The Washington herald., 1914-04-02
HISTORY BUILDERS.
When Grant and Lee Arranged Pre-.
liminaries at Appomattox.
(written Expressly for The HeraId.)
BY DIR. T.. J. EDWARDS.

BY DIR. L. J. EDWARDS.
In August. 1851. / had the opportunity
while attending q Democratic State con-
vention at Lynchburg. Va, owing to an
adjournment over one day to visit Apo
mattox Court House. The little village
stands about four miles northeast OF the
railroad station. The station itself was
hardly more than shed. the sort Of sta
ton where passenger expects TO flag q
train, there being not enough business
for the employment of a ticket seller.
To get to Appomattox Court House en-
tailed walk through the woods Of about
four miles, since there were no convey
ances. That fact of itself was sufficient
to demonstrate that the tremendous his
tnric associations of the village were at
that time not sufficient to attract many
visitors
Sixteen years before that path through
the woods had been filed with Union
soldiers 1t was along that path that
Gen. Grant rode on his way to Appomat-
tox Court House from the railroad sta
ton. In fact. he rode It twice, for he had
visited the village the day before the
terms of surrender were agreed upon. On
the day when walked over this path the
quiet was almost that of the primevaI
forest
The first building seen at the end of
the four-mile walk was the little red
brick house. which stood perhaps a hum
dred feet back from the road, in the front
room Of which Gen. Grant and Gen Lee
met to arrange upon the terms Of sur
render.
was directed by a citizen Of Apo
mattox Court House to the house OF Mr.
Todd. which stood about half way be-
tween the red brick house Just mentioned
and the apple orchard. under whose trees
Gen. Lee and his stan sat when the flag
Of truce went out.
Mr.. Todd said to me: IT know that II
Is the common impression that Gen.
Grant and Gen. Lee met for the first
time in the Mclean house. where the
terms Of surrender were agreed upon.
Yet am confident that this is a mistaken
impression.
'On the day before Gen. Lee and Gen.
Grant met at the Mclean house I was
standing at my front door, looking I'D
to that elevation over there in the east
where knew Gen. Lees army had gone
into bivouac early that morning Sud-
deIN l saw several officers coming from
the Confederate camp. I knew IN an in
slant that IT was Gen. Lee, accompanied
by his stan. They rode into the field
which is directly opposite my house and
there stopped
horses hoofs on the highway. and. look
ing IN that direction. I saw a man on
horseback. accompanied by several Off
GERS. He did not appesk to he dressed in
uniform, excepting a military hat. He.
too. rode directly into the,feld. When he
did this Gen Lee adyaaced q few PAGES
in front of his stan. and fae Union Off
Ger also advanced. They sfIuted one an
other and then entered into a brief con-
vcrsation. After that was finished they
saluted again. and then Gsi. Lee turned
with his STAFF and rode back to the Con-
federate camp. while the Union officers
turned their backs and went along the
road until they were lost to sight. for
the road is hidden from view from my
house by the courthouse.
II thought this a strange proceeding
and day or two after the surrender I
made some inquiries. I was told that
the Union officer who had no distIn-
gushing uniform excepting a hat was
Gen. Grant, and that he and Gen. Lee
had met by agreement so that they might
arrange <or the formal meeting that dav
I have had opportunity sinre that time
Of learning that there was a preliminary
meeting between Gen. Lee and Gen.
Grant and have no doubt that was the
one which saw from our doorstep"
/ asked Mr.. Todd how long II was after
the surrender before Appomattox Court
House became as peaceful as it was upon
the day of my visit. He replied: With
in ten days you would never have known
from any aspect OF the village what hap
pened here ten days earlier. and that
here the war practically ended
Tomorrow: The Man Who Saw Lees
Surrender at AppomaroX.
fCgpyrul- Nll4l