Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-09

When put my pea 70 the paper ala not know
the first word that should make Of in writing
the term& I only knew what in my mind and
wished to express Il clearly that there could
mistaking IT, As wrote on, the thought occurred to
that the officers had their private horses ana
effects which were Important to them, but OF value
to also that Il would be an Unnecessary hullia-
tion TO call them to deliver their side arms.
No conversation not one word, passed between
General Lee and myself, either about private prop
erty side arms or kindred SUBJECTS Re appeared
to have objections 20 the tcns first proposed or
he had point to make against them he wished 70
wait until they were IN writing 10 make T. When
he read that part of the terms about side arms
horses and prtvate property OF the OFFICERS ne
marked with feeling. thought that this would
have happy effect upon his ARMY.
Thea after little further conversation General
Lee remarked to again that their army was
organized little differently the army OF the
United States tstiii maintaining by implication that
we were two countrieal; that in their army the
cayalrymen and aftniersts owned their own horses:
and he asked n he was to understand that the men
who owned their horses to be permitted
to retain them. told him that tho terms were
written they would mott that only the Officers were
permitted take their private property. He then
after reading over the terms second time re-
marked that that was clear
then said 10 him that thought this would be
about the last battle OF the war-I sincerely hoped
and said further took Il that most OF the
men IN the ranks were small farmers. The whole
country had been raided by the two armies
that it doubtful whether they would be able to
put In crop TO carry themselves and their families
| through the next winter without the aid of the
horses they then riding The United states did
| not want them and would therefore instruct the
officers left behind 10 receive the paroles OF mis-
troops to let every OF the confederate army who
claimed to own horse or mule take the animal TO
his home. Lac remarked again that this would have
a happy effect
He then sat down and wrote out the following
letter;
HEADQUARTERS ARMY or NORTHERN
VIRGINIA. April . isss.-Gensral. I received your
letter Of this date containing the OF surrender
Of the Army OF Northern Virginia proposed by you
As they substantially the as those expressed
IL letter OF the sth inst. they are accepted
Will proceed TO designate the proper officers 10 carry
the stipulations into effect
"R. E, LEE General
Lieutenant General a. g. Grant"
The much talked Of surrendering Of Lees sword
ana my handing II back. this and much more that
has been sEid about Il Is the purest romance The
word sword side arms mentioned by either
OF us until wrote Il In the terms. There was NO
generalization. and Il did occur 10 me until the
moment wrote Il down. II had happened 70 om,
It. and General Lee had called my attention 10 a.
should have put In the terms precisely as aecedet
70 the provision about the soldiers retaining theiI
| horses.
General Lee. after all was completed and befor,
taking his leave. remarked that his army was in I
very bad condition for want Of food and that the,
were without forage; that his men had been livnI
for some days parohed corn exclusively and thu
| ne would have 10 ask me for ratlons ana forage.
told him certainly and nsked for how many nier
he wanted rations. His answer waA about S.o0p
and authorised him 20 send his own commssary an,
quartermastsr TO Appomattox station. two or thre.
miles away. whore he could have out OF the train
We had stopped. all the provisions wasted As 70
forage. we had ourselves depended almost entirel.
| upon the country Tor that.