Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-08-06

State. I received word that Lee wOulC
meet me at a point within our lines neal
| Sheridan's headquarters. had to ride
quite distance through a muddy coun
try. I remember now that was con
cerned about my personal appearance
had an old suit on, without my sword
and without any distinguished mark o
rank, except the shoulder straps of q
| Lieutenant-G General on woolen blouse
| I was splashed with mud in my long
ride. / was afraid Lee might think
meant to show him studied discourtesy
by so coming-at least thought so.--
But had no other clothes within reach
as Lees letter found me away from my
base of supplies. I kept on riding until
I met Sheridan. The General, who was
one of the heroes of the campaign, and
whose pursuit of Lee was perfect in its
generalship and energy, told me where
to find Lee. I remember that Sheridan
was impatient when met thim-anxious
and suspicious about the whole business,
feared there might be plan to escape.
that he had Lee at his feet, and wanted
to end the business by going in and
forcing an absolute surrender by capture.
In fact, he had his troops ready for such
an assault when Lees white flag came
within his lines. I went up to the house
where Lee was waiting. I found him in
a fine, new, splendid uniform, which
only recalled my anxiety as to my own
clothes while on my way to meet him.
| expressed my regret that I was COM
PEELED to meet him in so unceremOniOus
a manner, and he replied that the only
suit he had available was one which had
been sent him by some admirers in
10 fiS,rN rrrI,f fnv, -, <TNv O.,
the first time. We spoke Of old friends
Lee in Mexico. He was so much high
er in rank than myself at the time that
[ supposed he had no recollection of me.
But he said he remembered me yerv
well. We talked of old times and ex-
change inquiries about friends. Lee
then broaohed the subject of our meet
ing. I told him my terms, and Lee.
listeAing attentively, asked me to write
them down. took out my manifold
order-book and pencil and wrote them
down. Hen. Lee put on his glasses and
read them over. The conditions gave
the officers their side arms, private
horses and personal baggage. I said to
Lee that hoped and believed thia would
be the close Hf tho war. That 1t was
most Important that the men should 60
home and go to work, and the Govern.
ment would not throw any obstacles in
the way. Lee answered that it would
haY2 2 MQst happy effect and accepted
the terms. handed over my penciled
memorandum to an aide to put into ink,
and we resumed our conversation about
old times and friends in the armies
Various officers came in-Longstreet.
Gordon, Pickett, from the South Sheri-
dan, Ord and othara i4oln our side. Some
Yfra old friends Longstreet and N.Y.
self, for Instance, and had general talk.
Lee no doubt expected me to ask for his
sword, but did not want his sword. It
would only" said the General, smiling,
"have gone to the Patent Office to be
worshipped by the Washington rebels"
There was another pause when he said
that most of the animals in his cavalry
and artillery were owned ky ,,,s privates
and he would Ike 10 know, under the
teflas, whether they would be regarded
as private property or the property of
the Government, II said under the
ternns pf surrender they belonged to the
Government, General Lee read over
the letter and said that was so I then
said to the General that I believed and
hoped this was the last battle of the war,
and saw the wisdom of these men get
ting home as soon as possible, and that
I would give order to allow any soldier
or officer claiming horse or mule to
take it. General Lee showed some emo
tlon at this-a feeling which I also shar-
ed-and said it would have a most han
py effect. The interview ended, and i
gave orders for Fstioning mis- troops
Thss next day ! met Lee on horseback
and we had long talk. In that con-
versation / urged upon Lee the wisdom
Of ending the war by the surrender of
the other armies. L asked him to use
his influence with the people Of the
South-an influence that was supreme
= to bring the war to the end. General
| Lee said that his campaign in Virginia
was the last organized resistance which
the South was capable Of 1naking-that
I might have to march good deal and
encounter Isolated commands here and
there; but there was no longer any army
which could make stand. l told Lee
that this fact only made his responsible
| ity greater, and any further war would
be crime. asked him to go among
the southern people and use his influence
to have all men under arms surrender
on the same terms given to the army of
Northern Virginia. Hereplied he could
not do so without consultation with
President Davis. was sorry. 7 saw
| that the Gonlederacy had gone beyond
the reach of President Davis, and that
there was nothing that could be done
except what Lee could do to benefit tie
southern people. / was anxious to get
them home and have our armies go to
their homes and fields. But Lee would
not move without Davis, and, as o mat
ter of fact at the time, or soon after,
Davis was fugitive in the woods" 4
JEFFERSON DAVIS AND THE SOUTH,
An allusion was made to the feeling
In the South that Davis was an injury
to the Confederacy, and did not do bis
best. y naver Thought so,p said the
General. "Davis did his best, did all
that any man could do, to save the Con-
federacy. This argument is like some
OF the arguments current in history, that
the war was war against wind.mills
and that If one man or an0thsr mad been
in authofily the result would have been
different; that some more placable man
than Davis could have made a better
fight. This is not true. The war was E
tremendous war, and no one knows het.
ter than those who were in it, Davis
did all he could and all any man could
for the South. The South was beaten
from the beginning. There was no vic.
tory possible for any government rest.
ing upon the platform of the Southern
Confederaey. 4us5 as soon as the wal
united and aroused the young men ot
the North and called out the national
feeling there was no end but the enc
that game. Davis did all he could fol
his side, and how much he did no one
knows better than those who were il
the field.',
| LEE AS A COMMANDER.
This led to remark as to the great
and universal tame of Lee-especiallY ir
Europa reputation which seemed t.
grow every day.
4 II never ranked Lee as high as som,
others of the army" said the General
"that is to say, I never had as mucl
anxiety when he was in my front as
whensJoe Johnston was in front. HI
was good man, a fair commander, wh;
had everything in his favor. He was
man who needed sunshine. He wa!
supported by the unanimous voice o
| the South he was suppOrted by larg,