The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-10
(From the Washington Post. }


have frequently noticed that
| when old soldiers and sailors meet
for Il talk about tho civil war they
sometime forget the revenue due the
vinity commonly spoken Of as the
Goddess of Truth. For my part, l
have heard events that occurred un-
der my own eyes described in such
way that l failed to recognize them.
We do not yet know with certain
ty tho facts Of the battle Of Water
loo, and as to charlottesville and
Gettysburg, although I witnessed
both. l sometimes think, in view Of
the absolutely irrcconcilable accounts
we have of these two engagements,
Bishop Whatley u'ght readily create
historic doubts ne TO whether either
was in fact fought.
With tho full knowledge Of this
tendency to error l will give you rs
accurately y rs | can an exact nara.
tive of the circumstances attending
the surrender OF Con. Lees army at
Appomattox, rs they fell under my
direct observation. L will exclnde
everything not immediately connect.
cd with the great event, as | am con-
vinced that it possessed sufficient
interest in itself to render comment
unnecessary, if not inappropriate.
There is one very important mat.
ter wish settled Mt the outset, how
ever. 1t is this: Gen. Lee did not
meet Gen. Grant in the Mclean
house Oh the morning of April 8,
1865, for tho purpose Of then and
there effec,ing surrender of his
army. On the contrary, it was sim
ply for the purpose of hearing
Grants terms. AS matter Of fact,
if they had not suited Gen. Lee he
would not have accepted them; but
Grants offer was so liberal, so mag
unanimous, and 80 chivnlrous that it
was accepted forthwith 1t is we'll
to add that had Con. Grants terms
been less favorable than those he
made, Gen. Lee would not have &C.
cepted them, no matter what the cir
cnmstances might have been. We
had become accustomed somewhat
to deal with desperate circumstances
| CROSSED SWORDS WITH PORTER.
| wish to have another matter IN.
derstood before beginning a consecu-
tive narrative Of the surrender. This
is in regard to Gen. Horace Porter's
statement, mado repeatedly, orally
and in writing, that Gen. Lee offer
cd his sword to Grant. Lee never
offered his sword to Grant, and the
latter never refused it. 1t was with
the great Southern chieftain from the
time he greeted Grant in ,ne Nc.
Lean house until he rode away, and
the only time mention of sword
WAS made was when Grant apologized
to Lee for his dress, explaining that
it was not possible for him to got &C
cess to his baggage and at the same
timo keep the appointment. The
terms of capitulation expressly OK
cepted side arms, and in view of tina
fact it wonld have been most IN
usual procedure for Gen. Lee t.
have offered his sword to Grant
These matters are unimportant il
themselves, but it is we'll for tn
r sake of history to have them cleared
up.
After the disaster Of Sailors Creek
V in April, 1865, the army, reduced t
q two corps under the command @
@ Con. Longstreet and Gen. Gordor
d moved through Farmvllle, where ra
t tions were issued to some OF tn
. starving troops. A close pursuit b
tho overwholmiug army of Ger
Grant made it necessary to reno,
the wagon trains before all tho me
could be supplied, and the remnal
Of the great army Of Northern vi
'. ginia, exhausted by fight and stary
l. ton, moved in the road to Appoma
,e tox Court House.
'd GRANT WRITES TO LEE.
.. On tho 0ftornoon q of 7fh IF mr.