Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-03-31
MRS. CUSTER OFFERS
TAFT A RARE RELIC
TABLE ON WHICH GRANT WROTE
TERMS OF LEES SUR

TABLE ON WHICH GRANT WROTE
TERMS OF LEES SUR
RENDER.
SECRETARY TAFT SUGGESTS
THAT INTERESTING RELIC BE
in WAR DEPARTMENT..
Washington Star: Through the
kindness and thoughtfulness Of Mrs.
George B., Custer, widow Of Gen.
George A. Custer, the distinguished
cavalry leader OF the civil war, who
lost his life in. the ndian fight at
Little Big Horn, in June, 1876, the
war department is about to receive
possession OF one Of the most inter-
esting relics Of the war of the rebel
lion. It is the table on which Gen.
! Grant wrote the terms Of the sur
render Of Gen. Lees army at Appo-
mattox court house, April 9, 1865,
which marked the restoration of the
| union or states. :5t
| The story Of the historic table and
| how 1t comes into the possession of
the United States government at this
late date is told in the subjoined cor
respondence:
! sstt Mrs. custer's Offer.
"Bronxville, N. Y, March Is.
Secretary Taft: i
4 Dear Sir: would like to loan to
the war museum for an indefnate
time the table on which the terms Of
the surrender of General Lee to Cen
eral Grant were written at Appomat-
tox. i have left this table to our
government in my will, but have a
feeling that 1t ought to be taken now
from the freproof storage where I
have kept it so many years and
!! placed where it can be seen by those
interested in souvenirs Of the civil
war inclose a copy Of the letter
5, General Sherman wrote me on the
day Of the surrender, in presenting
| the table. 2 -
! t%"I have also number of letters
from Colonel Marshall, the only con
federate officer present that day with
General Lee; also letters from Gen
eral Horace Porter and the Century
/ Magazine with his article on the day
at Appomattox, q plan OF the room in
the Mclean house, with the position
;, of the table and the furniture in the
room. .4>
i All this material I will be glad to
| send as the tables credentials before
it goes on, in case the war museum
wishes to consider my proposition.
! II cannot see any occasion when
would be putting the manager Of the
museum to any trouble in asking the
table again for exhibition, for ii
!, would be in such an admirable place
for the greater number to see it. II
has only been out of the store house
three times in all these years.
i 81 hope, Mr.. Secretary, you will
pardon my writing this to you. I'm
fortunately I do not know who is in
icbarge Of the museum. thrust that il
will cost you no more trouble In your
busy life than to turn my letter over
j to whomever should have addressed.
i n !; Very sincerely, yours, t.5.
i "MRS. ELIZABETH B. CUSTER. /"
] W. Con. sheridan's Gift. F..
| Appomattox Court House, April 10,
1865. .... 4.>,: 4.
]! My Dear Madam: I respectfully
present to you the small writing table
on which the conditions for the sur
render Of the confederate Army of
Northern Virginia were written by
Lieut.. Gen. Grant, and permit me to
| say my dear madam, that there is
scarcely an individual in our service
who has contributed more to bring
about this desirable result than your
very gallant husband. Pr
i Very respectfully, y
4 PHIL. n. SHERIDAN, Mai. Gen.
Mrs. Gen. Custer, Washington, D. C.
Secretary Taft's Response.
March 20. 1905.
MY Dear Mrs. Custer: am in re-
ceipt Of your letter Of the 18th in
slant, stating your. desire to loan to
the War Museum" for an indefinite
time the table upon which the terms
Of the surrender Of Gen. Lee at Ap-
pomattox court house, va, were writ
ten, together with certain letters and
other documents ais credentials Of the
table, and in reply beg to extend my
thanks for your offer. which is highly
appreciated.
The war museum, which was at
one time attached to the ordinance
department, has long since been dis
continued, and such relics OF the,
t.{x g.