Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/365

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sentatives had an indisputable claim to a pension under any kind of a pension law.

" As soon as General Lee received the report of General Gordon as to the state of affairs in front, he directed that officer to ask for a suspension of hostilities, and proceeded at once to meet General Grant.

A FLAG OF TRUCE.

" General Lee, with an orderly in front bearing a flag of truce, had proceeded but a short distance after passing through our rear guard, when he came upon the skirmish line of the enemy advancing to the attack.

"I went forward to meet a Federal officer, who soon afterward made his appearance coming toward our party. This officer proved to be Lieutenant-Colonel Whittier, of the staff of the late General Humphreys, whose division was immediately in our rear. Colonel Whittier delivered to me General Grant's reply to the letter of Gen- eral Lee of April 8th, declining to meet General Lee to discuss the terms of a general pacification on the ground that General Lee pos- sessed no authority to deal with the subject."

Further correspondence between the Federal and Confederate leaders was then given by Colonel Marshall, who also told of the temporary cessation of hostilities which was ordered, and of the sub- sequent arrangement of a meeting between Lee and Grant at McLean's house. He said:

THE MCLEAN HOUSE.

" General Lee directed me to find a suitable place for the meeting. I rode forward and asked the first citizen I met to direct me to a house suitable for the purpose. I learned afterward that the citizen was Mr. McLean, who had lived on the battle-field of Bull Run, but had removed to Appomattox Courthouse to get out of the way of the war. Mr. McLean conducted me to an unoccupied and unfur- nished house, in a very bad state of repair. I told him that it was not suitable, and he then offered his own house, to which he con- ducted me.

"I found a room suitable for the purpose in view, and sent back the orderly who had accompanied me to direct General Lee and Colonel Babcock, of General Grant's staff, to the house. They came