Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-10
A Contemporary Account
writtsn br ) war oorrespondsnt.

TTERB IL a contemporary account OF Appomst0x
III being the dfspatOh sent TO the New York Herald
by It's special correspondent, S. cadwallider.
under date OF 'Apponatox Court House. April 10.
1856" and appearing in that paper in cts issue Of
April Is;
MY dispatch OF yesterday hurriedly closed
by the departure OF the Herald messenger for City
Point. Ny dispatch OF today shall be confined TO
additional details OF the great eliminating event
Of the rebellion they represented themselves to me
without much regard 20 importance or order.
THE appointment OF officers 20 carry out the
terms OF surrender made by both parties during
the night, and conference between Generals Grant
and Lee was on the brow OF the HILL one-fourth Of
mile north OF the court house. at 10 D. m. General
Grant and staff had hardly arrived when General Lee.
accompanied by orderly. galloped up the hill and
rode TO the side OF the lieutenant general General
Grants staff General Ord and staff General Griffin
and staff General obbon and staff. all on the
ground grouped IN a semi-orculaF position The
country TO the southwark cultivated land.
The court house stands on ridge or continuation
Of fman hills. extending east and west
'Isge army lay parallel ridge with a ravine
ana rfvuet between. nearly north OF our forces The
head column mainly composed of trains and
artillery The infantry and cavalry brought up the
rean Consequently but small portion Of tho rebel
army visible from the court house
s'As Lee RODE up the hillside on a ganop General
Grant stepped his forward two three rods TO
meet HIM Lee rode souarey up, sauted In military
FORM wheeled his horse side by side TO the left Of
General Grant The two ohiefains then entered into
eonversaon which lasted nearly two hours, until tho
officers appointed both sides 70 carry out the terms
OF surrender had reported for duty. The taoleau
al this time the finest ever Witnessed. The two
distinguished leaders of the Ehtiest hosts OF the
world quietly in their saddles discussing the past
present and fuure. in free and easy off-hsnd con-
versasicn.
''During the conversation General Lee stated that
II General Grant had aooeded TO his proposal for
personal Interview weeks ago peace undoubtedly
would have resulted therefrom. Much of their con-
versation. Of course. was private and unhsard But
enough was CLEANED to know that Ice Acknowledged
himself completely beaten the power OF the Southern
Confectionery utterly destroyed and any further
PRONUNCIATION OF the war useless effuson Of blood
The opinion universal among rebel officers that
Johnston would surrender to Sherman without battle
on hearing that the Army Of Northern Virginia had
done to General Grant
shortly before ii O'Clock the interview between
the generals ended by Lee saluting and riding slowly
down the slope across the hollow and into the
on the hill beyond. General Grant turned the head
OF his thoroughbred cinelnnatua toward the court
house. followed by his staff and long retnue OF
general officers
within half an hour thereafter the officers desg
mated by General Grant to carry out the stpulatons
OF surrender arrived and were accompanied by a
large number Of noted rebel officers The large
anda and yard IN front was soon filled with groups
of union rebel officers In earnest conversation
Half the regulars" on either side found some old
others and the greetings In many Instances were
warm and unaffected. The mon who but the day
before were seeking each others destruction now
chated quietly together recalled the incidents OF the
past ana gave In their open countenances evidences
Of honest respect Almost the first question from
rebel officers vera We'll what are you going to do
With uBr ssA
sThe belief seemed widespread among intelligent
OFFICERS that the United States government had
pledged itself TO grant annestes for the offense
Of and that they must all hank together
haag separately. On learning that General Grant
had no advantage OF their necesaitas and dos
perAte situation but had voluntarily extended to them
the masnanimous terms offered two days before
and refused BY General Lee. they expressed them
selves exceedingly sratified Discussion OF the
ter among themselves seemed to greatly strengthen
this FEELING. All admitted that their army had no
further power Of resistance and that II compelled
70 surrender terms. They appeared sur
prised 20 lind exhibition OF vindictveness our
part Judging os their hearty concessions OF generals
and liberal treatment by US, would conclude they
expected 60 chained together az feions to
grace the tEaumphai march Of victorious general
Eat first some may be inclined to think General
Grant sufficiently exactng But no who wit
TO their conversation the subject could long doubt
the wisdom OF his policy.
"Lees whole army goes homo delighted that they
are out Of service and grateful to General Grant
for sparing them an Unnecessary humiliation The
moral effect OF this tho OF the southern
people cannot be overestimated."
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