Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-06
QDblo Statesman, h. 4
Am Hour wIth Gen. Grnnt.


Col. JOHN w. FoRNEY had an interview
with Gen. GRANT after his return from
Raleigh, and has given to the public his
impressions of this great General in the fol-
lowing: :5'a n H"'tHs .'Hr
| Yesterday morning Gen. Grant returned
from Raleigh and laid the result of his con-
ference before the President. AS | had
never had the honor of formal introduce
| tion to or conversation with General Grant,
embraced the opportunity of being pres
ented to him last evening, in company with
two gentlemen, one of them his intimate
friend. He was not in his room when we
arrived, so we waited till he came in from
the War Department / confess, when the
door softly opened, and gentleman about
the size of Governor Andrew, of Massachu-
sets, first quietly looked in, and then as
cigar, l was good deal surprised. We
were accordingly introduced. Putting his
hand into his side pocket lie drew thence a
paper of regalias, lighted fresh one HIM
| SELF at the same time Offering them to his
| guests. And this was the Lieutenant Gen
eral of the irresistible army of the United
| States! This was the man whose achieve
ments as well in capturing Richmond as in
the closing scene with Lee are now discuss
| ed at every American fireside, and by all the
military critics in the civilized world But
| for the three stars on his shoulders he never
would be taken for whathe is by q stranger.
Indeed, in citizens dress, lie would look
more like respectable Pennsylvania farm
er than thoroughbred military man.
There is such an utter absence of the char
acteristics of the Martinez that it was diff
cult to realize that we stood in the presence
of the first soldier in the world. Gen. Grant
reached his forty third year on Friday, from
which you may have an idea that he is very
young-looking, as indeed he is. There was
no care on his brows no hesitation in his
speech, and not the slightest disposition to
conceal his thoughts or his opinions. In
this was as much surprised as in the singu-
lar simplicity of his bearing. That he was
gentleman you perceived at once. He
does not talk like New Englander, or a
Southerner, but reminded me of a Scotch
Irish Western Pennsylvania. | could
easily understand however, in his looks,
and in every word he spoke, that was gaZ
ing upon and listening to the happiest man
in America. He felt (nOne more SOY the
great loss sustained by our country and by
mankind, but there was in his whole deport-
ment a consciousness that the rebellion was
crushed, that an honorable peace was at
hand. and thatour illustrious Presidentha
been succeeded by one eminently fitted to
| finish the good work. He paid the highest
tribute to Gen. Sherman's patriotism,
complimented, him for his astonishing march
| from Savannah to Goldsboro, and incident
ally stated that he had himself selected him
for that undertaking on account of his rare
capacities. He also spoke of the prompt
manner in which the orders cOuntermand-
ing the negotiations with Joe Johnston had
| hu
corps commanders. When he referred to
the condition of the Southern people it was
as one who talked of an unfortunate, desc
lated race. Two armies had fought, ad-
vanced, and retreated, again and again.
over the best portion of their soil, and had
lett despair, and misery, and almost starva-
ton, before, behind, and around them.
Although he carefully avoided the slight
est reference to politics, or to the numer-
Gus suggestions in connection with
what is called reconstruction or reorg-
anization, and confined himself strict
ly to military topics, he more than
once revealed that he would treat
the masses of the South with kindness
and humanity, especially in view of the
fact that they had been forced to obey their
own desperate leaders. In referring to the
surrender of General Lee, of whom, by the
way, he spoke highly (as he did of Joe
Johnston), he said that his army (Lee's)
had been dreadfully reduced in the retreat.
That rebel chief was touched by the liberal
terms conceded to him by the Lieutenant
General, and when he intimated to Grant
that he trusted every effort would be made
to conclude the arrangements, so that his
soldiers might Immediately be paroled and
sent to their homes, he added that they
were in pitiable condition, not having had
the most ordinary rations for two days. 1t
was then that General Grant directed his
commissaries to issue to the surrendered
forces rations for nearly twentysix thousand
men. l mention this circumstance in re-
futation Of a charge that General Lee had
demanded rations, when the fact is that
Grant rendered them, as have stated. OF
one thing this interview impressed my
friend and myself: the great plans which
have excited so much admiration, and have
been so untlinchingly adhered to, in the
midst of ridicule, calumny, and disaster,
until victory sealed and confirmed them,
have been the plans of General Grant him
self. ~ c''l 'dl Waar n '.a.s.