The daily gazette., 1879-12-17
rco Great Leaders.

Yesterday q Courier journal reporter
casualty met Colonel j. ctoddard John
ston and from him obtained the follow
ing account Of an interview with Cen
eral Z. j.. Lee, highly honorable 10 Gen
eral Grant and apropOs TO his visit TO
Louisville:
II had been paroled," said Colonel
Johnston, lat Greensboro, N. O., In Joe
Johnson's surrender on the LIST Of May,
1865, and shortly after reaching Rich
mond, proposing to return TO Kentucky.
In consequence Of an opinion just issued
by the Attorney General OF the United
States, TO the effect that Kentuckians In
the Confederate army had expatriated d
themselves, and could not therefore,
avail themselves Of the terms Of Gen.
eral Lees surrender, authorizing Con-
federate soldiers TO return TO their homes
Unless they took the oath, being unwil-
ling to accept these conditions, in COM
pany with q large number Of Others
remained In Richmond fortnight, un-
til this opinion was withdrawn and we
were permitted to return under our
paroles. At that time General Lee was
at his private house. General HallOck,
who was In command Of the city, had
issued stringent orders requiring ell per
sons TO take the oath as condition OF
carrying on business or receiving the
protection of the laws. Thera was q
very uneasy feeling among the CODfeder-
ate soldiers and officers then In Rich
mond, lest they would be treated with
rigOr, especially as reports were current
that General Lee was to be arrested and
imprisoned.
Projects TO emigrate to Mexico, Bra
xil and other foreign parts were discuss
ed, but finally 1t was concluded that We
| should consult with General Lee as t.
our fate and what was best N be done.
At an informal meeting General EchoIs
Of Virginia and myself were appointed
q committee to wait on General Lee fOf
this purpose. We both knew him and
were cordially received. Upon stating
the object OF our visit General Lee re-
piled very impressively that our condi.
tion and the condition of the whole
South was very deplorable. BY the
terms OF General Halleck's order We
were left without the protection OF law
while the South was ruin, her people
impoverished and the youth OF 0ul
country growing up without education
That he had but one conviction, whicl
was that, whatever fate might be il
store for rs, we, who had been leaders
should not leave the country and aban-
don our people, but should share thei
faie. We shonld remain with them
seek to build up the waste places, allie
viate their troubles, and educate the
youth. AS TO my own fate, said he, :
know not what is In store for me. l be
lieve the politicians at Washing on ar
bent on the most extreme measures
and, if they have their way, will stop q
Eo humiliation they can heap upon me
, My sole reliance Is in General Grant
have faith in his honor and in,egrit
as a soldier, and do not believe thal b
will permit the terms Of my surreDdt
I or the parole given me to be violated
' The sequel showed that General 1t
a was correct in his estimate of Genera
Grants character. Stanton had intent
u ed TO arrest and imprison him, whe
r General Grant interposed and prevente
@ it, demanding that the terms OF the su
; render should be strictly complied witt
and declaring that if General Lee WI
u molested he would break his swor
g Knowing this as historical fact, a
le though opposed in the past and expec
IN ing to be In the future TO General Ora
politically, have always felt that
y was entitled to the gratitude of I
ng Confederate soldiers for this act"