ern and Southern proclivities as to the "truth of history," a question arose whether General Lee at the surrender actually tendered, and you received, his sword.
It was mutually agreed that you should be written to for a decision.
There is no idle curiosity or desire for notoriety in regard to this request, and a reply from you would be highly appreciated.
T. D. Jeffress.
General Grant replied as follows on the bottom of the same sheet of paper:
General Badeau's book, now in the hands of the printer, will give the exact truth of the matter referred to in this letter. There was no demand made for General Lee's sword, and no tender of it offered.
We should be glad of an answer, by some one who can give the information, to the following courteous letter:
Rev. J. William Jones, Secretary Southern Historical Society:
My Dear Sir,—During the night of the 23d, and morning of the 24th of May, 1864, Hancock's Second corps, Army of the Potomac, was crossing the trestle bridge over the North Anna at Chesterfield, and during that time, more especially after dawn, whenever any considerable number of troops appeared on the bridge, they were the object of immediate attention from a Confederate battery a few hundred yards up the river, in position on the right bank. At times the fire of three Union batteries was concentrated upon it, at a distance, I should judge, of not more than six hundred yards, but it, nevertheless, held its ground, being well protected by earthworks. There must have been several hundred rounds of ammunition expended upon it. It was in a portion of the Confederate line then held by Longstreet's corps, at that time commanded by the late General R. H. Anderson.
The object of this communication, Mr. Editor, is to ask its insertion in your valuable Historical Magazine, in the hope that it will meet the eye of some one who can tell me the name of the battery, the kind and
