The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
2AL LEES OWN ACCOUNT or THE SURRENDER;
AND AN ACCOUNT BY GENERAL HORACE PORTER

treatment Of Lee. the kind courtesy
with which he received him, the delicate
consideration for the feelings Of the van
quished with which he conducted the
negotiations, and the magnanimity which
he showed in ordering that 10 salutca
be fired, and no cheering allowed, and
the simple form OF surrender adopted,
won the highest admiration of the Con-
federate soldiers and people. The rank
and file of the Federal ARMY, too, were
very kind to their old enemies, and the
blue and the gray were soon minglins
together in very friendly intercourse, the
victors sharing their rations with the
vanquished.
An amusing story is told Of ragged,
batt!e-schrred old Confederate, who said
TO some of his new-found friends In
blue, you uns need not think that
you uns have done whipped we uns.
You uns hain't done no SIGH a thing. We
uns have just wore ourselves out n
whipping of you uns. Now we uns are
going to try to live peaceable with YOU
uns but If you uns don't behave your
selves mighty pretty we uns are going
to whip you uns agn.'
Confederate orator expressed 1t in
n more classic phrase when he said.
not conquered, but only wearied out
with victory"
The day after the surrender General
Lee had another interview with Cen
eral Grant. They met in a field little
north of Appomattox Courthouse, near
hawthorn tree, and sitting on their
horses they conversed for about an hour
on matters Of mutual interest. General
Grant was anxious for General Lee to
meet President Lincoln, but he had left
Richmond before General Lee got there,
and the meeting never took place.
Several years after the surrender when
on visit to Appomattox Courthouse, q
citizen who witnessed the second meeting
between Lee and Grant pointed out to
me the exact spot. gathered some
thorns from the tree near tho place,
and afterwards covered them with ever
greens and immortellcs from General
Lees bier. and labeled the wreath. THE
thorns Of Appomattox covered with the
of Lees last great victory"
One day in 1866 tho writer was con-
versins with General Lee in reference
to certain results OF the war. when he
said very emphatically. Yes. all that
is very sad, and might be n cause OF
but that we are conscious
that we have humbly tried to do our
duty. We may, therefore, with calm
trust In God and leave re-
suits to Him.
General Gordon testfes that in the
deep agony OF spirit. with which Lee
the grief of his soldiers at
the surrender, he exclaimed, II could
wish that I Were numbered among the
slain of the last battle" but that he at
once recalled the wish and said, mo!
we must live for our afflicted country"
And one OF his officers relates that
during those hours of terrible suspense,
when he was considering the question of
he exclaimed from the depths
Of a full heart. How easily I could get
rid of this and be at rest have only
20 ride along the lines. and all will be
over. But he quickly added. ut is
our duty to live, for what will become
IF the women and children of the South
+ we are not here to support and pro-
.ect them?''
Thus General Lee ended his career as
soldier, and his grand old army march
I'd into history-himself ''the tallest.
whitest cheftain OF them all"-and I
.hink 7 put 1t very Conservatory when
say that he had proven himself the
greatest soldier of the war, and OF his
.ory. and the model man OF the CEN
,urles.
Richmond Va. January 10, 1907.