The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-02-06
Grant and Lee.


exalt Gen. Lee for mental and mora
qualities of excellence, and to dis
parage Gen. Grant. If this is tht
case, it is because men are oftenel
influenced by their feelings than by
hard facts. However weak Boabdi
was as a ruler and controller of men
we yet cannot help feeling sorry fol
his fate, as an Irving tells US of hi:
last sigh, looking at the Alhanbrs
deserted and the power of eight cen
turies crumbling into dust. In 9
measure Gen. Lee is romantic fig.
ure. His name is historic, and
around 1t cling the associations ol
the Revolution and of Washington
Joining the War for Independence
with the Rebellion, and bringing the
Lees Of the first in comparison with
the second, the figure OF Gen. Robert
L. Lee looms up gloomy and mourn
tul. He was the best representative
1f the cniyalrous South. jeff Davi,
was its Aaron Burr. People forgive
Lee because they think him a second
Blennerhassett. Everyone acknowl
edges he was chivalrous, soldierly
courtly and able. Combining these
qualities, men feel pity that he
should have been sacrificed III up
holding the cause of traitors, and tht
souls OF Catalines.
On the ether hand, there Is moth
/ ing romantic about Grant. Hi,
lineage does not appeal to the imag
inatlOn, and his success may have
bred that jealousy which is eyer at
tendant upon true greatness. ltmust
not be forgotten that Washington
had his traducers, and among the
immortal three who refused to vote
u resolution of confidence in mis- ad-
mluistratlOn appears the name OF
Andrew Jackson. Gen. Grants epic,
like England'a is-'My Mark" Gen.
Lee was a patrician, but Gen. Grant
had the strong fibre of American
feeling in his mental and moral
opinions Tho patriotism of one
was local. was for "a class and class
interests that OF the other was ma
tional. The one loved Virginia, tbs
other America. Gen. Grant was a
soldier by education, but one of the
people by feeling and development
/ " hen the war broke out the two
men were called upon to know what
they would do in the matter. One
was Colonel IN the army, the other
tanner at Galena, and the tannel
became the hero, because he had
a heroic idea to animate him. Let
US look az the facts. 1t happened a
last that an authentic statement ha,
been furnished of the reasons which
Gen. Lee himself gave for going into
the Confederate army instead OF re-
tanning his place in the Regular
Army of the United States. Thi.
information is supplied by ex-Adiu
tan;-General T. ID. Townsend, now
on the retired list, a man whose WORD
Is not to be questioned. and WAC
speaks from personal knowledge
not from heresay. In book on the
war, which he has recently publish
ed, he gives the following account o
the final interview, which took place
April 19, 1861, between Gen. Lee
then Colonel wearing the United
States uniform. and Gen. Scott, al
the latter's request Gen. Townsend
being present:
Gen. Scott-You are at present
on leave OF absence, Colsnel Lee
Col. Lee-Yes, General +; I am
staying with my family at Airing
ton.
Gen. Scott-These are times when
every officer in the United States
should fully determine what course
he will pursue, and frankly declare
| it. NOone should continue in Gov
eminent employ without being ac-
lively engaged. No response from
Lee.
Gen. Scott Seeing evidently that
Lee showed no disposition to declare
himself loyal, or even in doubt)-l
suppose you will 90 with the rest
If you purpose to resign, 1t is proper
you should do so at once your
present attitude is an equivoeal
one.
Col. Lee-General, the property
belonging TO my children. all they
possess, lies in Virginia. They will
be ruined ifthey do not go with their
State. ! cannot raise my hand against
nv children.
Gen. Scott then signified that he
/ had nothing further to say. and Col
/ Lee withdrew. The next day, April
| 20. 1861. he rendered his resignq-
tien, and it was accepted on the
25th.
/ On the very same day that this
interview took place in Washington,
another conversation was held at
Galeua, H.. between Hon. f. Is.
Washburne, and Gen. Grant. then q
private citizen, engaged in the leath-
er business, and called Captain
because he served in that capacity
during the Mexican war. The Ga
lena conversation ran as follows
Grant said: left the army ex-
pecting never to return. | am no
seeker for position, but the couRtry,
which educated NE, is in sore peril,
and. as a man ofhoror, feel bound
to offer my services for.whatever they
are worth"
Captain" replied Washburne,
we need just such men as You
men Of military education and expe-
rience. The Legislature meets next
Tuesday April %. 1861 Several
of Us are going to Springfield. Come
along; you will surely be wanted.
:" | guess you will have to get
along without me hereafter" Grant
said to his brothers. Uncle Sam
educated me for the army, and
though | have served through one
war, | am still indebted to him; and
now he is likely to want all the help
he can get"
How few the words, how simple
and yet how sublime The Greaf
Silent Man never appeared greater
than when, never dreaming Of future
fame and honor, he espoke these sim
pie words" | am still indebted tC
my ceuntry-boys, you must ge