House. Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line of battle on the crest of the hill on the south side of the same valley.

"Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I will give all there is of the narrative of General Lee and the famous apple tree. Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are believed. The war of the Rebellion was fruitful in the same way. The story of the apple tree is one of those fictions with a slight foundation of fact.

"As I have said, there was an apple orchard on the side of the hill occupied by the Confederate forces. Running diagonally up the hill was a wagon road, which at one point ran very near one of the trees, so that the wheels on that side had cut off the roots of the trees, which made a little embankment.

"General Babcock reported to me, that when he first met General Lee he was sitting upon this embankment, with his feet in the road, and leaning against the tree. It was then that Lee was conducted into the house where I first met him.

"I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him in the Mexican War, but did not suppose, owing to the difference in our ages and rank, that he would probably remember me; while I would remember him more distinctly because he was the chief engineer on the staff of General Scott in the Mexican War. When I had left camp that morning, I had not expected the result so soon, that then was taking place, and consequently was in rough garb, and, I believe, without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback on the field, wearing a soldier's blouse for a coat, with shoulder straps of my rank to indicate who I was to the

army.

'When I went into the house I found General Lee. We greeted each other, and after shaking hands, took our seats. What his feelings were I do not know. Being a man of much dignity and with an impenetrable face, it was impossible to say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come,

or whether he felt sadly over the result, and was too manly to show it. Whatever his feelings were, they were entirely concealed from observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite apparent on the receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed. I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe, that had fought so long and gallantly, and had suffered so much for a cause which I believed to be one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and for which there was not the least pretext. I do not question, however, the sincerity of the great mass of those who were opposed to us. General Lee was dressed in full uniform, entirely new, and wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely the sword that had been presented by the State of Virginia; at all events, it was an entirely different sword from the one that would ordinarily be worn in the field. In my rough traveling suit, which was the uniform of a private, with the straps of a general, I must have contrasted very strangely with a man so handsomely dressed, six feet high, and of faultless form. But this is not a matter that I thought of until afterward.

'General Lee and I soon fell into a conversation about old army times. He remarked that he remembered me very well in the old army, and I told him as a matter of course I remembered him perfectly, but owing to the difference in years—there being about sixteen years difference in our ages-and our rank, I thought it very likely I had not attracted his attention sufficiently to be remembered after such a long period. Our conversation grew so pleasant, that I almost forgot the object of our meeting. General Lee, at that time, was accompanied by one of his staff officers, a Colonel Marshall. I had all of my staff with me, a good portion of whom were in the room during the whole of the interview."

After this introduction, Lee turned to the object of the interview, and said: "I asked to see you, General Grant, to ascertain upon what terms you will receive the surrender of my army."

The reply was: "The officers and men must become prisoners of war, giving up, of course, all munitions, weapons and supplies; but a parole will be accepted, binding them to go to their homes, and remain there until exchanged or released by proper authority."

Lee replied that he had expected some such terms. Grant then asked: "Do I understand, General Lee, that you accept these terms?" "Yes," said Lee, "and if you will put them in writing, I will sign them." Turning to a table, the victorious chieftain wrote:

"APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, VA., April 9th, 1865. "GENERAL: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you, of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer, or officers, as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the government of the United States until properly exchanged; and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be packed and stacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.

"General R. E. Lee."

"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

It is said that Grant, while in the act of writing, looked up, and noticing Lee's sword, changed his terms so as to exempt officers' side arms. Lee read the paper carefully before signing, and seemed much pleased with the clemency of the terms, remarking that the conditions were magnanimous, and would have a good effect upon his army. He asked for such modification as would allow the men to retain their animals. But Grant replied: "I believe the war is now over, and that the surrender of this army will be followed soon by the surrender of all the others. I know that the men, and indeed the whole

South, are impoverished. I will not change the terms of the surrender, General Lee, but I will instruct my officers who receive the paroles to allow the cavalry and artillerymen to retain their horses, and take them home to work their little farms."

Lee again expressed his acknowledgments and sitting down wrote his reply:

"Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, April 9th, 1865. "GENERAL: I received your letter of this date containing the terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.

"Lieutenant-General, U. S. GRANT."

"R. E. LEE, General.

These formal ceremonies over, the Federal officers present were introduced to Lee, who received them very formally. He ended the business by asking that the supplies in the trains which had come up from Lynchburg be distributed to his famished troops. Grant informed him that they had been captured by Sheridan, but that rations would be issued to the prisoners. He asked how many. Lee could form no estimate. He had had no returns for days, and his losses by killed, captured, straggled and deserted, had been enormous. "Would 25,000 rations do?" asked Grant. Lee replied that he thought it would. The victor ordered this number to be issued. Humanity spake, and a generous conqueror fed his starving enemies.

The Confederate leader rode back to his army. As his men rushed around him, the tears gushed from his eyes, and amid sobs he said to the gathering crowds, "Men, we have fought through the war together. I have done the best I could for you." The response was a round of broken cheers that spoke their love for an old leader, and served as the expiring breath