The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-11
THE SURRENDER OF LEE
Ruins Mark Spots Where Articles Were Signed
on April g. 1865.

country town in Virginia which had TOT
Grand Army men and American citizens
generally this week considerably more
historical Importance than any other sec
ton of the country - old Appomattox
Court House. where Lee surrendered the
army of Northern Virginia forty-four
years ago, April 9. In the various posts
Of men who were gathered in that neigh
borhood in 1855 the retelling Of reminis-
cences goes on as in years past, says the
Boston Herald.
The campaign OF Appomattox began on
March Is. 1855. and saw its conclusion less
than two weeks later when Gen. Sheri-
dan threw his cavalry across the Lynch
burg road. completely blocking the re-
treat Of the ragged and starving Confed-
crate veterans. And it was on the morn
ing Of Palm Sunday, April g. 1866. when
Gems. Grant and Lee met at the home Of
Wilmer Mclean, at Appomattox Court
House. and there settled on the terms Of
the surrender Of the Army Of Northern
Virginia. That was the death blow to
the cause OF the South and the end OF the
great war.
In the roster Of Union forces which
were in at the death OF the Confederacy
were eight Massachusetts regiments Of
infantry, two batteries Of artillery, and
one regiment Of cavalry. Connecticut had
a regiment Of cavalry. a battery Of artil-
iery. and two regiments OF infantry. The
Fifth Infantry and the First Battery Of
Light Artillery represented New Hamp-
shire. Vermont had 2 cavalry regiment,
n battery Of artillery, and six regiments
Of infantry. batteries B, G, and n. light
artillery. and the Second Infantry.
An even larger representation OF Mas
sachusetts men took part IN the capture
OF Petersburg, which Immediately pre-
ceded and directly caused the meeting at
AppOmattox Court House on April g In
the campaign OF Appomattox Court
House. so called. among the forces en-
gagged were these from the Bay State:
First. Second, Fourth, and Fifth Caval-
~; First and Third Heavy Artillery;
Ninth. Tenth. Eleventh and Fourteenth
Batteries light artillery; Eleventh. Nine
tenth. Twentieth. Twenty fourth, Twen-
tyeighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-second.
Thirty-fourth. Thirty-hfth. Thirty-sixth.
Thirty seventh. Thirty ninth. FOrtieth.
Fifty-sixth. Fifty-seventh. Fifty-eighth,
Fifty-ninth, and Sixty-frst regiments Of
infantry
Urge Erection of Monument
Possibly some day Massachusetts VIII
recognize officially the presence Of her
sons on the last battlefield OF the civil
war by erecting there an appropriate tab
let or monument. So far. however, not
only Massachusetts. but other Northern
States. have entirely neglected Appomat-
tox. 1t is the field Of Gettysburg which
has been given magnificent attention.
Appomattox has been allowed to become
just scrubby. torn. and tattered ground.
in some places IL is now densely covered
with woods and underbrush; IN others II
IS weed-grown. Only North Carolina has
given Appomattox the Official attention
which II deserves.
The house Of Wilmer Mclean, where
the terms OF the surrender were signed.
is to-day a heap Of ruins. In 1902 a COM
pany OF enterprising individuals conceiv-
ed the idea Of removing it to the Column
bian Exposition. There they intended to
reconstruct II. but their funds gave out
and they left the old house IN ruins.
And there this pile Of brick and lumber
has been standing in the Mclean gar
den seventeen years. awaiting transfer
nation into a national memorial A So
Ciety Of women is now undertaking 10
raise by subscription enough money TO
reconstruct the house
AS for the rest OF the Appomattox Of
1866, very little OF it now remains. The
county building was destroyed by fire In
1894 and a new building erected three
miles southwest, near what, IN 1856. was
the Appomattox railroad station. Fol-
lowing the customs Of the South. the
town Of Appomattox has rebuilt itself
around the later county seat Only two
or three houses Of the old town are still
occupied, and they are greatly dllapldat-
ed The rest of the 1865 village has shared
the fate OF the Mclean house and be
come tumbled-down. ruins. Uaderbrush
and pines cover the locations Of the
Union and Confederate forces.
only One Survivor.
Only one man who resided in Appomat-
tox when the surrender took place is
there now His name is Edward Peers.
and he is eighty-one years old. For fifty
years he served as clerk Of Appomattox
County. Even in his advanced years he
retains very clearly many remembrances
OF the events OF April Q. 10, II. and 70. 1866.
Sightseers In Appomattox to-day. when
they wish particularly to get definite In
formation Of the events Of the war are
invariably sent to Mr.. Peers
The changes which have taken place in
the old battle ground are interestingly de-
escribed by Gen. Joshua Chamberlain.
the Maine man who was In command of
the parade and other fOrmaIities attend
ing the surrender Of the Confederate Off
GERS and soldiers, fOrty-four years ago
In "AppOmattox Revisited" Gen. Cham
berlain says:
Il found everything in ruin and de-
signed forsakenness. Even the roads are
changed I could not find that road by
which Sheridan switched off nv command
from the main column a mile out from
the station 10 strike Gordon's left then
pressing back our cavalry. The fancy of
marking field boundaries had wiped this
out.
The county seat Is removed to Apo
mattox station. But on the old
ground the courthouse Is burned down:
the jail standing. overtall. gaunt. and
lean, fit for no Use except to intensity
solitary confinement. The Mclean house
where Grant and Lee first met for con-
ference before the surrender, is torn
down; most Of the old houses are still
there-no improvement and no addition.
al looking uneared for and forlorn.
Finds n GrapeshOt.
still further along the crest near the
spot where this flag uhe flag Of truce)
was received. the boy who was nd, driver
for this excursion jumped of TO pick I'D
Il graDeshot half showing itself above the
ground, which having been originally de-
liyered. thus satisfying the essential con-
ditions Of the law Of property. felt au-
thorized to take into personal possession.
Crossing the Richmond road a Fuoss
we came 10 another tablet bearing this
fnccrfuffOn-