The weekly union record., 1865-03-11
Opinions of Grant and Lee.


wha. purports to be conversation which
occurred, not long since, between Lieutenant
General Grant and foreign gentleman in
intimate relations with the Confederate Gov
ernment," who had Just come to Richmond
from the North This foreign gentleman"
describes General Grant as q gentleman of
eminent courtesy, tranquil and dignifed in
manner, free from bluster, and studiously con-
ciliating in language" Grant, We are told,
commenced the conversation by praising the
abilities Of Davis and Lee, and then proceeded
to give his views Of the prospect of capturing
Richmond:
"He (Grani) proceeded next to make the
startling assertion that Richmond is doomed
city, and that Davis and General Lee are we'll
aware Of the fact. He pointed out, with EN-
phasis, that slowly and insidlously the Federal
army is constantly advancing STEP and that
never, since the l4th of June, when it crossed
to the south side of the james, has it made a
quarter of a step backward. The end be
continued, must be the fall of Richmond. How
long it will be before the eud comes it is impos
sible for me to say. General Lee knows the
position Of my army TO be impregnable on both
sides Of the river, and he will attack on neither
do not expect the city 10 be suddenly evacu-
ated, but some day, little by little, my guns
will get within shelling distance of the Capital,
and, from that hour, it is merely question of
time. II is probable that il, at ibis stage, the
resistance be obstinate and prolonged, the
whole city will be burned to the ground.
ito h-- Il r
is, 10 the end, inevitable" u"
Having thus been entertained with the
opinions OF the commander of the army oper-
ating against Richmond. the same writer next
entertains us with the views of the rebel com
manders on the same subject. He says:
II can assure General Grant that, if be was
in q position to arrive at the undisgulsed opin-
ion of President Davis and General Lee, he
would come to a conclusion different from that
which be last week expressed, but which it is
difficult to believe that be sincerely entertains.
1t is the deliberate conviction, not only Of the
two eminent men in question, but also of
igbteen-twentieths of the inhabitants OF Rich
mond, and of ninety nine hundredths OF the
army which defends it, that the city was never
so safe since the war commenced as at the
present moment"
The conversation given above is stated TO
have occurred about the lst of December. In
the three months which have elapsed since that
time, Savannah, Wilmington and Charleston
have been wrested from the rebels by the vic
torious and inyiDcible army of Sherman. That
army, being unable to find an enemy in the
whole region it has traversed strong enough TO
oppose any obstacle TO its march, is now direct
ing its course TO Richmond. This is a strong
Indication that, as at the siege OF Vicksburg
General Grant will have the CO operation Of
Sherman in the capture of Richmond. 1t will
be remembered that, when it became evident
that Grant was preparing to lay siege to
Vicksburg, JEFF. Davis declared 10 public
speech that that rebel Gibraltar could be held
and must be held at all hazards He even
went further, and conceded that if the rebel
blockade Of the Mississippi river at that point
was raised, it would be a fatal blow TO the
"Coufederacy." but, while admitting this, ridi-
culed the idea that Grant could take the city.
The rebel press and English correspondents
echoed and re echoed this fattering delusion ;
but Grant, coolly and phiosophically smoking
bis cigar, directed his siege operations with
unflaggiug energy aud patience, and the result
was that, on the 4th of July, 1868, Pemberton
found it convenient TO march out his army as
paroled prisoners and General Grants army
marched IN the starry banner floated over the
rebel stronghold, and the Mississippi river was
open to navigation from its head to New Or
leans, and has been ever since. In like manner.
General Lee will be compelled either to aban-
don the rebel Capital, or surrender his army
prisoners of war to the indomitable hero whose
plans never fail, and whose demand is "uncon-
ditional surrender" Then the boastings of
Davis. Lee, and their English satellites. will
appear as ridiculous as when Vicksburg fell.
The action Of guerrillas in Tennessee has
been so extreme in plundering operations as to
drive secessionists into the Union ranks These
pillagers have plundered houses of their own
Southern people most remorselessy in many in-
stances taking from families what they knew
to be the last morsel of food 10 the house.
They have gutted stores and taken from resi-