The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-08-13
GRANTS TALK ABOUT THE
WAR.
The Story of Appomattox as Told
by the Victor.

The Story of Appomattox as Io'o
by the Victor.
IT,. Silent Generals Tiew Of Friends and
Ea,,-Hs Frankly Erpres,ed Opinions
A5ow he Men Who Led tie Armies For
and Against the Union-Interesf'ng Char
..,.,;,at;ea. and -RsasctiO.s-TNe Co"-
federdte Soldiers. >
H.NRuRG, GERMANY, July 6.-l
ave some memoranda of odds and ends
nf conversations 10 idle moments while
wandering about these old towns and 1t
cams 70 me that l can do no better
sorr;ce to the historian than to throw
these memoranda into somc shape'
There are few men more willing to con-
verse on any subject which he knows
than the General, and although his fame
is that of silent man, those who know
him At all know that in reality VIC have
few better takers in America. Inc
charm about the Generals talk is that
II ia never about anything he does not
tnov and what he docs know he knows
we'll. lie is never vindictive and never
gossips. and when referring to men anu
1h;ncs in the great events in his career
he Is as passion'ess and just as a hls'o-
rian lie never refers to the war un-
loss You nut the subject to him directly
,Teo c-a;d hov. been curious on this
no;n, not that ever wanted to trouble
Een Grant but because the judgments
and opipions of such man belong to
history. l Ihope, therefore, that what |
pather up and srnG YOU from various
,able.,alk memoranda will have value
~ the historian do not hope to give
vou ,ba Generals exact words, although
as far as my memory serves | DO
TIE SURRENDER OF LEE.
We were eOnversing one evening about
Ios's surrender The General told the
storv of the memorable event. "Ihe
& ";nt, before Lee surrendered" said he,
"I W had a wretched Observation-Disclosures
70 which I have been subjrct-nfrvous
nrostrat;on. ~ intense personal suffering
Rut. suffer or not, l had to keep NOV
;na % I saw clearly, especially alter
Sheridan had cut off the escape to Dan
Vile. that Lee must surrender or break
and run into the mountains--or'aN III
III III d;rcct;ons and leave US a dozen GU
cr;lIa bands to fight. My campaign wa'
not Richmond, not the defeat OF Lee III
actual fight, but to remove HIM ana NE
a,mv ont Of the contest, and, if posi-
n % % have him use his influence IN
;n1uc;up the surrender of Johnston and
,ho other isola,ed armies You see the
rar was an enormous strain upon the
country Rich as we were, | do no'
now see hov We could lave endured II
another wear, even from financial POM
Of view So, with these views, l wro''
Lee, and opened the correspondents
With which the world is familiar Let
does not appear well in that correspond sIS .,
ence-not nearly so wei III "e "'U :.
our subsequent interviews, where Oh
whole bearing was that Of a Pa'r'or'
and gallant soldier, concerned aloos S 10
the welfare Of his army and his state
T received word that Lee would mer
me at certain point within our line
near Sheridan's headquarters. ha1 !,
ride quite distance through a %uda: n ID.
country. / remember now tna' Wa
concerned about my personal appear
ance | had on an old SUIT wlthou, III
r svord and without any !ls'lne"'''''"
mark Of rank except the s''onId'F-''r,,F
{ IS I;.n,rnau, eencrai ~ ~oa'r
h,o:se vs. srlasard with mua
my long riic | '"s "'''id Ar'. m'S' :.
link | mean, - sho" h''. studied d,'
conrtesy by So coming. at least 'hous!
70, But i had no other clothes wito'