The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-05-14
LEE AND GRANT.

Our readers viii be interested in the
following extract from the N. Y. Her.
aid. 1t required considerable courage
to face the General on such a mission,
and we are glad the doughty cores
pondent met the fate he deserved.
Finding that the incidents of the re-
ception formed the absorbing theme of
conversation to-day oser the whole ex-
tent of the city, and that Gen. Lee was
then the lion of the hour, your CORES
pendent, nothing damted by the ill
success of those who had ventured be-
fore. resolved t. beard the lion, and
with this object in view assembled the
steps 20 an old style brick mansion, re-
Gently rejuvenated with modern i'm
provements and c0nveniences, at the
corner of Washington and Queen St.
The bell was answered by a very di-
minutive specimen of the "national
ward" and to the question, sis Gener-
al Lee in !"replied, ''Sir, walk" When
asked to carry card to the General,
the little ebony pointed to the door of
the parlor, saying, "Thar is Gen. Lee"
Being thus unceremoniously ushered
into the parlor, was confronted by a
gentleman of medium height, with
white hair and close cut white beard
and mustache. lustfous brown eyes.
which betokened much younger and
more vigorous frame than might have
been supposed, judging from the white
ness of the hair and beard, an erect fig
ure, rather inclined to the fullness of
middle age, ard dressed entirely in
sober black-in short General Lee him
self. Being obliged to introduce my
self [ did so, at the seme time explain
ing briefly the object of my visit. The
General received me cUurteoUsly and
gracefully, but requested most particu-
larly to be excused from an interview,
the object of which was to form letter
for publication. IL have no desire"
said he, .to appear prominently before
the public"
"Your movements, General, will be
SURE to prove interesting to the public.
You see that the newspapers have de-
voted considerable attention to you,
and whatever you may say will not tail
to receive careful reading"
81 observe that the newspapers man.
age to learn pretty much all there is to
be known concerning my movements"
replied The General, ''but there is real
ly nothing that l can say to interest
the public, and l hope, therefore, you
will excuse me. | shall be glad to see
you as friend. but request the visit
may not be made in your professional
capacity"
"Do you irtend to remain long in the
city, General 20 L asked.
81 shall be here until Friday morn
ing" replied the General, 'when |
shall leave for Lexington. During my
stay | expect to visit number OF old
friends and receive the call of those
who may wish to honor me-"
As the General renamed standing
during this short colloquy, while sever
az friends were waiting to resume the
conversation where your correspondent
interrupted It, and as the Gcnerel
manifested so much reticence 70 con-
versing with the public, deemed it
about time TO retire, which ! did, with
the assurance of the General that he
was glad to have met me.
From friend of General Lee | as
certained that the visit paid by the
Gener Il to the Presidedt during his So
journ in Washington was as short as
the interview between them was pithy.
This friend claimed to have received
the account from General Lee himself.
1t appears that Lee, according to his
own presentation, believed that as
the President had invited him to visit
him he could DO nothing less than call
upon him and thank him for the inyita-
ton, and this he did. The following
President and General Lce which last
ed about five minutes: