Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-10
GRANT's CONVERSATIONS.
from Part Fifteen Of Around the World with Cen
eral Grant. by John Russell yonng.l

"There was no time In the war;" said the
General, ''when It was more critical than after
the battle OF Five Forks, when Lee abandoned
Richmond. 1t was President Lineoln's aira to
end the whole business there. He was mo &
another years fighting, fearing the country
would break down financially under the terrible
strain on its resources. know when We met 1t
was standing topic OF conversation. II Lee had
escaped and joined johnson in North Carolina,
Or reached the mountains, it would have i'm
posed upon us continued armament and expense.
The entire expense Of the government had
reached the enormous cost OF four millions OF
dollars day. 1t was to put AL end to this ex-
pense that Lees capture was necessary. It
was. in fact, the end and aim OF all our Rich
and not merely the defeat of his army, Sheri-
dan led the pursuit of Lee. He went after him
almost with the force of volition, and the coun-
try owes him great deal OF gratitude for the
manner in which he attacked that retreat. 1t
vas one OF the Incompatible things in the war.
The army that pursued Lee was divided into
three parts under General Meade General Ord,
and General Sheridan. | was with Ord'S CON-
mand and remember one evening coming into
camp after being all day on horseback Our
army was on hot foot after Lee. just as / came
were brought in as prisoners, They said they
wished to see the commanding general They
proved to be Union soldiers from Sheridan's
army dressed as rebels: They had come through
the rebel lines to avoid a long detOur.
lone Of them took out Of his mouth quid of
tobacco, in which was small pellet of tiR-foil
This, when opened was found TO contain note
nom Sheridan TO me, written on tissue paper.
saying that it was most Important for the sue
cess OF the movement then being made that
should go at once to his headquarters; tina
Meade had given his part of the army orders
move in such manner that Lee might break
through ard escape. started off at once taking
q fresh horse without waiting for cup OF cof-
fee. Although SheridanS Headquarters were not
more than ten miles away, l had to make such
a detour round the rebel lines that rode at
least thirty miles before reaching them. I re-
member being challenged by pickets. and some
times l had great difficulty In getting through
the lines. ] remember picking my way through
the sleeping soldiers, bivouacked in the open
field. ! reached Sheridan about midnight. He
was very anxious. He explained the position
Meade had given him orders to move on the
right flank and
COVER RICHMOND.
"ThiS Sheridan thought would be to open the
door for Lee to escape toward Johnson Meades
fear was that by uncovering Richmond Lee
would get into our rear and trouble our cOmmu-
nications, Sherfdan's idea was to move on the
left flank, swing between Lee and the road to
johnson, leave Richmond and our rear to take
care OF themselves, and press Lee and attack
him wherever he could Oe found. Meade'S view
was that OF an engineer, and no doubt there
were reasons of high military expediency in
favor OF his plan. His theory secured the safety
OF our army, the safety OF Richmond and all the
triumphS OF the campaign but at the same time
incided with Sheridan's. felt we ought to find
Lee, wherever he was, and strike him. The
question was not the occupation of Richmond.
but the destruction OF the army. ! started to
find Meade, who was not far off. He was ailIng
in bed. He was very cordial and began talking
about the next days march and the route he
had laid down.
al listened, and then told him did not an
prove OF his march. / said did not want Rich
mOnd so much as Lee; that Richmond was only
collection OF houses, While Lee was an active
force fnluring the country, and that thought
we might take the risk. took out my pencil
and wrote out an order for the movement of the
army, changing Meade's orders, and directing
the whole force to have coffee at O'Clock and
move on the left flank. When | handed it to
Meade told him it was then very late and he had
not much time to lose He Immediately went TO
work in the most loyal manner, and moved the
army according to my instructions. Meade's 10y
atty and SOldierly qualities were so high that.
whether, he approved or diSapproved move
ment, he made no difficulty about the perform
anCe OF his duty. His movement threw us be-
tween Lee and the Carolinas. The next morn
ing when Meade's force came up Sheridan at
tackled Lee. This Is known as the battle of
Sailors creek. When / came on the field and
found what rout he had made Of the confed
crates, and that prisoners were coming in by
shoals, saw there was no more fighting left in
that army, and that the responsibility Of any
further destruction Of life must be upon their
shoulders, not mine, and resolved to write to
Lee asking for his surrender. l did not enter
Richmond, because ,1r. Lincoln had gone there,
and there was no use, since Lees paroles were
to Washington to stop supplies and retrench
the expenses. 1 reached Washington on the
evening OF April the 18th, and on the Friday
succeeding Mr.. Lincoln
WAS KILLED.
81 have always regretted the censure tina
unwittingly came upon Butler in that cam
paign, and my report was the cause. sal
phrase without meaning to annoy the General
or give his enemies weapon. I like Butler
and have always found him not only, as all tn
world knows, man OF great ability, but a pa
triotic man, and man Of courage honor an
sincere convictions. Butler lacked the technl-
cal experience OF military education, and 1t is
be great general. Butler as a general wa
full Of enterprise and resources, and a BRAY
man. If l had given him two corps command
ers like Adelbert Ames, Mackenzie, Weitzel
Terry, or dozen 1 could mention, he woul
have made fine campaign on the James, AMI
helped materially in my plans. l have always
been sorry did not do so. Butler is man 1t is
fashion TO abuse, but he is a man who has
done the country great service, and who is
worthy OF its gratitude.
speaking OF ROSecranS army" said General
Grant, .'Sheridan's command at the battle OF
Stone river was, from all can hear about it, a
wonderful bit OF lighting. 1t showed what a
great general can do even when In a Subordln-
ate command, for believe that Sheridan in that
battle saved RoSecranS' army
The first time remember seeing Sheridan was
when he was captain and acting quarter
master and commiSSary at HalleckS heddquar-
tiers in the march to Corinth. He was then APP
We afterward met at railway station when he
was moving his regiment to join Gordon Gran
ger. / knew | had sent regiment to join
Granger. but had not indicated that of Sheridan
and really did not wish 1t to leave l spoke to
sheridan, and he said he would rather 60 than
stay, or some such answer, which was bruSJue
aud rough. and annoyed me. l don't think
Sheridan could have said anything to have made
a worse impression on me. But l watched his
career, and saw how much there was in him.
So Hhen / came east, and took command. /
locked around for cavalry commander ]
was standing in front of the White House talk
ing to Mr.. Lincoln and General IIaieck. | said
wanted the best man / could find for the cav
airy.
Then said Halleck, why not take Phil
Shertdan?' Well said, 4 was just going to
say Phil Sheridan SO Sheridan wa sent for
and he came, very much disguised. H was
Just about TO have corps, and he did not know
why We wanted him east, whether it was to
discipline him, said the General laughing, ..or
not But he came. and took the command, and
came out OF the war with record that entitled
him TO his rank. AS soldier, as a commander
OF troops. Us a man capable OF doing all that Is
possible with any number OF men, there Is no
man living greater Than Sheridan. He belongs
to the very first rank OF soldiers not only OF our
country. but OF the world. / rank Sheridan with
Napoleon and Frederick and the great COM
manderS in history. No man ever had such
faculty OF finding out things as Sheridan, OF
knowing all about the enemy. He was always
the best informed man in his command as to
the enemy. Then he had that magnetic quality
OF swaying men which wish had-a rare
quality In general. / don't think any one can
give Sheridan too high praise. When made
him lieutenant general there was some crit-