Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-09-06
GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.
His Estimate OF Lincoln. Grant,
Sherman. Clay. Webster,
CaihOun and others.

in the fallen Capital of the fallen Confed~
eracy. While there chaplain visited
General Robert Z. Lee and bad an inter-
esting conversation with him, and this
conversation sees print for the first time
in to-day's Commercial. The writer
says: Accompanied by General Geary,
afterwards Governor Geary, of Pennsyl
vania, and provided with letter from
General Hazee, who knew General Lee
at West Point, | was admitted TO the
presence of the illustrious commander.
General Lee was erect and handsome.
His 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
President Lincoln's assassination was up
permost in all our minds. General Lee
said "The death OF that EN- inent citi~
zen has filed me with herror. II there
were blemishes in his character, his life
exhibited some splendid and rare virtues.
He was one of the most extraordinary
men that ever lived in our country. His
heart was grand and large. He was con
stitutionally pensve. Had he been spar
ed, the South would be treated with hon,
orable propriety and with gallant gen
erosity that good will and friendliness
would have marked his treatment OF The
people of the South" General Lee now
aver.ed to the character Of Grant, OF
whom he spoke in the most friendly words
and terms. He ascribed to him the pos
session of the noblest attributes Of Amer
ican manhood, and that he possessed all
the requisites and talents for the orgnni
cation of armies. WISH" said Gem
eral Lee, :" to do simple justice to Gener
of the Army ofSouthern Virgniais is with>
out a parallel in the history of the civl-
lied world. When my poor soldiers,
with fami ished faces, had neither food
nor raimert, it was tnen that General
Grant Immediately issued the humane
order that forty thousand rations should
be furnished to the impoverished troops.
And that was not all of his magnanimity.
was giving directions to one Of my staff
officers, when making out the li,t of
things to be surrendered. to include the
horses. At that moment General Grant,
who seemed to be paying no attention to
what was transpiring, quickly said mo.
(,anaral a ltnrca--pnt
keep them all. Your people will need
them for the spring crops !" 1t was n
scene never to be forgotten to watch Lees
manner, when, with spirit Of chvalry
equal TO bis skill and gallantry, he told,
with moistened eyes, this and many 9TH
Or instances of the magnanimiy 30 nobly
by his iilus:rous rival ask
ed him who was the greatest of the Fed
eral Generals. " Indeed, sir, ! have no
hesitation in saying General Grant. Both
a gentleman and an organizer of vic
torious war, General Grant has led all
your most noted soldiers. He has exhib-
tied more true courage, more real great
ness Of mind more consummate prudence
from the outset, and more heroic bravery
than any one on your side" The con-
versation turned to General Sherman, Of
whom he spoke rs follows " As STRAIT
egist and commander Of mer Sherman
has displayed the highest order of milita-
ry genius. Throughout his recent cam.
paign, when he had to pass through an
unknown country, cross rivers, support
his troops, ETC., he certainly exhibited
singleness Of purpose. fertility Of re-
sources which wins him high place
among the famous soldiers of history
lie seems to be cool without apathy, eau
tious without being dilat0ry, patient
without being disprited, personally brave,
but never rash. Judged by Napoleon's
test, Who did all that p he is in my
opinion, among the most success sful Of the
Feceral officers who have played prom
inent part in the history of the war. -
In the course of conversation he spoke Of
Sheridan as most brilliant and magnet,
ic COMMANDER.
Then AS we talked Of the causes of the
war we dristrd to the old statesmen -
General Lee referred despondingly to the
country's lack of statesmen. Speaking
OF Webster he said : :" never saw n
more striking object than Webster in the
Senate. The effect of his fine figure and
princely air, when speaking, was like tnat
of iivd fash in the midst Of darkness.
What Paganini was in music, that Web,
ster was in oratory the one charmed
Europe with one string, the other eectri
fed multitudes with his cloquence. He
once omplGiBed to me of the wrongs
done him By the reporters, but in vain
the world would read whatever bore hi:
honored name, and the grub worms were
ever ready to crafty the desire by frag.
ments, or rather caricatures, of his
mighty eloquence. His speeches indicate
the powers of the great orator: they arc
lofty but not impassioned, correct but not
fluent. Henry Clay was every inch a
patriot and an orator. heard him on
British aggression. Never, certainly
had L ever beheld SO powerful an exhibi-
tion of natural oratory. The grace of the
attitudes into which he threw his flexible
hgure, the striking gestures of his arms
and, above all, the fire which shot from
ais brilliant eyes, impaired an effect tc
the continually changing accents of hi:
voice, of which the most accomplished
orator might be proud. At one moment
leaning forward when stating circum.
stantially the grievances Of WHICH the
nation complained, and then standing
bolt upright, with clenched hands and a
countenance distorted with passion, he
,,o,rod out a frodo of ;nyoo,;,oe m