Evening journal., 1914-04-02
New News Of Yesterday
When Grant and Lee Ar
ranged PreliminarieS
at AppOmattOx
BY HOIlanS.


In August, 1881, / had the oppor-
tunity while attending a Democratic
State convention at Lynchburg, Va,
owing to an adjournment over one
day to visit Appomattox Court House.
The little village stands about four
miles northeast of the railroad sta
tion The station itself was hardly
more than a shed, the sort Of station
where passenger expects to flag a
train, there being not enough busi-
ness for the employment of ticket
seller.
To get to Appomattox Court House
entailed a walk through the woods Of
about four miles. since there were no
conveyances. That fact Of itself was
sufficient to demonstrate that the
tremendous historic associations OF
the village were at that time not suf-
ficient to attract many visitors
Sixteen years before that path
through the woods had been filled
with Union soldiers. 1t was along
that path that General Grant rode
on his way to Appomattox Court
House from the railroad station. In
fact, he rode 1t twice, for he had Wis
tied the village the day before the
terms of surrender we're agreed upon.
On the day when l walked over this
path the quiet was almost that OF
the primeyal forest.
The first building seen at the end
of the four-mile walk was the little
red brick house, which stood perhaps
a hundred feet back from the road,
in the front room of which General
Grant and General Lee met to ar
range upon the terms of surrender.
! was directed by citizen of Apo
mattox Court House to the house Of
Mr.. Todd, which stood about half
way between the red brick house, just
mentioned, ana the apple orchard.
under whose trees General Lee and
his staff sat when the flag of truce
went out.
Mr.. Todd said to me: IL know that
General Grant and General Lee met
for the first time in the Mclean
house, where the terms of surrender
We're agreed upon. Yet / am conf
dent that this is a mistaken impress
sion.
"On the day before General Lee
and General Grant met at the Nc
Lean house Il was standing at my
front door, looking up TO that eleva-
ton over there in the east, where 1
knew General Lees army had gone
into bivouac early that morning. Sud-
denly | saw several officers coming
from the Confederate camp. I knew
in an instant that it was General Lee.
accompanied by his staff. They rode
into the field which is directly op-
posite my house, and there stopped.
Shortly after I heard the sound
OF horses hoofs on the highway, and.
looking in that direction, / saw a
man on horseback, accompanied by
several officers. He did not appear
to be dressed in uniform, excepting a
military hat. He, too, rode directly
into the field. When he did this Cen
eral Lee advanced a few PAGES I'm
front OF his staff, and the Union Off
Ger also advanced. They saluted one
another and then entered into a brief
conversation. After that was finished
they saluted again, and then General
Lee turned with his staff and rode
back to the Confederate camp, while
the Union officers turned their backs
and went along the road until they
We're lost to sight. for the road is
hidden from view from my house by
the court house.
Il thought this a strange proceed
ing, and day or two after the sur
render | made some inquiries. / was
told that the Union officer who had
no distinguishing uniform excepting
hat was General Grant. and that
he and General Lee had met by agree
ment so that they might arrange for
tue formal meeting that day. | have
had opportunity since that time OF
learning that there was a prelimin-
ary meeting between General Lee and
General Grant, and l have no doubt
that was the one which | saw from
our doorstep"
asked Mr.. Todd how long II was
atter the surrender before Appomat.
toX Court House became as peacef,il
as II was upon the day of NV VISIT
tie replied: within ten days Won
would never have known from anv
aspect Of the village what happened
mere ten days earlier, and that here
the war practically ended"
copyright, 1914. by 4. ]. Edwards
All rfphfc ,.ag.....,,