The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-28
AFTER AppoMATTox.
An interesting Taik With Gen. r.. q. Z,

When the army Of Gen. Sherman was
making it's famous homeward march to
Washington it rested for O. few uays In
the fallen Capital Of the fallen Conieder-
acy. While there Federal champlain
visited Gen. Robert e. Lee, and had an
interesting conversation with him. and
this conversation low sees print, for tho
first time, in the Cincinnati Commercial.
The writer says:
Accompanied by Gen. Geary, after.
wards Governor Geary, Of Pennsylvania,
and provided with letter from Gen.
Hazen, who knew Gen. Lee at West
Point, l WAS admitted to the presence of
tho illustrious commander. Gen. Lee
was erect and handsome. His easy
smile and simplicity of manner did not
speak of disaster. He 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. Leo said
"The death of that eminent citizen has
filled me with horror. If there we're
blemishes in his character, his life ex-
hibited some splendid and rare virtues.
lie was one of the most extraordinary
men that ever lived ia our country.
His heart was grand and largo. He was
constitutionally pensive. Hni he been
spared, the South would be treated with
honorable propriety and with a gallant
generosity; that goodwill and friendli-
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. He ascribed to him
the possession of the noblest attributes
of American manhood, that he possessed
all the requisites and talents for the or
ganization of armies. "I wish" said
Gen. Lee, "to do simple justice to Cen.
Grant, when say that his treatment of
the Army of Southern Virginia is with
out parallel in the history of the civil
lied world. When my poor soldiers.
with furnished faces, had neither food
nor raiment, 1t was then that Gen. Grant
Immediately issued tho humane order
that forty thousand rations should be
furnished to the impoverished troops.
And that was not all of his magnanimi-
ty. l was giving directions to one
of my staG officers when making out the
list of things to be surrendered, to in
clude the horses. AT that moment Gen.
Grant, who seemed to be paying no atten-
'on to what was transpiring, quickly
aaid: "No, no, Gen. Lee, not q horse.
not one--keep them all. Your. people
will need them for tho spring crops p 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 moistened eyes. this and
many other instances of tho magnnnimi-
" 80 nobly displayed by his illustrious
rival. asked him who was the greatest
of the Federal generals. Indeed, sir, I
have no hesitation in saying Gen. Grant.
Both as gentleman and an organizer of
victorious war, Gen. Grant hath axcelled
ali your most noted soldiers. He has
exhibited moro real greatness Of mind,
moro consummate 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: GAS strategist and
commander of men Sherman has die
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 sim
gleness OF purpose, q fertility of resource
which wins him high place among the
famous soldiers of history. He seems to
be cool without apathy, cautions without
being dilatory, patient without being
rash. Judged by Napoleon's test, s;yho
did all that?' he is, in my opinion.
among the most successful of the Federal
officers who have played o prominent
part in the history of thu war. In the
course of conversation be spoke of Sheri.
dan as most brilliant and magnetic
commander.
WHY THE CoNFEDERACY PROVED A
FAILURE.
To the question: "What was the CAUSE
of the failure Of the South ?" the General
smilingly said:
II am not very good extemporane-
GUS speaker, nor am very good extern
p1raneous answerer of questions. The
most conspicuous reason was the superb
ority in men and in resources of the
North. The United States had all the
advantages-a land of boundless wealth,
cities secure from the horrors of civil
war, and constant stream of emigrants
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 to one against them the
Southerners performed n mighty work and
made gigantic step towards their in
dependence.
"Another cause lay in tho vanity of
many Of onr people. The f.s! battles Of
the war being favorable to us, the South
was wild with confidence and the whole
country was thrown into ferment of ex-
citement. 1t wRs doubtful, indeed,
whether one in thousand of our people
supposed for moment that there was
any doubt of an immediate and q sue.
cessfnl termination of the struggle. The
public meetings were IL every case
too enthusiastic. The people were car
ried away by acclamation. The cheer
ing proved to be our folly. This excess
of confidence lost us New Orleans and
many other cities.
ga much more serious difficulty arose
from the mistaken view of the Southern
cause by the Philanthropists of the Old
World. They were led to believe that
nc -ws--5 fighting e fHor the perpetuity OF
| slavery, and that the establishment of
the Confederacy would be the reopening
of the African slave trade. This opinion
shook the faith of great and good men
in the humanity and righteousness Of the
South. The conscript law was another
effective check to our success. Instead
of being benefit, il was O curse--a
badge of disgrace. The rich were ia
vored; falsehood and dissimulation were
| its natural results, suspicion and mistrnst
| arose where confidence and reliance
should have prevailed. The attitude pre-.
served by MIR. Davisan other leaders in
opposition to the armiug of the negroes,
| q policy which always believed to be
| expedient, proved most disastrous. The