The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-03-27
General Grant and Lee After the
Surrender.

Generals Grant, Ord, and Sheridan, wit
three or four staff officers each, went up t
the courthouse, and of our staff there wen
three, a senior aid, the chief of staff, an
the adjutant general. The town cbnsiste,
of, about FIVE houses, D tavern, and o conr
house, all one street, and that was boarde,
mp at one end to keep the cows out. OF
the right hand, Us we went in, was tn
principal residence, owned by Mr.. Mclean
and to his house Gen. Grant was conducte,
to meet Gen. Lee. At the fence the Who'll
party dismounted, and walking over
narrow grass plot to the house noticed Gen
Lees horse nibbling there in charge of al
orderly, who was holding his own as well
Gen. Grant entered the house with one O
two of his staff, and the rest of lis sat dow1
on the piazza and waited Mr.. McLea,
was out there, too, but so much excited b,
his appreciation of passing events that h,
did not know where his pump was, o.
whether he had any, or ifnot, couldn't tel
us where there wasa spring. In momen1
Col. Babcock came out, smiling, whirlins
his hat around his head once, and beckonet
Generals Ord and Sheridan to come in
They walked the floor silently as people d.
who have the first peep at q baby, and af
ter while Gen. Lee came out and signal
lied to his orderly to bride his horse
While this was being done he stood ON the
lowest step Of the piazza, 1--WE had all risen
respectfully as he passed DOWN and look.
ing over in the valley toward his army
smote his hands together several times in
an absent sort Of way, utterly unconscious
of the people about him, and seeming to
see nothing until his horse was led in front
of him. AS he stood there he appeared to
be about sixty years of age, q tall, soldierly
figure of a man, with a full gray beard, a
new suit of gray clothes, high gray felt
hat with a cord, long buck-skin gauntlets,
high riding boots and beautiful sword
He was all that our fancy had painted him,
and he had the sympathy of us all as he
rode away. Just us he gathered up his
bride, Gen. Grant went down the steps,
and passed in front Of his horse, touched
his hat to Gen. Lee, who made similar
salute, and then left the yard and returned
to his own lines with his orderly and single
staff officer who had accompanied him to
the interview, and who was said to have
been Col Marshall, his chief Of staff, a
quiet looking man in spectacles, looking
more like one Of thought than of action
Gen. Grant presented something of a con-
trast to Gen. Lee in the way Of uniform,
not only in color but in style and general
effect. He had on sugar loaf hat, almost
peculiar to himself, frock coat intuition
ed and splashed with mud, dark vest,
dark blue pantaloons, tucked into top
boots, muddy also, and no sword. His
conntenance was not relaxed at all, and
not a muscle Of his face told tales Of his
thoughts. Ifhe was very much pleased by
the surrender of Lee, nothing in his air or
manner n indicated it; The joyful occasion
echo, and he went and mounted his horse
and rode away silently, to send off dis
patch which should electfify the North,
and set all the church bells ringing on this
happy Sunday evening.