CHAPTER XIX

APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE

GENERAL Grant also was desirous of ending the war as soon as possible; he knew, as did the leaders of both armies, that a surrender by Lee was the inevitable outcome of the situation. On April 7th, 1865, Grant sent a letter to Lee in which he said that he hoped there would be no further shedding of blood. Thus he tried to pave the way for negotiations concerning a surrender.

Lee's reply was immediate. He stated that he too wished to avoid any further bloodshed, and asked what terms would be given him and his army. The next day Grant's reply was put into his hands; it read, in part, "There is one only condition upon which I insist; namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the United States Government, until properly exchanged."

But General Lee, now that the hard step was indeed before him, shrank from it. His officers advised it, yet he knew that on him rested the

responsibility. Again he wrote to General Grant, saying that he would like to meet him and talk over the terms offered.

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To this suggestion General Grant would not accede. This decision was not harsh, on his part. He knew his own mind, - the whole country knew its inflexible nature by this time, — and he realized that the surrender must come on his own terms as already conveyed to General Lee; therefore he declined to meet the Confederate leader, and waited. On April 9th Lee wrote and agreed to meet Grant at once, "in accordance with the offer contained in your letter." Grant promptly replied, and the momentous interview took place immediately after this exchange of messages.

Colonel Babcock, the bearer of General Grant's last note, had found General Lee near Appomattox Court House, resting under an apple tree, upon a blanket spread upon some fence rails. This fact probably started the story that the actual surrender took place at that spot, but it did not; it took place in the house of Mr. Wilmer McLean, not far distant. This place of meeting, a two-story brick structure with a porch, was asked for by one of Lee's orderlies, and the owner readily gave its use. General Lee, with a few officers, reached the house first, and was soon joined by General Grant,

accompanied by Generals Sheridan and Ord. One of the persons present has described the scene:

"Grant sat at a marble-topped table, in the center of the room, Lee at a small oval table near the front window. Grant was not quite forty-three years old, five feet eight inches tall, shoulders slightly stooped, hair and beard nut-brown, wearing a dark-blue flannel blouse, unbuttoned, showing vest beneath; ordinary top-boots, trousers inside; darkyellow thread gloves; without sword or spurs ; and no marks of rank, except a general's shoulderstraps.

"In marked contrast with this sat Lee-now fifty-eight years old - six feet tall, hair and beard silver gray; a handsome uniform of Confederate gray, buttoned up to the throat, with three stars on each side of the turned-down collar, fine topboots with handsome spurs, elegant gauntlets, and at his side a splendid sword.

"This sword had a white handle, with a lion's head at the top; it was wound with gilt wire, and had a gilt guard, while the scabbard was of blue steel with gilt trimmings. It had been presented to General Lee in 1863." (This sword was given, later, by General Lee to his son, General W. C. Lee.) "With his magnificent physique, ruddy cheeks, and dignified demeanor, General Lee was the focus