Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-16
Grant and Lee after the Surrender.
With Gen. Sheridan in Lees last Campaign, by
staff Officer

Grant and Lee after the Surrender.
With Gen. Sheridan in Lees last Campaign, by
| staff Officer.
Generals Grant, Ord and Sheridan,
with three or four staff officers each, went
up to the courthouse, and of our staff
there went three, a senior aid, the chief
of staff, and the adjutant general. The
town consisted of about FIVE houses, a
tavern, and court house, all on one
street, and that was boarded up at one
end to keep the COWS out. On the right
hand as we went in, was the principal
residence, owned by Mr.. Mclean, and to
his house Gen. Grant was conducted to
meet Gen. Lee. At the fence the whole
party dismounted, and walking over a
narrow grass plot to the house, noticed
Gen. Lee horse nibbling there in charge
of an orderly who was holding his own
as well. Gen. Grant entered the house
with one or two of his staff, and the rest
of us sat down ON the piazza and waited.
Mr. Mclean was out there, too, but so
much excited by his appreciation of pas
sing events that he did not know where
his pump was, or whether he had any, or
if not, couldn't tell us whether there was
a spring In moment Col. Babcock
came out, smiling, whirling his hat
around his head once, aud beckoned
Generals Ord and Sheridan to come in.
They walked the floor silently as people
do who have the first peep at baby,
and after while Gen. Lee came out and
signalized 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 looking over into 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
till his horse was led in front Of him. As
he stood there he appeared to be about
sixty years of age, a tall, soldierlY figure
of man, with full gray beard, new
suit of gray clothes, a high, gray felt hat,
with a cord, long buck.skin gauntlets,
high riding boots and a beautiful sword, |
He was al that our fancy had painted !
him, and he had the sympathy of US all |
es he rode away. Just as be gathered |
mp his hFidle, Epq; Grant want down
the steps, and passing in front Of his
horse, touched his hat to Gen. Lee, who
made a similar salute, and then left the
yard and returned to his own lines with
his orderly and single staff officer who
bad accompanied him to the interview,
and who vas said to have baen Dol Mar
shall, bis chief Of staif, quiet looking
man in spectacles, looking more like one
Of theught than of aetionl Gen. Grant
something of contrast to
Gen. Lee in the way Of uniform, not
only in color, but in style and general
effect He had on a sugar loaf hat,
almost peculiar to himself, frock coat,
unbottoned and splashed with mud, a
dark vest, dark blue pantslooss, taeked
INTO Top boots, muddy also, and no
sword. His countenance was not re-
Iaxed at all, and not a muscle Of his face
old tales Of his thoughts II he was
7ery much pleased by the surrender Of
Lef, nothing in his sii o. .aanaeF indi-
laied it. The joyful occasion didn't seem
10 awaken in him a responsive echo, aud
be went and mounted his horse aud
rode away silently, to send of a dispatch
rhich should elecirify the North, and set
N the church bells ringingou this hap
ly Sunday evening