New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-04
HOW GRAM SAVED LEES NECK

Etr. York Correspondence Of ne F4ddelphta Tines
The war was over, General Lee and MS natI1
homes on their parole OF honor The VICTORIOUS Northern
ard Western armies. under command OF gram grant anu
Sherman, were encamI In and around washington
City. Jefferson Davis was an inmate OF easement IN
Fortress Monroe and Edwin NJ Stanton was me power
behind the throne who the Government while score
Generals Grant and RaElins were playing 2 game Of
billiards IN the National Hotel and two civilians were
induigng IN that pastme on an opposite table major
in the regular army entered the spacious 70 ON IN hurry
on the table. saying; Rawns, don't disturb the naIs
until return" and hurried out One OF the cvllanS
said to the other: PAY for the game ana hurry OUT
General Grant had reached the street. where in front
the soldier dlsmount ami sprngng into the saode put
spurs TO the horse and rode up so fast as to
attract the attention of pedestrians The first civilian
questioned the soldier as TO the cause OF suoh euude
haste On s ase Of W6o nothing The
citizen appeared saying, What has become OF Grant
Pennsylyania-ave It was decided to 60 TO the War
Department and learn the cause possible SoV sa
Denim the actress was discussing officer in the quarter
masters department. presided over by General Rucker
ton. Asking him If he knew the reason of General
Grants hasy action and If he had seen the hero OF t1e
hour around the Department. Colonel Barroll answered
eyes, but was surprised at anybodys knowledge OF the
event. When told Of what transPred In the billiard
Of the National Hotel the colonel sad well, as
you are aware of the coming OF General Grant VIII tel
you all about it. providing you promise not to repeat IT,
tary stanton sent for me in reference 10 the execution OF
orders while listening TO MS lnstructohS
General Grant came in. The Secretary greeted the
General with a pleasant 'GOod-morning,' which the
latter returned and in continuation said Mr. Score
tary understand that you have issued orders for the
arrest General Lee and Others and desire to know II
such orders have teen placed in the hands OF any oncer
for execution ,,
have Issued wrts for the arrest OF all the prom
inent rebels, and officers viii DO dispatched on inc
mIssion pretty soon, replied the Secretary.
General Grant appeared cool, though laDorlnS uuer
mental excitement, and quickly said:
Mr.. Secretary, when General Lee surrendered 10
me at Appomattox Court House gave him my word ana
honor that neither he OF his followers would DC
disturbed long they obeyed their parole OF honor
have learned nothing to cause me 70 believe that any
OF my late adversares have broken their promises ana
have come here TO make yO1 aware OF that Iact ana
would also suggest that those orders he cancelled
spoken TO in such by his inferior officer and
said: .-,,-,
General Grant, are you whom you are talking
TO am the Secretary OF War
"QuIck flash Grant answered bask: Ana am
General Grant Issue those orders at Your peril Ihcn
turning on his heel General Grant walked ont OF the
room as unconcerned as n nothing had happened.
at "a needless TO say" continued Colonel Barrol,
that neither General Lee any OF his soldiers were
arrested | was dismissed from the presence oil the
Secretary with the remark that my services in connec-
ton with the arrest OF the leading rebels would be
dIspensed with until took time 10 consider and now
walt the result of his deci@ion."
Like some cases law that decision OF the great War
Secretary reserved for all time, but whether he
game OF billiards between Generals Grant ana kaWllns
was ever played TO end has never been definitely
known though IL was surmised that with tho aid OF
consoling cigar the game was finished.