The Washington times., 1915-09-26
BIER OF HOPES
Of LEES ARMY.
NOW IN RUINS
Appomattox, Birthplace Of Re-
United States, Has Few Re.
mindecs.
STIRRED FIFTY YEARS AGO
Confederate Leaders Memoir
able Farewell to His Faithful
Forces Recalled by Tablet.

Appomattox, birthplace Of the
Re-United States, is today ruin.
The ravages Of fifty years have
practically obliterated the build
ings in the village where on April
Q, 1855, $4,000 gray-clad warriors
under the leadership Of Robert E.
Leo laid down their arms and
pledged allegiance to the Constr
tuition of the United States.
Where the curtain fell on the
staggering drama, little now re-
mains Of that once prosperous set
dement,.
For half a century men and
women have worked to wipe out
ell vestige of sectionalism and
weld the nation into one great
peace-loving people. Today the
nation stands united with loyal
Southerners and loyal Northerners
striving side by side for the up-
huilding Of the country and both
equally ready to answer their coun.
tzy's call to arms.
WHERE HEARTS BLED.
Mature and the elements have COM
6ined at Appomattox in a work similar
to that OF Northernere and Southerncrs
that Of effacing Appomattox-where
the hearts of Robert e. Leo and his
valorous host broke. ana where ever
their enmies and pursuers OF foul
yoers shook with emotion at the fall
of the proud lesions In gray.
The Mclean House. known as SUR
rsudsr House." has passed. as has the
historic brick courthouse which stood
>neef It. On all sides at Appomattox
today one soes the ruins Of once mag
1ifieent structures or rank growths OF
weeds covering the tumbled In founda-
uona. Few Of the old families whose
history had been linked with that OF
sn IL 4. tsr Seny Msa ssan go
familiar with the tragic events indis-
poluhly coupling Appomattox with the
Mstory OF the nation are there IN small
|nunabers and their memories are sadly
1t fault as to locations and persons.
Arriving At the present Appomatto1
station the visitor takes a vehicle te
- conveyed to the battlefield and
'Npyrender House." A short distance
ths new Appomattox courthouse. a nnt
brick structure sitting far back on the
typical Southern court green" On the
GWArd stands 4 somewhat modest mon
sithsr side Of tho shaft stand greer
cannon and piles Of cannon balls.
Headquarters of Grant.
About two miles further, in an un
cultivated field on the brow OF a hill
70 the right Of the road stands an iror
tsblet on which ia inscribed ''On thiI
spot were established the headquarter!
Of Lieut.. Gen. Ulysses 8. Grant. U. 3
A., on tho afternoon of April 3. 1865
Further along. on the left. the visitor
unnent erected to the memory of Col Z
Hunter Raine. who commanded Lei
Battery Company A. Virginia Artillery
A mile distant: along the Roadway, ;, ii, |,
m iron picket fence. Here lie eighteel
unknown Confederate soldiers and on
unknown Union warrior. the latte
having been buried at the end Of tn
With q simple little white headstone
These nineteen mon were killed durini
the final assault OF the Confederate
on the Union forces through whicl
mediately before the surrender.
A short distance further on the visi
tor comes upon the site Of the McLeal
house. where the terms of the surrend
or Of the Army Of Northern Virgini
SiSned by him and General Lee. N
one familiar with civil war histor
can view this scene Of abject and utte
desolation and ruin without an invol
Snsarx sshS There osntnSs Is nSshias asv left
years ago when the seed was sown 70
the rebirth Of a united nation.
Owned By Engineers.
The Mclean house was owned by Wi
mer Mclean. a wealthy Virginia plar
tation owner and engineer. He owne
tho house at Manassas which was use
at Beauregard's headquarters an
from the windows Of which McLea
80" %AAC A>obshSAh ouu ooaNhCfh tAool
fle past to engage in the first big ba
tie OF the internecine strife. McLea
moved from Manassas to Appomatto
TO set away from the war" BY
strange coincidence his residence
Manassas was associated with II
opening Of hostilities and In his hon
at Appomattox was written the fin
chapter OF the heart-rending story.
The Surrender House was a pr
tentous brick structure, two stori'
high. with seven wide white steps lea,
ing up to the spacious white-p e-pillare
snas az se o xhss se the
Yesidence was finished off with latti
work beneath the porch over whit
clinging vines were trained. 1t was
eommodious structure and one of Il
Oldest. as we'll as finest in Virginia
that time.
The house sat about 100 yards fro
the main road. a well-kept and attra
tive lawn fronting 1t, with flower ga
dens. Ice houses. and weaving hous
and servants quarters on the sides al
IN the rear. Withal. 1t was the typic