The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-22
/ have frequently noticed that when

old soldiers and sailors meet for talk
about the civil war they sometimes
forget the reverence due the divinity
commonly spoken Of as the Goddess
Of Truth. For my part, | have heard
events that occurred under my own
eyes described in such way that l
failed to recognize them.
We do not yet know with certainty
the facts of the battle Of Waterloo,
and as to Charlottesville and Gettys-
burg, although I witnessed both, l
sometimes think, in view Of the abso-
lutely irreconcilable accounts we have
of these two engagements, Bishop
Whatley might readily create historic
doubts as to whether either was In
fact fought.
With the full knowledge Of this
tendency to error 1 will give you as
accurately as can an exact narrative
of the circumstances attending tie
surrender of Gen. Lees army at Ap-
pomattox, as they fell under my direct
observation. I will exclude every
thing not Immediately connected with
the great event, as I am convinced
that it possessed sufficient interest IN
itself to render comment unnecessary,
If not inappropriate.
There is one very important matter
wish settled at the outset, however.
1t IS this: Gen. Lee did not meet
Gen. Grant in the Mclean house on
the morning Of April 8, 1865, for the
purpose of then and there efecting
surrender of his army. On the con-
trary, it was simply for the purpose
of hearing Grants terms. AS mat
ter of fact, if they had not suited Gen.
Lee he would not have accepted them;
but Grants offer was so liberal, SO
magnanimous, and SO chivalrous that
it was accepted forthwith. 1t is we'll
to. add chat had Gen. Grants terms
been less favorable than those he
made, Gen. Lee would not have ac-
cepted them, no matter what the cir
cumstances might have been. We
had; hecome accustomed somewhat to
deal with desperate circumstances.
CROSSED SWORDS WITH PORTER.
T I wish to have another matter un-
derstood before beginning consecu-
tive narrative Of the surrender. This
is in regard to Gen. Horace Porter's
statement, made repeatedly, orally
and in writing, that Gen. Lee offered
his sword to Grant. Lee never offered
his sword to Grant, and the latter
never refused it. I was with the
great Southern chieftain from the
time he greeted Grant in the Mclean
house until he rode away, and the
only time the mention Of sword was
made was when Grant apologized to
Lee for his dress, explaining that it
was not possible for him to get access
to his baggage and at the same time
keep the appointment. The terms OF
capitulation expressly excepted side
arms, and in view of that fact it
would have been most unusual pro-
cedure for Gen. Lee to have offered
his sword to Grant. These matters
are unimportant in themselves, but 1t
is we'll for the sake Of history to have
them cleared up.
After the disaster Of Sailor Creek,
in April, 1865, the army, reduced to
two corps under the command Of Gen.
Longstreet and Gen. Gordon, moved
through Farmville, where rations were
issued to some Of the starving troops.
A close pursuit by the overwhelming
army of Gen. Grant made it necessary
to remove the wagon trains before all
the men could be supplied, and the
remnant Of the great army Of North
ern Virginia, exhausted by fight and
starvation, moved in the road to Ar-
nomattox Gourt House.
GRANT WRITES TO LEE.
On the afternoon of 9TH Of April,
1865, Gen. Grant wrote to Gen. Lee
stating that the hopelessness of fur
ther resistance was apparent, and ask
ing surrender of the army of North
ern Virginia.
When this letter was received there
was some difference Of opinion among
the general officers as to the nature of
the reply to be made to Gen. Grants
letter, some thinking it was yet pos
sible to save the remnant Of the army.
Finally, however, Gen. Lee decided
to meet Grant. and was directed to
draw up a communication to that effect.
This is the letter Gen. Lee signed:
April, I, 1S65.-General: | have
received your note of this date.