The National tribune., 1906-04-05
ON OLD AppoMATTox FIELD.
A Wisconsin Comrade Gives an Account
of His Recent Pilgrimage to Historic
Places in Dixie.


Comrade John Mccain. Co. F, I'd
Wis. Cav, sends from West Salem,
Wis, an interesting description OF his
recent visit to the old battlefield at
Appomattox. He says he noted the
various tablets marking the positions
of the several commands of the two
armies, and adds:
II found an iron marker about 90
rods north of the river. marking the
exact spot where Lee waited under the
apple tree for a message from Grant,
but the apple tree Is long since gone.
found markers pointing out the lines
and picket posts Of both armies, and a
few rods inside the Union picket line
found an iron marker showing the
spot where Grant and Lee first met and
agreed on terms of capitulation of the
Army of Northern Virginia. Again. I
found n marker on the spot where the
Mclean house stood, where all the
points bearing on the surrender were
reduced to writing and signed by R. +
Lee. The Mclean house was bought
by syndicate in Chicago, ILL.,, and torn
down, and every piece was marked. so
as to be rebuilt in the Windy City, but
for some cause it was not removed.
and still remains there in large piles
fast giving way to the elements. There
is strict watch kept over il, and hey
will not allow the least fragment to he
carried away by tourists. The old jail
that was there at the time of the SUR
render is still standing. but the Court
House was burned down few years
ago, and was rebuilt at what was
known as West Appomattox. The same
County Clerk has served continuously
ever since, Pier by name. 1 found a
large monument marking the spot
where the North Carolinians made
their last stand, then an open field, but
No rl1 iNl
monument was erected by the State of
North Carolina in honor OF the brave
defenders, stating that SOFA officers
and men of that State surrendered
there. The monument was unvailed in
June. 1905. The spot where the last
cannon-shot was fired is also shown
by an iron marker.
81 also found a little cemetery there.
and it was inclosed by an iron fence
and contained 10 graves, Is of these
being COnfederates and one Federal
soldier, all marked unknown. I also
visited the high bridge where the gall
liant Sheridan captured Lees supply
| train. and many other points OF inter-
est in Virginia.
'I was sitting in South Boston, Va.
one evening talking to an ex-Confed-
crate soldier. and he said to me. DO
you see that house over on the hill p
(pointing to an old Colonial house
about half a mile away. When Phil
Sheridan left that house there wasn't
a thing left in the country. Not a
chicken, pig. COW or horse. and only
| four mules that boy stole from Sher-
idan's train and spirited them away up
the creek-bed into the timber and kept
them in his fathers cellar until Sheri-
dan left the country That boy was
the son of the Assistant Secretary of
War of the Confederacy, named Col
| man. and 1 had the pleasure of being
driven over the country for two days
by him. and jolly fellow he was, too.
l also Travelled over North Carolina ex-
tenslvely, and visited the old battle
grounds of Gen. Nathaniel Greene at
Greensboro, where he crushed Lord
CORVALLIS. There I saw old Liberty
Tree, that Gen. Greene tied his horse
to when small bush, but now a mas
sive oak and one Of the handsomest
trees / ever saw. / also visited Dan
River. where Lord Cornwallis cut the
banks of the stream down and forded
the river to get away. I was at An
dersonville. and that name Is familiar
to all Union soldiers.
II spent some time in Tennessee. Old
Fort Saunders. at Knoxville, is still
there, and will be for many years un-
less torn down. I went as far south
as Ashboro, n. c.. and everywhere
saw ex-Confederate soldiers, and
never was treated better in my life
than by those old fellows. Well, I will
switch off and listen to what that other
fellow has to say"