The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-11

you express OF the hopelessness OF fur
Their resistance. I reoiprOcRte your desire
TO avoid useless sffus.on Of blood. and
therefore before considering your pro-
posal ask the terms you win ofrer on
condition OF its surrender"
On the morning Of April 8 Grant wrote
that: Peace being my great desire, there
is but one condition I would Insist upon.
namely. that the msn and officers sur
rendered shall be disqualified for taking
" arms against the government OF the
United States until properly exchanged I"
At midnight on April Col- Charles A.
Whittier. OF Humphreys star. brought
letter from Lee. In II he wrote that he
did not think the emergency called for a
surrender, but a restoration OF peace be-
ing the sole object OF all. he would meet
Grant at 10 a. n. April 9. on the old stage
road to Richmond, between the picket
lines OF the two armies.
Seated Under Apple Tree.
Grant answered this letter, saying that
he had no authority 10 treat OF anything
but the surrender OF the Army OF North
ern Virginia. Later In the day Lee asked
| for an interview. Grant assented, and
sent his answer by Col. Babcock, who
delivered 1t to Lee, whom he found rest
ing by the roadside in an apple orchard
the trees still being bare OF leaves OF
blossoms. Col. Babcock accompanied the
Confederate commander to the Mclean
house in Appomattox village.
As soon as Grant heard that his great
adversary was ready 10 confer he
jumped on his horse without pausing 70
change his uniform, and rode post-haste
across the wet country 10 Appomattox
arriving there about noontirne. He was
covered with mud. but he pushed on 10
the Mclean house. gathering his STAFF
as he went. Al the railroad station Gen
Sheridan Joined him. Others in the group
were Gen. Rawlins, his chief OF stan /.
Gen. Seth Williams, his sdjutant general:
Gen. Rufus ingalls,. Col Horace Porter,
and Lieut.. Col. Babcock
Gen. Lee had brought with him only
one officer. Col Charles Marshall. his
military secretary.
The scene Of this gathering which has
given Appomattox such a conspicuous
place in the history Of the United States
was at that time a plain two-story brick
residence. Across nearly the entire front
extended a porch. which was rallied in
except where FIVE or six steps led up TO
the front door The entrance was tvpi-
cally Southern. The door opened into a
hall that ran the length OF the house. On
each side Of Il was a single room with a
window at the end Two doors. one at
the front and the other az the rear.
opened into the hall. The room at the
left Of the entrance was the parlor. and
here Grant and Lee met and negotiated
the terms OF the surrender.
The articles We're agreed upon, signed,
and the conference concluded at D. m.
about three hours after the meeting OF
the two commanders-in-chief At $50
Grant sent a dispatch 10 Secretary or
War Stanton announcing the result On
April 10 Lee issued his touching farewell
order TO the Army OF Northern Virginia.
The parole OF the Confederate soldiers
took place on the 18th.
Event WILDLY Described.
OF this event Gen Chamberlain has
written wildly.
The duSlCy swarms forge forward IN
two gray columns OF march on they
come. with the old swinging route step
and swaying battle flags In the van the
proud Confederate ensign-the great field
Of white and for canton the star-strewn
cross OF blue on a iield or red
Gordon, at the mead OF the column.
riding with a heavy spirit and downcast