Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-05-01
APPOMATTOx APPLE TREE.

" OSN -
Gen John B. Gordon Says That Grant
and Lee Met Near One Before the
Surrender.
Prof Sylvanus Morris, Dean OF the
Faculty of the University of Georgia
Law School, at Athens, Ga, has re-
Gently had some correspondence with
den John B Gordon, Commander-in-
Chief of the United Confederate Vet
Grams, that throwstsome light on the
much moo, ed question as to where the
surrender of the Confederate Army by
Gen. Lee actually took place.
The correspondence was brought
about by gift of piece of wood to the
university museum by an old soldier
named Richardson. who was in the
Army of Northern Virginia at the time
of the surrender and who, according to
his story, actually witnessed the sur
render himself.
When Mr.. Richardson brought this
little piece of wood to the university
authorities he told Prof. Morris that
it was piece of the apple tree under
which Gen. Lee had surrendered his
army, aud that he was present at the
time the tree was cut down and took
portion of it to preserve as a relic.
The statement of the old soldier
brought to mind at once the tradition
that has been handed down concerning
the surrender OF Lee under the apple
tree, for as matter of fact the state
ment of history as to this matter is
that the surrender took place in a
room in the Mclean house at AppOmat-
tox Nevertheless, nine old soldiers
out of ten who we're with the army
at that time will tell you that the sur
render took place under maple tree
and they refuse to believe that the 9th
er statement is in any way correct.
Prof. Morris believes that there must
have been something upon which these
old soldiers based their firm statements
as to the part the apple tree played in
the surrender of Lees army, wrote the
following letter to Gen. Gordon:
Hon. John B. Gordon, Atlanta, Ga:
My Dear Sir-Please excuse this
trespass upon your time. I am fami-
liar with the accounts of the arrange
ments. of the terms of surrender be-
tween Gems. Lee and Grant at Ap-
pomattox, which took place in a house
near the village. 1 presume it is COR
rect, as Col. Marshall, the only Con-
federate other than Gen. Lee who was
present, approved the account. 1 think
it is by Adam Badeau. There is a per-
sistent tradition among the old soldiers
that Gen. Lee surrendered under an
apple tree. 1 imagine that he made
some announcement, had some order
read or that something was done in the
open, and perhaps neal tree, which
meant to his army surrender. l have
a piece of the alleged tree, donated by
a soldier, who claims to- have cut it
himself, to. the museum. Helwishes it
labeled and inscribed. | am at loss
what to write on it. If you can help
me l shall much appreciate your kind
ness. Respectfully, your friend and ad-
mirer. SYLVANUS MORRIS.
To this letter Gen. Gordon replied as
follows:
Mr.. Slyvanus Morris. Athens, Ca:
Dear Professor-Y ours received.
Both Gen. Longstreet and myself were
present in the room when the formal
surrender took place at Appomattox.
Pas was also Col. Marshall. The ac-
count, therefore, which states that only
Col. Marshall was present Is incorrect.
The apple tree incident is a romance.
No surrender took place, except in the
room of the Mclean house. The only
connection of the surrender with the
apple tree is the fact that Gen. Lee and
Gen. Grant met there for few mo-
ments and agreed upon the place for
formal meeting. Probably the most
appropriate inscription you could place
on the piece of wood would be to the
effect that it was taken from the apple
tree near which Gems. Lee and Grant
met prior to the surrender. With best
wishes, am, sincerely yours.
J.B. GORDON.
Then 1t appears that the old soldiers,
while not being correct in the state
ment that the surrender took place un-
der the apple tree, are still in meas
ure correct, as the apple tree did to
them have assignificance. When the
two Generals met there it was to the
soldiers the evidence of surrender, and
they have ever since regarded it as the
place of the surrender.
The piece of wood properly inscribed
| will be placed in the museum, and with
it the copies of this correspondence
which settles in an authentic way a
point of controversy Augusta (Ga
Chronicle.