The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-08-09
INTERVIEW WITH GRANT.
His Estimate OF Lee ana sheridsn-Pr st.
dent Johnson's Resolution to Arrest Gen
Lee" Third Term" Talk.

"I never ranked Lee as high as some
others of the army" said the General,
"that is to say, / never had as much
anxiety when he was in my front as when
Joe Johnston was in front. Lee was q
good man, fair commander, who had
everything in his favor. He was man
who needed sunshine. He was sup
ported by the unanimous voice of the
South he was supported by large
party in the North; he had the support
and sympathy of the outside world. All
this is of immense advantage to Gen.
erol. Lee had this in remarkable de-
gree. Everything he did was right.
He was treated like a demi- god. Our
Generals had hostile press, lukewarm
friends, and a public opinion outside.
The cry was in the air that the North
only won by brute force; that the gem
eralship and valor were with the South.
This has gone into history, with 80 many
other illusions that are historical. Lee
was of slow, conservative, cautious ma
ture, without imagination or humor. al
ways the same, with grave dignity. Inever
could see in his achievements what irlsti-
fies his reputation. The illusion that
nothing but heavy odds beat him will
not stand the ultimate light of history.
know it is not true.
"The South and North were more
nearly matched than you would sup
pose. The whole population were in
the war. The 1000, 900 of negroes were
the same as soldiers, because they did
the work in the fields which white men
would have to do. believe the South
had as many men under arms as the
North. What defeated the Southern
arms was Northern courage and skill,
and this, too, with detraction all around.
You cannot imagine how disheartening
it was at the time, not only to officers
but men,"
Your correspondent recalled a rumor
current at the time about the intention
of johnson to arrest Lee. "Yes," said
the General "Mr. johnson had made
up his mind to arrest Lee and the lead
ing Southern officers. 1t was in the be-
ginning of his administration, when he
was making speeches saying he had re-
solved to make all treason odious. He
was addressing delegations on the sub.
ject and offering rewards for JEFF Davis
and others. Upon Lees arrest
he had decided. protest
ed again and again. 1t would
come up in Cabinet, and the only Min
lister who supported my views openly
was Seward. l always said that the pa
role of Lee protected him as long as he
observed it. On one occasion Mr. John
son spoke of Lee and wanted to know
why any military commander had a right
to protect an arch-traitor from the laws.
l was angry at this, ana spoke earnest
ly and plainly to the President. l said
that, as General, it was none of my bust
ness what he or Congress did with Gen.
Lee or his other commanders. He
might do as he pleased about civil
rights, confiscation of property and so
on. That did not come in my province.
But General commanding troops has
certain responsibilities and duties and
power, which are supreme. He must
deal with the enemy in front of him so
as to destroy him. His engagements are
sacred so far as they lead to the destruc-
ton of the foe. made certain terms
with Lee-the best and only terms. If
I had told him and his army that their
liberty would be invaded, that they
would be open to arrest, trial, and exc
cution for treason, Lee would never
have surrendered, and we should have
lost many lives in destroying him. Now
my terms of surrender were according
to military law, to the instructions OF
Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Stanton, and, so
long as Lee was observing his parole, L
would never consent to his arrest. Mr..
Seward nodded approval. 1 remember
feeling very strongly on the subject.
The matter was allowed to die out. !
should have resigned the command of
the army rather than have carried out
any order directing me to arrest Lee or
any of his commanders who obeyed the
laws. BY the way, one reason why
Mosby became such q friend of mine
was because as General I gave him a
safe conduct to allow him to practice
law and earn living. Our officers in
Virginia used to arrest leading Confed-
crates whenever they moved out of their
homes. Mrs. Mosby went to Mr.. John
son and asked that her husband might
be allowed TO earn his living. But the
President was in q furious mood, and
told her that treason must be made obi
GUS, and SO on. She came to me in dis
Urebs, anu l. gave TIE Oruer 10 allow
Mosby to pass and repass freely. / had
no recollection of this until Mosby
called it to my attention. By the way,
Mosby deserves great credit for his sac
rifices to the cause of the Union. He is
an honest, brave, conscientious man,
and has suffered severely for daring to
vote as he pleased among people who
hailed him as hero, and in whose be-
half he risked his life"
GO AS a soldier, as q commander of
troops, as a man capable of doing all
that is possible with any number of men.
there is no man living greater than
Sheridan. He belongs to the very first
rank of soldiers, not only of our eoun-
try, but of the world. No man ever had
such faculty of finding out things as
Sheridan, of knowing all about the enc
my. He was always the best.informed
man in his command as to the enemy.
Then he had that magnetic quality of
swaying men which wish I had-a rare
quality in General. don't think any
one can give Sheridan too high praise. !"
The General continued in this vein
and our conversation took personal
turn. 81 was never more delighted at
anything" said the General, " than the
close of the war. / never liked service