The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-28
AFTER .ApPOM.iTTON.
An Interesting Talk with Gcn. l.. L. Lee

hn Interesting Talk with Gcn. L. L. Lee.
When the army Of Gen. Sherman was
making lis famous homcward march to
Washington it rested for 4 few days in
the fallen Capital of the fallen Confcdcr-
acv. While there Federal champlain
visited Gen. Robert T. Lee and had an
interesting conversation with him, and
this conversation now sees print, for the
first time. in the Cincinnati C0Mmccial.
The writer says:
Accompanied by Gen. Gcary, after
wards Governor Geary, of Pennsylvania,
and provided with letter from Gen.
IIazcn, who knew Gen. Lee at West
Point, was admitted to the presence of
the ilustrious commander. Gen. Lee
was erect and handsome. Ills easy
smile and simplicity of manner did not
speak of disaster. lie was very positive
in his convictions, but in our long talk
always weighed every sentence. Presi-
dent Lincoln's assassination was upper
most in all our minds. Gen. Lee said ::
"Thc death Of that eminent citizen has
filled me with horror. If there were
blcmishcs in his character, his life cX-
hibitcd some splendid and rare virtues.
lie was one of the most extraordinary
men that ever lived in our country.
His heart was grand and large. lie WAS
constitutionally pcnsivc. Had he been
spared, the South would be treated with
honorable propricty and with gallant
generosity; that goodwill and fricndli-
ness would have marked his treatment
of the people Of the South" Gen. Lee
now advcrted to the character of Grant,
of whom he spoke in the most friendly
words and terms. lie aSCribed to him
the possession of the noblcSt attributes
of American manhood that he possessed
all the requisites and talents for the or
ganization Of armies. 81 WISH" said
Gen. Lee, "to do simple justice to Gen.
Grant, when say that his treatment Of
the Army of Southern Virginia is with
out parallel in the history of the civil
ized world. When my poor soldiers,
with famishcd faces, had neither food
nor raimcnt, it was then that Gen. Grant
Immediately issued the humane order
that forty thousand rations should be
furnished to the impoverished troops.
And that was not all of his magnanimi-
ty. I was giving directions to one
of my staff officers when making ont the
list Of things TO he surrendered, to in
clude the horses At that moment Gen.
Grant, who seemed to be paying no attcn-
tion to what WAS transpiring, quickly
said "No, no, Gen. Lee, not horse
not one-kccp them all. Your people
will need them for the spring crops" 1t
was scene never to be forgotten to watch
Lees manner, when, with spirit Of
chivalry equal to his skill and gallantry
he told, with moistcued eyes, this and
many other instances Of the maGnanmi-
ty so nobly displayed BY his illustrious
rival. asked him who was the greatest
of the Federal generals. Indeed, sir, |
have no hesitation in saying Gen. Grant.
Both rs gentleman and an organizer of
victorious war, Gen. Grant hath excellcd
all your most noted soldiers. He has
exhibited more real greatness of mind,
more consummatc prudence from the
outset and more heroic bravery than any
one on your side" The conversation
turned to Gen. Sherman, of whom he
spoke as follows: "is strategist and
commander Of men Sherman has dis
played the highest order Of military ge-
Mus. Throughout his recent campaign,
when he had TO pass through an un-
known country, cross rivers, support his
troops, &C., he certainly exhibited 4 sim
glencss of purpose, Il fertility Of resource
which wins him high place among the
famous soldiers of history. lie seems to
be cool without apathy, cautions without
being dilatory, patient without being
dispiritcd, personally brave, but never
rash. Judged by Napoleon's test, 'Who
did all that?' lie is, in my opinion,
among Tie 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 Sheri-
dan as Il most brilliant and magnetic
commander.
WHY TIE CoHFEnEEACY PROVED a
FAILlEE.
To the question: "What WAS the cause
Of the failure of the South ?" the General
smlingly said:
81 am not 4 very good cXtemporanc-
Gus speaker, nor ain ! Il very good eXtcm-
porancous answcrcr Of questions. The
most conspicuous reason was the superb
ority in men and i'll resources Of the
North. The United States had all the
advantagcs--a land of boundIcss wealth.
cities secure from the horrors Of civil
war. and constant stream Of cmigrants
to fill up the depleted ranks of your ar
mics. The numbers against us were
enormous. The population Of the South
was never more than seven millions.
With five 20 enc against them the
Southcrners performed Il mighty work and
made a gigantic step towards their in
dependence.
"Arolhcr cause lay in Tie vanity of
many OF our people. The first battles of
the war bcirg favorable to Us. Tie South
WAS wild with confidence and TIE whole
country was thrown into a icrmcnt Of cy-
citcmcni 1t WAS doubtful, indeed,
whether one in 4 thousand of our people
supposed fora moment that there was
! any doubt of an immediate and sue.
ccssiu termination OF the struggle. The
public meetings were in every case
loo enthusiastic. The people were car
ricd away by acclama'on. The cheer
ing proved 10 be our folly. This excess
of confidence lost Us New Orleans and
many other cities.
"a much more scrious difficulty arose
from the mistaken view of the Southern
cause by the rhilauIhropists of the Old
World. They were lei to believe that
we wee fighting for the pcrpetuity of
slavery, and that tic establishment Of
the Con'cdcracy would be tie reOpcning
Of the African Slave trade. This opinion
shook the faith of great ard good men
in the humanity ard Righteousness of the
South. The conscript law was another
effective chccl; 10 orr success. Instead
OF hcin. Il benefit, it was cursc-a
badge of disgrace. The rich were ta'
vorcd; fa'Schood ana discrimination were
is natural results, suspicion and mistrust
arose where confidence and reliance