The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-02-20

MEETING OF THE GREAT CHIEFTAINs-
CoURTEsrEs BETWEEN THE OPPOSING
HERoEs-GRANT's OWN WORDS.
From J. X. Youngs Around tho World With Grant
"on the night before Lees surrender ~
said General Grant, 81 had a wretched
Observation-Disclosures to which haye been
ubjected-nervous prostration, intense
personal suffering. But, suffer or not,
had to keep moving. / saw clearly, espe,
cially after Sheridan had cut off the esca pc
to Danville, that Lee must surrender or
break and run into the mountains-break
In all directions and leave us dozen guer-
rilla bands to fight. The object of my
campaign was not Richmond, not the de,
feat OF Lee In actual fight, but to remove
him and his army out OF tho contest and,
IL possible, to have him use his influence in
inducing the surrender Of Johnston and the
ether isolated armies. You see, the war
was an enormous strain upon the country.
Rich as we were, do not see how we could
have endured IL another year, even from a
financial point Of view.
So, with these views ! wrote Lee and
opened the correspondence with which the
world Ia familiar. Lee does not appear
well az he did In our subs qrent interviews,
where his whole bearing was that of pa
triotic and gallant soldier, concerned alone
for the welfare Of his army and bis State.
i received word that Lee would meet me
ut point within our lines near Sheridan
headquarters. had TO ride quite distance
through muddy country. / remember
now that ! was concerned about my per-
sonal appearance. | had an old SUIT on,
without my sword, and without any dis
tinguishing mark of rank except the shout
der straps of lieutenant general on my
wooden blouse. / was splashed with mud
In my long ride. | was afraid Lee might
think / meant TO show him studied dis
courtesy by 30 coming-at least | thought
30. But | bad no other clothes within
reach aud Lees letter found me away from
my base Of supplies. kept on riding un.
Ill 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 I met him, anxious and
suspicious about the whole business fear
ed there might be 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. liz fart, he had
his troops ready for such an assault when
Lees white flag came within his line.
MEETING OF THE cHIEFTAIEs.
went up TO the house where Lee was
waiting. / found him in fine, new
uniform, which only recalled my anxiety as
to my own clothes while on my way to meet
him. / expressed my regret that was
compelled TO meet him IN so unceremonious
ayA he IA 4kat h. T.
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. /
remembered having seen Lee In Mexico.
He was 30 much higher in rank than my
self at the time that supposed he had no
recollection Of me. But be remembered
me very we'll We talked of old times and
exchanged inquiries about friends. Lee
then preached the subject of our meeting.
told him my terms and Ice, listening at
tentively, asked me to write them down.
j took out my manifold order book and
pencil and wrote them down. General Lee
put on his glasses and read them. The con-
eitions gave the officers their aide arms,
private horses and personal baggage.
/ said 20 Lee that | hoped and
believed this would DO the end OF the war.
That IL was most important that the
men should 20 home and go to work and
the government would not throw any OBJ
stacles In the way. Leo answered that it
would have most happy effect and accept
ed the terms. i handed over my penciled
memorandum to an aid to put in ink and
We resumed onr conversation about old
times and friends In the armies.
ooURTRsIRs BETWEEN THE OPPOSING
"various officers came in-Longstreet,
Gordon, Pickett, from the South Sheri-
dan, Ord and Others from our side. Some
were old friends-LoDgstree and myself,
for instance-and we had a general talk.
Lee no doubt expected me to ask for his
sword, but ! did not want bis sword. 1t
would only" said tue General, smiling.
have gone TO the Patent Office to be wor-
shipped by the Washington rebels. There
was pause when General Lee said that
most Of the animals in bis cavalry and ar
sillery were owned by the privates, and he
would like 10 know, under the terms,
whether they would be regarded as private
property or the property Of the govern
ment. 4 said that under the terms NJ
the surrender they belonged to the govern
ment. General Lee read over the letter
and said that was so. l then said to tine
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 a. soon as possible, and that would
give orders to allow any soldier or officer
claiming q horse or q mule to take il.
Gen. Lee showed some emotion nc this-a
feeling which also shared--and said IL
would have most happy effect. The in
terview ended and gave orders for ra-
tioning his troops. The next day met
Lee on horseback and We had long talk.
In that conversation urged upon Lee the
wisdom Of ending tho war by the surren-
der OF the other armies. | asked him 10
use bis influence with the people of the
South--an influence that was supreme-to
bring the war TO an end. General Lee sad
that his campaign In Virginia was the last
organized resistance which the South was
capable Of making-that I might have 10
march good deal and encounter isolated
commands here aud there; but there was
no longer any army which could make \
stand. told Lee that this fact only made
his responsibility greater, and any further
war would b. crime. / asked him to 20