The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-08-21

His Estimate of Lincoln, Grant.
Sherman, Clay, Webster,
Calhoun and Others.
Cincinnati Commercial.

When Sherman'S army was making
its famous homeward march to
Washington it rested fora few days in
the fallen Capital of the fallen Con,
federacy. While there a chaplain Wis
tied Gen. Robert E. Lee, and had an
interesting conversation with him, and
this conversation sees print for the first
time in to days commercial: The
writer says: Accompanied by Gen.
Geary, afterwards Gov. Geary, of
Pennsylvania, and provided with a
letter from Gen. Hazen, who knew
Gen. Lee at West Point, was admit
ted to the presence cf the illustrious
commander. Gen. Lee was erect and
handsome. Hisgeasy smile aud sim
plicity of manner did not speak of dis
aster. He was very positive in his
conviction, but in our long talk always
weighed every sentence. President
Lincoln's assassination was uppermost
in all our minds. Gen. Lee said,
"The death of that eminent citizen
has filled me with horror. If there
were blemishes in his character, he
exhibited some splendid and rare vir>
tues. He was one of the most extras
ordinary men that lived in our coun-
try. His heart was grand and large
He was constitutionally persive.
Had he been spared, the South would
be treated with honorable propriety
and with a gallant generosity; that
goodwill and friendliness would have
marked his treatment of the people of
the SOUTH" Gen. Lee now adverted
to the character of Grant, of whom he
spoke in the most friendly words and
terms. He ascribes to him the poses>
sion of the noblest attributes of Amer
lean manhood, and that he possessed
all the requisites and talents for the
organization of armies: 81 WISH"
said Gen. Lee, 'to do simple justice
to Gen. Grant, wnen | say that his
treatment of the army of Southern
Virginia is without a parellel in the
history of the civilized world. When
my poor soldiers, with famished faces,
had neither food nor raiment, it was
then that Gen. Grant Immediately is
sued the humane order that forty
thousand rations should be furnished
to the impoverished troops. And that
was not all Of his magnamity. l was
giving directions to one of my staff of
licers, when making out list Of things
to be surrendered, to inclu.le the
horses. At that moment Gen. Grant
who seemed to be paying no attention
to what was transpiring, quickly said:
"No, no, Gen. Lee, not a horse-nOt
one-keep them all. Your people
will need them for the spring crops?'"
1t was a scene never to be forgotten to
watch Lees manner, when, with
spirit of chivalry equal to his skill and
galantry, he told, with moisten ed eyes
this and many other instances Of the
magnamity so nobly displayed by his
illustrious rival. | asked him who
was the greatest of the Federal gener-
ais. Indeed, sir, | have no. hesita
ton in saying Gen. Grant. Both as
a gentleman and an organizer of victo
rious war, Gen Grant hath excelled |
all your most noted soldiers. He has |
exhibited more true courage, more |
real greatness Of mind, more consum-
mate prudence from the outset, and |
more heroic bravery than anyone on
your side" The conversation turned |
to Gen. Sherman, of whom he spoke |
as follows: GAS strategist and COM
mander Of men Sherman has displayed |
the highest order of military genius.
Throughout his recent campaign,
when he had to pass through an un-
known country, cross rivers, support |
his troops, ETC., he certainly exhibited !
a singleness 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 being dilatory, pa
tient without being dispirited, person
ally brlve, but never rash. Judged |
by Napoleon's test, who did allthat?'
he is, in my opinion, among the most
successful of the Federal officers who
have played a prominent part in the
history Of the war" In the course of
conversation he spoke of Sheridan as
amost brilliant and magnetic comman>
der.
Then as we talked of the causes of
the war, we dritted to the old states
men. Gen. Lee referred desponding-
ly to the natiOn's lack of statesmen.
Speaking of Webster he said: 81 nev-
er saw more striking object than
Webster in the Senate. The effect
of his fine figure and princely air,
when speaking, was like that of a livid
flash in the midst of darkness. What /
Paganini was in music, that Webster
was IN oratory; the one charmed Eu-l
rope with one string the other electri-
fed multitudes with his eloquence.
He once complained to me of the
wrongs done him by the reporters. but
in vain the world would read whatever
bore his honored name, and the grub
worms were ever ready to crafty the
desire BY fragments or rather carica-
lures OF his mighty eloquence. His
speeches indicate the powers Of the
great orator-they are lofty but not
impassioned, correct but not fluent.
HenryClay was every inch patriot
and an orator. / heard him on Brit
tish aggression. Never, certainly, had
| ever beheld so powerful an exhibit