Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-13


was a very dark night, and here was
this great soldier,
THE COMMANDER OF A MILLION MEN,
walking with us alone and apparently
uncoHcerned under the greatest re-
s~ponsibility that could be put upon
any man. During our passage from
his headquarters to the dispatch boat
we passed two or three sentries, who
would say: 'Hah who goes there?
General Grant would remark, in a
very quiet undertone, 1.-THE command
ing officer, sentry and we would pass
on. When we got aboard Of the boat
and were ushered into the cabin We
found that fully half a hundred gen.
eral officers, nearly all of the corps,
division, and many of the brigade
commanders of General Grants army
had been quietly congregated by Cen
eral Grant to meet us. We were
introduced to all Of them, and soon
sat down to a splendid dinner
specially prepared for us. | was
again struck with the unosten-
tatious ease of General Grants
manner while among his subordinate
officers, and the absolute good feeling
between him and his generals. They
all appeared to be upon the most IA
miliar terms with him, and there was
not the slightest evidence Of that re-
s%traint in his presence that was appa-
rent among some of our Confederate
generals. He remained awhile and
finally excused himself, saying that
his business demanded his attention,
and departed absolutely alone for his
headquarters.
The entertainment which had been
arranged for us continued until a late
hour, and we we're very much pleased
to find in every word and act Of all
the Federal soldiers we met a spirit
favorable to the success Of our mission.
A TELEGRAM FROM LINCOLN.
1--WE had very comfortable quarters
for the night, but there was a great
deal of trouble in getting satisfactory
news from Washington, and we had
almost made up our minds to abandon
the trip and return home, but Cen
eral Grant said: No, l will take the
responsibility, if do not get author
ity, to send you to Hampton Roads;
because | am very interested in your
meeting our authorities upon the sub
ject of peace The next day, howev-
err, while we were still on the boat,
General Graut came down himself
with a ong-ribboned dispatch in his
hand, and held it up before he got on
board of boat, aud said: 1t is all
right, gentlemen; it is all right He
had received from Mr.. Lincoln the
following dispatch:
Send the three gentlemen to
Fortress Monroe, and tell them 1 will
meet them there.
A. LINCOLN
we were very much pleased 1t re-
oeiy4ng the news, but we at once in
What about our secretary,
g~eneral?' The dispatch read simply
for the three commissioners. General
Grant thought a moment and said:
w I'll gentlemen, we have had too much
trouble about this matter to try any
experiments, and, turning to Colonel
Hatch, he said: Colonel, we will
send these three gentlemen to make
peace, and you and | win 90 up the
river to look after the exchange OF
prisoners This easy and gentleman
ly disposition Of the question, which
would have irritated any man. clearly
demonstrated what a master Grant is,
not only of men, but of events.
"a PURELY INFORMAL CONFERENCE.
Soon after the receipt of the tele-
gram from Mr.. Lincoln we started
down the river, and the next morning
left General Grants dispatch boat and
went aboard of the steamer upon
which Mr.. Lincoln had come down
from Washington. Mr.. Seward had
arrived the evening before. We were
shown into the cabin of the steamer
upon which DIR. Lincoln had jour
neyed, and when we were seated Mr..
Lincoln and Mr.. Seward came in. We
at once entered into a very friendly
and personal chat inquiring about old
political friends at the north, and
especially about acquaintance while
in congress. We revived many Of the
"reminiscences of the Taylor campaign
in 1913, and Of the Congressional Tay-
Tor club, of which we both were mem
bers. | do not know how long the
friendly chat would have lasted had /
not interrupted the talk by saying,
Mr.. President, is there no way By
which the present troubles between
the states and sections can be ended
without further armed conflict? Mr..
Seward interrupted by saying, Gen
tlemen, there is to be no minutes or
record Of whatever conversation may
take place here. The conference is to
be purely informal
WHAT LINCOLN SAID.
All of US assented TO this under
standing, when MIR. Lincoln replied
that he knew of no way to end the
war except that those who were re-
sisting the government of the United
States should cease their resistance
| replied that we had been induced TO
believe there was a question, a con
stitutional question, which might d.
vert the attention Of both parties for
a time, and thus prevent a further
collision Of arms, if not bring about a
substantial restoration Of the union
Mr.. Lincoln seemed to understand my
ambiguous reference to Mr.. Blair s
mission 70 Richmond. and disclaimed
that he had in any way acted with his
authority. then pressed the sugges-
ton about the Mexican question,
which Mr.. Blair had made to Mr..
Davis. But Mr.. Lincoln would not