Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-19
The Surrender Of General Lee.
OIEvE1Axp. April Il. 1865.

OASI NA41'D1 APAAA ~ AoSS-
EDITOR LEADER:-The rejoicings in the
North to-day were doubtless somewhat
moderated by the news of the anomalous
manner in which General Lee surrender
his army. Il would seem that this final
act of the bloody tragedy could not be
terminated without the display of the bad
faith, barbarity and treachery which have
characterized the conduct of the rebels
since the firing of the first gun at Sumter.
General Les in accepting General
Grants terms of surrender, expressly
pledged the sacred word and honor of a
soldier to turn over intact, net only the
Army of Northern Virginia, but all the
farms, artillery aud public property" per-
tanning to it, and it is hardly probable that
he wss not aware Of the fact that his men
we're deserting by thousands, stealing his
best horses, and destroying property which
it was his duty TO religiously preserve and
protect Since he and his army have
shown themselves so insensible to the kind
ness and msgnsnimity of their conquerors
it is to be regretted that General Grants
terms were go lenient, and that he did net
make an example and warning to pos
terity of General Lee and the Army of
Northern Virginia. Mercy to the feelings
of rebels is warming viper in the bosom
of the Republic. Better, far better had
they been humiliated as were our English
brethren at Yorktown. We are told that
Washington had the American army
drawn up on the right side of the road,
4 loo in feOTn HaVr 20 VOr.lrkov1- II
the French army on the left. The lines
extended for over mile in length,
and Washington upon his white
charger was st the head of the
American column and Rochambeau
on beautiful bay horse, was at the head
of the French. A vast concourse of peo-
pie, equal in number to the military, was
also assembled from the surrounding coun-
try to participate in the joy of the event.
] The vanquished troops marched out of
their intrenehments with their coIors cssed
and drums beating, and passed between
the columns of the combined armies.
CORVALLIS, fsiguing illness, sent o Hara
with his sword, to LEAD the army to the
field of humiliation. The sword was de-
livered to General Lincoln, OHsra's equal
in rank. Twenty-eight British Captains,
each bearing q fsg in 9 case, were
drawn up opposite twenty.eight American
sergesnts, to whom the colors were sur
rendered. This is the way the soldier
under whom General Lees lsther saw SER
vice did business. Here, too, conqueror
and conquered were bound by SIS close ties
of conssnguinity as the men of the North
and the South of to-day. Washington
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well earned triumph of his men. It was
merely the legitimate fruit of their vslor
and toll, and they deserved it. And how
was it with Napoleon st Ulm? Surround
ed by numerous and magnificent staff,
he toek his station on q commanding emf
nence to see the garrison, thirty Thousand
strong, with sixty pieces of cannon, and
headed by Max, their general, march out
of the fortress and lay down their arms
For five mortal hours this immense army
defled before him. These are the
terms Napoleon granted to an
army which, he affirmed, had waged
war against France without q
just cause. Now if Cornwallis had dishon.
orsbly allowed his property to be destroyed
and stolen, and his men to desert, because
he could do SO safely, as his opponent, re-
lying upon his honor, had ceased to be
wstchful, would not Washington have
made him responsible2 Would not Ma
poleop have sent Max to Paris in irons II
he had broken his plghted faith, and only
surrendered seven or eight thousand of his
Austrisns, instead of the thirty thousand
to which ne was entitled2 We think he
would.
In these remarks we do not wish to be
understood as casting one particle of cen.
sure upon General Grant. Gloriously has
he won the proud position which he SC
modestly fills in the hearts of his country.
men and the history of the world. His
contempt for triumphal marches, and the
trophies of victory, does honor to the good
ness of his heart, yet we cannot help wish.
ing that in this case, instead Of sending
Lee to Johnston, he would hold him close
prisoner until every man, and horse, AMI
piece Of property is restored. Sherman'i
eloquence will, unaided, soon persuade
Johnston to follow the example of his
| Commsnder-in.C Chief, 9.
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