Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-31
GRANTvs CONVERsATIONs.
General Grant nv Infr IsInaa y W.

IFrom Part Eighteen of Around the World with
General Grant, by John Russell Young
'On the night before Lees surrender" said
Gen. Grant, Il had a wretched headache-head-
aches to which l have been subect-neryous
prostration, intense personal suffering But.
suher or not, had 10 keep moving. I saw
clearly, especially after Sheridan had cut off
the escape TO Danville, that Lee must surrender
or break and run into the mountains-break in
all directions and leave us a dozen guerrilla
bands TO light. The object OF my campaign was
not Richmond not the defeat OF Lee In actual
hight, but TO remove him and his army out of
me contest, and, II possible, to have him use
MS influence In inducing the surrender of John
sion and the other Isolated armies. You see
tne war was an enormous strain upon the
country. Rich as we were do not now see
now we could have endured 1t another year,
even from financial point OF view.
so with these views wrote Lee, and opened
the Correspondence with which the world Is
1amlllar. Lee does not appear well in that cor
reSpondence, not nearly so well as he did In our
subsequent Interviews where his whole bearing
was that OF patriotic and gallant soldier, con-
state. received word that Lee would meet me
at point within our lines near Shertdan's hea.-
quarters. / had TO ride quite distance through
muddy country. | remember now that was
concerned about my personal appearance. |
had an old suit on. without my sword, and with
out any distinguishing mark OF rank except the
shoulder-straps OF lieutenant general on
wooden blouse. l was splaShed With mud In
my LONG RIDE"
81 was AFRAID Lee might think / meant to
show him studied diScOurteSy by SO coming-at
least thought so. But had no other clothes
within reach, as Lees letter found me away
from my base or supplies. kept on riding until
met Sheridan. The general, who was one of
the heroes OF The campaign and whose pursuit
OF Lee was perfect in its generalship and
energy, told me where TO find Lee. | remember
that Sheridan was impatient when met him.
anxious and suspicious about the whole bust
ness, feared there might be a plan to escape;
that he had Lee at his feet. and wanted to end
the business by going in and forcing an abso-
lutte surrender by capture. IN fact, he had his
troops ready for such an assault When Lees
white flag came within his line.
Il went up 10 the house where Lee was wait
Ing. l found him in a fine, new. splendid uni
form, which only recalled my anxiety as to my
pressed my rcgret that was compelled to meet
him in so uGceremonious manner, and he
replied that the only suit he had available was
one which had been sent him by some admirers
In Baltimore, and which he then wore for the
first time. We spoke OF old friends In the army. l
remembered having seen Lee in Mexico. He
was so much higher in rank than myself at the
time that supposed he had no recollection of
me- But he said he remembered me very well.
He talked OF old times and exchanged inquiries
about friends. Lee then preached the subject OF
our meeting. l told him my terms and Lee,
listening attentively, asked me to write them
down. took out my manifold order-Dook and
pencil and wrote them down. General Lee put
on his glasses and read them over. The con-
ditiOns gave the officers their SidearmS, private
horses. and personal baggage. I said to Lee
that hoped and believed this would be the
CLOSE OF THE WAR.
sThat 1t was most important that the men
should go home and go to work, and the govern
ment would not throw any obStacleSin the way.
Lee answered that 1t would have a most happy
effect, and accepted the terms. / handed over
my penciled memorandum to an aid 10 put into
Ink, and we resumed our conversation about old
times and friends in the armies. Various Off
GERS came in-Longstreet, Gordon, Pickett, from
the south; Sheridan, ord and others from our
side Some were old friends-Longstreet and
myself, for fnstance-and we had general talk.
Lee no doubt expected me to ask for his sword,
but Gid not want his sword. 1t would only,
said the General, smiling, have gone to the
Patent ONCE to be worshipped by the Washing
ton rebels. There was pause, when General
Lee said that most of the animals in his cavalry
and artillery were owned by the privates. and
he would like to know under the terms, whether
they would be regarded as private property or
the property OF the government | said that
under the terms OF surrender they belonged to
the government.
General Lee read over the letter and said
that was So then said to the general that /
believed and hoped this was the last battle OF
the war; that saw the wisdom of these men
getting home and to work as soon as possible,
and that would give orders to allow any SOL
der or officer claiming horse or a mule to take
1t. General Lee showed some emotion at this
feeling which also shared-and said 1t would
have most happy effect. The interview end
The next day met Lee on horseback and we
had long talk. In that conversation / urged
upon Lee the wisdom of ending the war by the
surrender OF the other armies. l asked him to
use his influence with the people of the south
an Influence that was supreme-to bring the
war TO an end. General Lee said that his cam
pain in Virginia was the last organized resist
anCe which the south was capable or making
that might have to march good deal and en-
counter Isolated commands here and there; but
there was no longer any army which could
MAKE A STAND.
81 told Lee that this fact only made his re-
Srons1Dli1ty greater, and any further war would
be crime. asked him to go among the SOUTH
ern people and use his influence to have all men
under arms surrender on the same terms given
TO the Army OF Northern Virginia. He replied
he could not do so without consultation with
President Davis. was sorry. / saw that the
Con1ederacy had gone beyond the reach OF Pres
ident Davis and that there was nothing that
could be done except what Lee could do TO ben
ent the southern people. was anxious to get
them LONE and have our armies go TO their
homes and fields. But Lee would not move
without Davis, and, as matter OF fact at that
time, or soon after, Davis was a fugitive In the
woods.
lice was of a slow. conservative, cautious
nature, without Imagination or hamor, always
the same. with grave dignity. never could see
In his achievements what justihes his reputa-
ton. The Illusion that nothing but heavy odds
beat him will not stand the ultimate light of
history. know 1t is not true. Lee was good
deal or headquarters general-a desk general
from what can hear, and from what his officers
say. He was almost too old for active service
the best service in the field AT the time OF the
surrender he was IS or SO, and was 43.
His officers used to say that he posed him
SELF, that he was retiring and exclusive and
that his headquarters were difficult OF access.
remember When the commissioners came
through our lines to treat just before the sur
render that one of them remarked on the great
uleiencc between our headquarters and Lees.
always Kept open house at headquarters, so
lar as the army was concerned.
My anxiety, said the General, ..for some time
before Richmond fell was lest Lee should aban-
con II. My pursuit of Lee was hazardous /
was in position of extreme difficulty You see
was marching away from my supplies while Lee
was FALLING back on his supplies. If Lee had
continued MS Hight another day should have
mad to abandon the pursuit, fall back TO Dam
vflle bui.G tie railroad and feed my army So
lar as supplies Here concerned, was almost at
my last gasp when the surrender took place"
\ Sturdy Emperor.