Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-08-26
GEN. ROBERT E. LEE.
His Estimate Of Lincoln, Grant
Shcrmas, Clay, Webster, Cal
hUuM and Others.

Condensed from tho Cincinnati Commercial.
When the army of Gen. Sherman was
making its famous homeward march to
Washington, it rested for few days IN
the fallen Capital Of the fallen Coniedcr-
acy. While there u chaplain visited
General Robert T.. Lee and had an IN
teresting conversation with him, and
this conversation sees print for the first
time in to-day's Commercial. The wri-
ter says: Accompanied by General
Geary, afterwards Governor GeNry, Of
Pennsylvania, and provided with let
ter from General lIazen, who knew Cen
| era Lee at West point, | vas admitted
to the presence Of the illustrlous COM
mandcr.-Gcneml Lee was erect and
handsomc.-lIis easy smile and simplici-
~ Of manner did not speak Of disaster.
lie was very positive in his convictions,
but in our long talk always weighed ey-
cry sentence. President Lincolu's as
sasslnation was uppermost In our
minds General Lee said: "l'he death
of that emminent citizen has tilled me
with horror. If there were blcmshes in
| his character his life exhibited some
splendid and rare virtues. lie was one
of the most extraordinary men that ever
lived In our country. Ills heart was
grand and large. lie was constitution
ally pensive. lind he been spared, the
South would have been treated with
honorable proprety and with n gallant
generosity; that good viii aud friendli-
ness would have marked his treatment
of the people Of the South" General
Lee now advcrtcd to the character of
Grant, of whom he spoke in the most
friendly words and terms. lie ascridcd
to him the possession Of the nobcst at-
tributes of American manhood, aud that
he possessed all the requisites and tall
cnts for the organization Of armies. 81
wish" said Gen. Lee, "to do simple JUS
tice to Gen. Grant, when say that his
treatment of the Army of Southern Nir-
glnla Is without parallel In the history
of the civilized world. When my poor
soldiers, with furnished faces, had nelth-
or food nor raimcnt, IL was then that
General Grant Immediately issued the
humane order that forty thousand ra-
tlons should be furnished to the lmpoy-
crished troops.--And tllat was not all
Of his magnanimity. | WIS giving drcc-
tlons to one of my stail officers, when
maalng out the list of things TO be sur
rendered, to include the horses. At tthat
moment Gen. Grant, who seemed to be
paying no attention to what was trans
plrlng, quickly saldi "No, no, General
Lee, not horsc--not one-.kocp them
all. Your people need them for the
spring cropsp II was scene never to
be forgotten TO watch Lees manner
when, with spirit Of chlyalry equal TO
his skill and gallantry, he told, with
moistened eyes, this and many other ln-
stances ofthe magnanlmity 10 nobly dis
played by his lllustrlous rival. ! asked
him who was the greatest of the Federal
generals. "indccd, sir, | have no hcsl-
mtion In saying General Grants Both
as gentleman and an organizer Of vic
torloua war, General Grant hath cxcell-
ed all your most noted soldiers. lie has
exhibited more true courage, more real
greatdess of mind more consummato
prudence from the outset and more he
role bravery than any one on your sidc'"
The conversation turned to General
sherman, Of whom he spoke as followsi
"As stmtcglst aud commander of mon
sherman has displayed the highest or
der of military genius. Throughout his
recent campaign, when he Ind to pass
through an unknown country, cross rly-
crs. support his troops, etc., he certainly
exhibited singlcncss Of purpose, u fer
ulity Of resource which wins Him high
place among the famous soldiers Of his