Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-04
Aftor Apponlattox.
AN INTERESTING TALK WIru GEN. II. Il.
LEE.

When tho army of Gen. Sherman was
making its famous homeward march to
Washington, it rested for few days iu the
fallen Capital Of the fallen Contedoracy
While there Federal chaplain visited
Gen. Robert E. Ice, and had an interest
ing conversation with him, and this convcr.
sation now secs print, for the first time,
in the Cincinnati Commercial. The writer
says:
Accompanied by Gen. Gcary, afterwards
Governor Geary, Of Pennsylvania, and pro
vded with letter from Gen. IIazcn, who
knew Gen Ice at West Point, l was ad-
miltcd to the presence of the ilustrious
commander. Gen Lee was erect aud hand
some. His easy style and simplicity of
manner did net speak Of disaster. lie was
very positive in his convictions, but in our
long talk always weighed every sen
tcncc. President Lincoln's assassination
was uppermost in all our minds. Gen
Lee said: "Thc death of that eminent citi-
zen has filled me with horror. If there
wcro blcmishcs in his character, his life
exhibited some splendid and rare virtues
He was one of the most extraordinary men
that ever lived in this country. His heart
was grand and large, He was constitution.
ally pcusivc. Had ho been spared, the
South would be treated with honorable pro,
prIcty and with gallant generosity; that
| goodwill and fricndlincss 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
ascrlbcd to him the possession of the noblest
attributes of Amercan manhood, that ho
possessed all tho requisites aud talents for
the organization of armies. 81 wish,'
said Cen. Leo, "to do simple justice to
Gen. Grant, when I say that his treatment
of the Army Of Southern Virginia is with
out parallel in tho history of tho civilized
world. When my poor soldiers, with fam
ishcd faces, had neither food nor raimcnt
it was then that Gen. Grant immediately
issued tho humane order that forty thou
sand rationg should be furnished to tho i'm
poycrishcd troops. And that was not all ol
his magnanimity. | was giving directions
to ono of my staff officers whom making
out the list CT things to be surrendered, to
include tho horses. At that moment Gen
Grant, who seemed to be paying no attcn-
tlon to what was transpiripg, quickly said
"No, no, Gen Lee, not horse-not ono
keep them all. Your people will need
them for the spring crops! 1t was scene
never to be forgotten to watch Lees manner
whon, with spirit of chivalry equal to hi:
skill and gallantry he told, with moistcned
eyes, this and many other Instances of the
magnanimity so nobly displayed by lis
illustrious rival. asked him who was the
greatest of the Federal generals "Indeed
sr, have no hesitation in saying Gen
Grant. Both as a gentleman and an organ
lzcr Of victorious war, Con. Grant hath
excelled all your most noted soldiers. lie
has exhibited more real greatness of mind
more oonsummatc prudence from tho outset
and moro heroic bravery than any ono on
Your side" Tho conversation turned tc
Gen. Sherman, of whom he spoke as fol-
lows: Gas stratcgist and commander Of
men Sherman has displayed the highest
order of military genius. Throughout his
recent campaign, when ho had to pas.
through an unknown country, cross rivers
support his troops, No., he certainly exhib-
tied a singlcness of purpose, fertility O.
resource which wins him n high place
among the famous soldiers of history. III
seems to DO cool without apathy, cautious