The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1901-06-21
LEES SURRENDER.

ate, OF CollIerVllle, Tor copy OF
the New York Herald, of April Is,
1865. The paper contains a de-
scription of the details of Gen. Lees
surrender, written by S. Cadwal-
lider, a staff correspondent, who
witnessed the historical event. We
reproduce below the correspondents
dispatch in full:
AFFIRMATION, c. H., April 10, 1S65.-My dispatch
of yesterday hurriedly closed by the departure
of a Herald messenger for City Point My dispatch
of to day shall be confined to some additional de-
tails of the great eliminating of the rebellion
as they represented themselves to me, without re-
gard to Importance order.
The appointment of officers to carry out the terms
of surrender made by both parties during the
night and conference between Generals Grant
and Lee was on the brow of the hill, fourth of
mile north Of the court house, at 10 o'clock a. IN.
General Grant and staff had hardly arrived when
General Lee, accompanied by an orderly, galloped
up the hill and rode to the side of the Lieutenant
General. Gen. Grant and staff, Gen. Ord aud staff,
Gen. Griffin and staff, Gen. Gibbon and staff were
all on the ground grouped in semi circular posi-
tion. The country to the southwark was open,
cultivated land The court house stands on ridge,
or continuation of small hills extending east and
west.
Lees army lay on parallel ridge with a raviue
and a little rivulet between, nearly north of our
forces. The head of his column was mainly com
posed Of trains and artillery. The infantry and
cavalry brought up the rear. Consequently but a
small portion of the rebel army was visible fiom
the court house
As Lee rode up the hillside on gallop, General
Grant stepped his horse forward two or three rods
to meet him. Lee rode squarely up, saluted in
military form, and wheeled his horse side by side
to the leftof Gen. Grant. The two chieftians then
entered into conversation which lasted nearly two
hours, until the officers appointed on both sides to
cary out the terms of surrender had reported for
duty. The tableau at this time was the finest ever
witnessed The two distinguished leaders of the
mightiest hosts of the world sat quietly in their
saddles discussing the past present and future in
free and easy off hand conversation.
During the conversation Gen. Lee stated that
if Gen. Grant had acceeded to his proposal for a
personal interview some weeks ago peace would I'M
dOubtly have resulted therefrom. Much of their
conversation was, of course, private and unheard
But enough was CLEANED, of course, to know that
Lee acknowledged himself completely beaten, the
power of the Southern Confederacy utterly de-
strOyed and all further prolongation of the war
useless effuson of blood. The opinion was univer-
sal among rebel offers that johnson would surren-
der to Sherman without a battle on hearing that
the army of Northern Virginia had done so to Gen
Grant.
Shortly before eleven o'clock the interview be-
tween the generals ended by Lee saluting and rid
ing slowly down the slope across the hollow and
into the camp on the hill beyond. Gen. Grant
turned the head of his thoroughbred, Cincinnatus
toward the court house, followed by his staff and
large retinue of general officers
Within half an hour thereafter the officers desig-
mated by Gen. Lee to carry out the stipulatons OF
surrender arrived and were accompanied by large
number of noted rebel officers. The large veranda
and yard in front filled with groups OF
Union and rebel officers in earnest conversation
Half the REGULARS on either side found some old
acquaintance or West Point classmates among the
others, and the greetings in many instances were
warm and unaffected. The men who but the day
before were seeking each others destruction now
chatted quietly together recalling the incidents
of the past and gave in their open countenances
evidences OF highest respect Among the first ques-
tons from rebel officers were-"Well, what are you
going to do with-what are you going to do with
us?"
Inc DeIe1 seemed widespread among intelligent
officers that the United States government had
pledged itself to grant amnesies for the ofense
of treason, and that they must ''al hang together
or hang separately" On learning that General
Grant had taken no advantage Of their necessitie:
and desperate situation, but had voluntarily ex-
tended to them the same magnanimous terms offer
ed two days before and refused by General Lee
they expressed themselves exceedingly gratifed
Discussion of the matter among themselves seemed
to greatly strengthen this feeling. All admitted
that their army had further power of resistance
and that it was compelled to surrender on our own
terms. They appeared surprised to find no exhi-
bitiOn of vindictiveness on our part. Judging Of
their hearty concessions of generous and liberal
treatment by one would conclude they expected
to have been chained together felons grace the
tliumphal march Of our victorious general.
At first may be inclined to think General
Grant not sufficiently exacting. But no one who
witnessed the behavior of the rebel officers and
listened to their conversation the subject could
long doubt the wisdom of his policy.
Lees whole army goes home delighted that it
is out of the service, and grateful to Gen. Grant
for sparing them all unnecessary humiliation. The
moral effect of this upon the of the Southern
people cannot be oyerestim ated.
On Sunday evening Colonel Morgan, Chief Com :
missary of Subsistence for the armies operating
against Richmond, issued twenty thousand rations
of bread and meat to the rebel army, and on Mon
day was able to add the ratons OF sugar, coffee and
salt.