grant Allowed the COnfeder-
ates to Keep Their Horses---Last
Move of the Army.
Col. Marshall, who was with Lee
when he surrendered, delivered an
address Friday night before the Con-
federate Veterans Association, of
Baltimore, in which he gave a correct
account of the closing scenes of the
war between the States. The following
is an extract from Col. Marshall's
splendid address
Gen. GRANTS FIRST LETTER.
On the afternoon of April 7, 1865,
the negotiations opened for the sur
render. Gen. Grant sent Gen. Lee a
letter advising him of the hopelessness
of further struggle and the uselessness
of more bloodshed, and asking him to
surrender. Gen. Lee replied to it
that, he, too, was desirous of avoiding
further bloodshed and asked the terms
of surrender. In reply to that letter
meeting was arranged between Cen
erals Grant and Lee.
When the army halted on the night
of April 8, Gen. Lee and his staff
turned out of the road into a dense
wood TO seek some rest. The General
had a conference with some of the
principal officers, at which it was
determined TO try to force our way the
next morning with the troops OF
Gordon, supported by the cavalry
under General Fitzhugh Lee, the
Command of Longstreet bringing up
the rear. With my comrades of the
staff and staff officers of Gen. Long
street and Gen. Gordon, l sought a
little muchneede ed repose. We lay
upon the ground near the road, with
our saddles for pillows, our horses
piCketed near by, eating the bark from
the trees for want of better provender,
our faces covered with the capes of our
| overcoats to keep the night air out.
LAST MOVE OF THE ARMY.
Soon after 1 O'Clock | was aroused
by the sound of a column OF infantry
passing along the road. We were so
completely surrounded by the swarm
ing forces of Gen. Grant that at first
when | awoke | thought the passing
column might be Federal soldiers. l
raised my head and listened intently.
My doubts were quickly dispelled. l
recalled the order to resume the march
at that early hour, and knew that the
troops | heard were moving forward
to endeaJor to force our way through
the lines at Appomattox Court House.
| soon knew that the command that
was passing consisted, in part at least,
of Hoods old Texas brigade.
Soon after they passed we were all
astIr and our bivouac was at an end.
We made our simple toilet, consisting
mainly of putting On our caps and
saddling our horses. The memorable
meeting of Gems. Grant and Lee took
place in the house of a man named
Mclean, at Appomattox Court House.
Col. Babcock bore the message of Gen.
Grant, in which ne consented to meet
Gen. Lee 1t read "Your note of
this date is but this moment (II:59 a.
m. received. In consequence of my
having passed from the Richmond
and Lynchburg road to the Farmville
and Lynchburg road, am at this
writing about four miles west Of
Walkers Church, and will push
forward to the front for the purpose Of
meeting you. Notice sent to me on
this road where you wish the interview
to take place will meet me-"
MEETING TO SUIT GEN. LEE.
Col. Babcock told Gen. Lee that he
had been sent forward by Gen. Grant
with instructions to make any arrange
ments for the meeting that Gen. Lee
desired, within the Federal or Con-
federate lines.
Gen. Lee directed me to accom-
pany him, with one orderly, and i'm
mediately mounting his horse, rode
with Col. Babcock towards Apo
mattox Court House.
We passed through an infantry force
in front of the village, and Gen. Lee
directed me to find suitable place
for the meeting. | rode forward and
asked the first citizen / met to direct
me to house suitable for the purpose.
| learned afterwards that the citizen
was Mr.. Mclean, who had lived on
the battlefield of Bull Run, but had
removed to Appomattox Court House
to get out of the way of the war. Mr..
Mclean conducted me to an unoccu-
pied and unfinished house in very
bad state of repair. | told him that 1t
was not suitable, and he. then offered
his own house, to which he conducted
me.
| WAITING FOR GEN. GRANT.
I found a room suitable for the
purpose, and sent back the orderly
who had accompanied me to direct
Gen. Lee and Col. Babcock to the
house. They came in presently, and
Col. BabcoCk said that as Gen. Grant
was at present in front of the house
it would only be necessary for him to
have an orderly to direct him to the
place of meeting.
Gen. Lee, Col. Babcock and myself
sat in the parlor for about half an
hour, when large party Of mounted