Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1895 — GEN. LEE’S SURRENDER. [ARTICLE]

GEN. LEE’S SURRENDER.

Interesting Reminiscences of Appomattox by Gen. Porter. New York Special to the Globe-Democrat. * “Appomattox” was the title of a lecture which Gen. Horace Porter delivered in the Seventh Regiment Armory. As a witness of the surrender, he was able to give all the details, many of which are not generally known. On the platform from which Gen. Porter spoke were chairs and tables arranged in the same positions as those were in the McLean House at Appomattox at the time of the surrender. Gen. Lee, he said, was dressed in regular Confederate uniform, and the handle of his sword was studded with jewels. Grant had on an old faded blue blouse and a pair of private’s trousers. He wore no sword, as be had thrown it in a wagon a few days before. Gen. Porter had a souvenir of the event, which be exhibited. It was a pencil with which Gen. Lee had written the acceptance of Grant’s terms of sufrender. He also had a large flag with several bullet holes in it, which, had-floated over Gen. Grant’s headquarters during the entire war. In closing, Gen, Porter spoke of Grant’s first words after Lee had left them after the surrender. Grant’s officers were wondering what would be the first words said by the man who had just gone through one of the greatest events of his life, and were surprised when he looked up and said to one of his staff: “Do you remember that old white mule we used to ride in Mexico?”