The Washington times., 1915-09-26
Courthouse. where they expected sup
,,lins which did mt arnduA

Courthouse. where they expected sup
plies which did not arrive.
From the top Of this hill on which Lee
and Grant az met hs the Ssn stSr .s ss's Ps Ss
beyond, where the Confederates were
camped. and where they were surround-
ed and deprived Of food by the cutting
Ct The southsiae 1T , rsil5oad l;oe BY tsa General
On the right stands another iron post
point to the surrender lines. Passing
over a narrow road. the visitor comes
upon the valley and sloping hill within
the 5000 Confederate soldiers parked
their artillery and stacked their small
arms. Here also is the spot whereon
paroles were handed to each OF the
Half way down tho steep hill one
finds on the right OF the road an iron
post marking the lines OF the Confed.
crate outposts Just before the fnal
fherss the ontpost e'h fines q the contendins
armies to have been about two city
At the bottom Of the hill flows the
AppomattSnn Eiysr TSdny i,v Il II fordsd ssd
| by teams On April 9. 1885, It was a
wide, deep. raging torrent. swollen Tar
beyond its banks by continual rains
which had made all the roads for miles
pomattox separated the Confederates
and Union armies. 1t was Lees purpose
| to put tho Appomattox between him
| and Grant. who was q few miles IN ms
rear The condition Of the river and
| the presence Of Sheridan's cavalry IN
the village OF Appomattox thwarted
Lees plan and brought him to bay.
Rested Near Tree.
Just beyond the river. in a field near
| the left bank OF the red clay ROAD IL
! found another tablet. the inscription on
which is Near this spot stood the ap-
pie tree under which Gen. Robert e.
Lee rested while awaiting tho return
Of a flag Of truce sent by him to Gen.
| U. 8. Grant on the morning OF April ..
1866
The apple tree Is said to have beer,
| dug up by Federal soldiers and carried
The apple tree story always causes vet
Grams Of the civil war;. both Northern
and Southern. to smile. For many
years 1t was said that Lee and Grahs an
surrender took place there. only the
formalities being gone through with al
the Mclean House. The surrender was
known as THE Apple Tree Surrender"
Contradict CONT the story.
What is said to have happened is
this: One of the Confederate outposts
put several fence rails in the fork OF
|
his blanket over the rail and laid down
to rest; having sent a note to General
Grant asking the latter to- designate q
place where the two could could meet me- an sne
Of Northern Virginia could surrender.
and knowing the commander OF th the
| Federal army would select some epot
within the Union lines: General GENE, nsares Les
to his outpost lines: seeing the ready
made palate under the apple tree. he !.
said to have mounted the bank ana iaio
upon the blanket on the rails While While
shall, whom he had dispatched Win
his note to General Grant.
| Went for Grant.
When Colonel Marshall returned
General Lee went up into the village
and was met by Wilmer Mclean.
| When General Lee made known the
nurnose of his visit to the village. Nc
Lean escorted him to his home ana ar.
ranged for General Grant to come there
upon his arrival s.shsd IN the tbs se.IseMe Menea1
house shortly after General Lee. and
after a few moments pleasant conver'
cation they began discussing the terms
Of surrender. General Grant wa wa;
General Lee. however. having discarded
practically all his surplus clothing tc
tighten his burden. was attired IN new
shimmery suit of gray. and the two
leaders were in strong contrast in ap'
pearance The conversation between
the two generals become SO pleasant
and agreeable that General Lee had tc
remind General Grant Of the business
which brought them together.
From the spot near which the apple
tree stood one looks over tobacco
field and up the hill which was patrolec
by the Federal outposts. and back O.
which Sheridan's cavalry and the F1ftl
and Twentyfourth army corps 'yer'
} camped. awaiting the attack by Gordol
and FitZhugh Lee.
, Leaving the apple tree site. the visito
climbs gradual hill. near the top o
: which a comparatively new road turn
} off to the right Here Is one of tn
saddest and most memorable spots Il
, the minds of the men who compose,
, the army of northern Virginia. Her
stands tablet upon which Is inscribe
This tablet marks the spot whore Ger