The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-11
Civil War Day by Day, Fifty Years Ago

tiful sword worn by Gen. Lee and -
added the line: This will not embrace
tho sidearms Of the officers nor thsiS
private horses or baggage"
Men Given Their Horses.
When the paper was finished. Cen Leo
took pair Of steel-rimmed spectaclsa
from his pocket. adjusted them and read
1t. The word exchange" had been
omitted. and he called attention to the
omission. When he came to the son
tence regarding sidearms. horses and
baggage, his countenance showed the
only change the watching Federal ON
GERS had noted on 1t during the intsrA
view. When he had finished reading he
said with some warmth, This will have
very happy effect on my army
On Gen. Grants saying that unless
Gen. Lee had some changes to suggest
in the form Of the terms. he would have
them copied. Lee replied: I'm our army
the cavalrymen and artillerists own their
horses. In this respect its organization
differs from that of the United States
army"
All tho officers present noticed this as
sumption. even in the closing scene Of
the war. that the struggle was between
two countries. Gen. Lee asked II ho was
to assume that the men were to retain
their horses.
Gen. Grant. reading the terms. saiA
that he thought they did not allow it,
but before Lee could respond he went on
to say that he assumed that many OF the
men in the ranks were small farmers
and that without their horses they could
not put in crop to sustain their fam
lilies through the next winter.
Then he added: II will not change tho
terms as now written. but I shall IN
struct the Officers l shall appoint to re-
cefve the paroles to let all the men who
claim to own a horse or mule take tho
ANIMALS home with them to work their
little farms"
Gen. Lee again expressed his sratifea-
tion by saying: This will have the best
possible effect upon the men,
"Here, Take MY Grub"
Gen. Lees acceptance Of tho terms was
soon written.
After handing it to Gen. Grant he -
marked that his men were without food
Grant at once volunteered to send them
rations. and suggested that he send H.
900. asking II that would be enough. Gen.
Leo replied that he thought IT would be
ample. The number Of men surrenderine
In fact did not exceed 5000. The Fed
erals had supposed he had many more
Less than 10000 had arms in their hands:
the others were straggiers-the wreck
age of an army.
When the surrender was completed.
Gen. Lee stood and the Federal omosra
were presented to him. To each he
bowed without shaking hands, except in
the case OF one or two whom he knew.
When one OF these old acquaintances At
tempted q pleasantly. Lee bowed his
head very slightly but did not smile.
The presentations finished, he shook
hands with Gen. Grant. and . little BE-
fore o'clock left the house, mounted
his gray charger in the yard. and rode
within the lines Of his surrendered army.
When news of the surrender spread
like an electric current through tho Fed
eral army, q wave Of Joy swept tho
ranks. Yet there was no cheering or
other demonstration that might wound
the sensibilities Of the late foe. In all
the war there was no act more eredita-
Bile to American character than this.
Later. as Federal met Confederate,
homely phrase rs Here, Johnny. yours .
hungry; take my Grub" Ohicers ex-
changed visits. seeking old friends. and
before night settled on the scene the
horrors of war seemed years behind
them.
Grant. in his hour Of supreme victory.
was silent, self-contained. compa ssion-
ATE. men MS BOlulerS WOuIQ nave nred
cannon in salutes. he sternly forbade 1t.
Lees Farewell to His Men.
And what Of Lee ~ he rode back TO
his men?
Possibly n6 better closing reference to
the scene can be auoted than that of I
Gen. A. L. Ions. Of Lees staff. who
wrote:
when, after his interview with Grant.
Gen. Lee again appeared. q shout Of well
come instinotively ran through the army.
But instantly recollecting the sad occa-
sion that brought him before them. their
shouts sank int6 silence. every hat was
raised, and the bronzed faces of the thou
sands OF grim warriors were bathed with
tears.
LAS he rode slowly along the lines
hundreds Of his devoted veterans pressed
around the noble chief. trying to take
his hand. touch his person, or even lay
a hand upon his horse. thus exhibiting
for him their great affection.
1.-THE general then, with head bare and
tears flowing freely down his manly
cheeks. babe adieu to the army. In a
few words he told the brave men WHO
had been so true in arms to return To
their homes and become worthy citi-
zens.'
tCoprnsht. lsfa)
THE END.