The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-10-01
GEN. LEES ESTTMA TIE or LINCOLN,
GRANT AND OTHERS.

When the army of General Sherman was
iiigton it rested for few days in the fallen
Capital of the fallen Confederacy. While
there n chaplain visited General Robert e.
Lee and bad an interesting conversation with
him, aud this conversation sees print for the
first time in to-day's Commercial. The writ
or says, with General Geary of Pennsylvania
and provided with letter from Gen. Hazen.
who knew General Leo at West Point was
admitted to the presence of the iliustrious
commander Gen. Lee was erect aud hand
some. His easy smile aud simplicity Of man
ner did not speak of disaster. lie was very
positive in his convictions, but in our long
talk always Weighed every sentence. presis
dent Lincoln's assassination was uppermost
in all our minds. Gem Lee said " The
death Of that eminent citizen has filled me
with horror. If there were blemishes in | l.,
character, his life exhibited some splendid aud
rare virtues. lie was constitutionally pens
i've. Had he been spared, the South would
be treated with honorable propriety and with
a gallant generosity that good will and
ltlcuuiiuo6o WOuih HtNb tHhihCd no picathChe
of the people of the South" General Lee
now averted to the character of Grant, Of
whom he spoke in the most friendly words
and terms. He ascribed to him the possess
ion of the noblest attributes of American
manhood, and that he possessed all the attri-
butes aud talents to make and organize arm
les. I" WISH, said General Lee, " to do
simple justice to Gen. Grant, when say that
his treatment of the Army Of Southern Vir
ginia is without parallel IN the history Of the
civilized world. When my poor soldiers, with
famished faces, had neither food nor raiment
it was then that General Grant Immediately
issued the humane order that forty thousand
Fashions should BE furnished to the impover-
ished troops. And that was not all of his
niagnaniniity. was giving directions to one
of my staff officers when making out the list
of things to be Surrendered, to include the
horses At that moment General Grant, who
seemed TO be paying no attention to what
was transporting, quickly said, g No, no, Cen
eral, not horse-not one--keep them ALL
Your people will need them for the Spring
crops" 1t was scene never 10 be forgotten
to watch Lees manner. when, with spirit OF
chivalry equal to his skin and gallautry he
told with moisteued eye, this and many 9TH
er instances of his iIlustrious rival | asked
him who was tile greatest of the Federal gem
erals. Indeed, sir, have no hesitation in
saying General Grant. Both as gentlem IN
and an organizer Of victorious war, General
Grant has excelled your most noted soldiers
He has exhibited more true courage, more re-
al greatness of mind more consunmate pru-
dence from the outset and more Heroic brav-
cry than any one on your side.' The con-
yersation turned to General Sherman, of
whom he spoke as follows AS a STRATEGY
list and commander of men Sherman has dis
played the highest order of military genius
Throughout his recent campaign, when he
had to pass through an unknown country,
cross rivers support his troops, etc, he Ger
tainly exhibited singfeness Of purpose, a
fertility of resource which wins him high
place among the famous soldiers Of history.
He seems to be cool without apathy, cautious
without bciug datory, patient without being
dispirited, personally brave, without being
rash. JuIged by Napoleon's test, who did
all that? he is, in my opinion, among the
most successful of Federal officers who have
played a prominent part in the history Of the
war;" III the course of conversations he
spoke of Sheridan as most brilliant and
magnetic commander.
/ Then as We talked Of the causes Of the war
we drifted to the old statesmen. Gen. Lee
referred despondently to the nations lack o.
statesmen. Speaking of Webster, he said =
" never saw a more striking object thar
Webster in the Senate. The effect of his fine
figure and princely air, when speaking, was
like that Of livid fash in the midst of dark