The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-03-29

could meet General Grant, and of all people,
whom should meet but Mclean. / rode up to
him and said, Can you show me house where
General Lee and General Grant can meet to-
gether? He took me into house that was all
dilapidated and that had no furniture in it.
told him it wouldn't do. Then he said, Maybe
my house will dor He lived in a very comfort
able house, and told him thought that would
suit. had taken the orderly along with me, and
I sent him back to bring General Lee and Bah
cock, who coming on behind. I went into
the house and sat down, and after while Gen.
eral Lee and Babcock came in"
So Wilmer Mclean, the man who didn't like
the war;" was an unexpected witness to two of
its high spots, virtually its beginning and its
ending. To this Virginian was given the un-
sought privilege of seeing the cause of the Con-
federacy gain its first height in the victory at
Bull Run and recede to its lowest ebb at Apo
mattox, from which no tide ever rose again.
Half an hour later the men in McLean's parlor
heard footsteps at the front door and in walked
Grant. With him came his alter ego, bearded
Gen. John A. Rawlins; his aide-de-camp, dusky
Col A. C. Barker, the Iroquois Indian; Flight
ing PhiP' Sheridan the stocky little Irish cav
airy leader; and Generals Horace Porter and
E. R. c. Ord. Then occurred the second incident
at Appomattox Illustrative of the curious turns
of Fate, Of history repeating itself"
Lee had on his handsomest uniform. At his
side hung beautiful sword In handsome gold
and leather scabbard which had been presented
to him by group of English women. In contrast
to the fine military figure which the Confederate
commander presented, Grant was wearing loose
fatigue coat with only the shoulder-straps Of
acknowledgement to indicate his rank, no side
arms and with his trousers tucked into top
boots-his whole outfit dusty and soiled from
riding. Says Marshall:
"Grant excused himself to General Lee for
not having his side arms with him he told him
that when he got his letter he was about four
miles from his wagon in which his arms and
uniform were. and he said that he had thought
General Lee would rather receive him as he was,
than be detained while he sent back to get his
sword and uniform. General Lee told him he was
very much obliged to him and was very glad
indeed that he hadn't done it.
"This little conversation is of peculiar interest
because Lee first met Grant when he was
captain on General Scott's staff in the Mexican
war, and Grant was a lieutenant Of infantry.
General Scott had issued an order that officers
coming TO headquarters were to do so In full
dress. Grant had been making reconnaissance
and came to headquarters to report the result in
his field dress, plentifully covered with the dust
of Mexico. evidently thinking in 1S47, as he did
In 1865, that time was of more importance than
appearance. Lee had to tell Grant to go back to
his tent and return in full dress. One wonders
whether, when apOlOgiZing to Lee second time
for his informal costume, Grant remembered
what had happened eighteen years before"
After brief talk the terms Of the sur
render Colonel Parker, Grants aide-de-camp,
brought little table from the corner of the
room and on it the Union commander wrote out
the terms of surrender The Confederate officers
were to give their individual paroles not to take
up arms against the United States and to sign
a like parole for their commands. All arms, artil-
lery and public property were TO be handed over
to the Union forces. but the officers were to re-
tain their side-arms, horses and personal bag
gage. The soldiers also were allowed to keep
their horses, because, as Grant said, they would
need them for their spring blowing"
After Grant had written this note, he handed
1t to Lee, who read it over, then directed his
aide, Colonel Marshall, TO draft reply In which
he accepted the terms of surrender.
In the meantime Parker had made q copy of
Grants letter. Says Marshall:
Then General Grant signed his letter. and
turned my letter over to General Lee and he
signed it Parker handed me General Grants
letter, and handed him General Lees reply and
the surrender was accomplished There was no
theatrical display about il. II was In itself per-
haps the greatest tragedy that ever occurred In
the history of the world, but 1t the sim
plest, plainest and most thoroughly devoid of any
attempt at effect that you can imagine"
Thus the Civil war came to an end and Apo
mattox became an historic name
9 by Western Newspaper Union.