The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-06-23
A MAN OF HIS WORD.


General k. Z. Lee.
The war was over. General Lee and
his half-starved Confederates had re.
turned 20 their desolated homes on their
parole of honor. The victorious North.
ern and Western armies, under com.
mand of Grant and Sherman. were gu.
camped in and around Washingtos
City. Jefferson Davis was an inmate
of easement in Fortress Monroe and
Edwin M. Stanton was the power be
hind the throne who ran the Govern.
ment while Secretary of War
Generals Grant and Rawlins were
playing game of billiards in the Ma
tional Hotel and two civilians were in.
dulging in that pastime on an opposite
table. A major in the regular army en-
tered the spacious room in hurry and
whispered to General Grant. The lat
ter laid his cue on the table saying:
'Rawlins, don't disturb the balls until
/ return" and hurried out. One of the
civilians said to the other: "Pay for the
game and hurry out There is some
thing up"
General Grant had reached the street,
where. in front of the hotel, stood a
mounted sentinel Grant ordered the
soldier TO dismount and springing into
saddle put spurs to tie horse ami rode
up the avenue 20 fast as To- attract the
ate ntion of pedestrians. The first civ
ilian questioned the soldier as TO the
- Il 81.
of General Grant, but was answered
with the surprise of one who knew
nothing. The second citizen appeared
saying: What has become of Grant,"
On being told of the Generals break
neck ride up Pennsylvania avenue it was
decided to 90 to the War Department
and learn The cause, if possible. Colonel
Barroll, of the Second Regular infantry
and husband of Sue Denim, the actress,
was discussing officer in the Quarter
masters department, presided over by
General Rucker, and to the Colonel one
of the civil ans went for information.
Asking him if he knew the reason of
General Grants hasty action and if he
had seen the hero of e hour around
the department, Colonel Barroll an
swered: Yes" but was surprised at
anybody's knowledge of the event.
When told of what transpirad in the
billiard room of the National Hotel the
Colonel said: well. as YOU are aware
of the coming of General Grant will
tell you all about it. providing YOU
promise not to repeat it :"
The promise being given, Colonel
Barroll said: Secretary Stanton sent
for me in reference TO the execution of
certain orders. and while listening to his
instructions General Grant came in.
The Secretary greeted the General with
a pleasant Good morning. which the
latter returned and in continuation, said:
"Mr. Secretary, understand that you
have issued orders for the arrest of
General Lee and others and desire to
know if such orders have been placed
in the hands of any officer for execution"
" / have issued writs for the arrest
of all the prominent rebels, and officers
will be dispatched on the mission pretty
soon, replied the Secretary"
General Grant appeared cool, though
laboring under mental excitement, and
quickly said:
mir. Secretary, when General Lee
surrendered to me at Appomattox Court
House l gave him my word and honor
that neither he nor any of his followers
would he disturbed so long as they
obeyed their parole of honor. / have
learned nothing to cause me to believe
that any of my late anniversaries have
broken their promises. and have come
here to make you aware of that fact,
and would also suggest that those orders
be Cancelled.
Secretary Stanton became terribly an
CRY at being spoken to in such a man.
ner by his inferior officer, and said:
General Grant, are you aware whom
you are talking to? am the Secretary
of War"
Quick as a flash Grant answered
back: land am General Grant Issue
those orders at your peril" Then
turning en- his heel General Grant
walked out of the room a unconcerued
as if nothing had happened.
at is needless to say" continued
Colonel Barroll, that neither General
Lee nor any of his soldiers were arrest
ed. i was dismissed from the presence
of the Secretary with the remark that
my services in connection with the ar
rest of the leading rebels would be dis
pensed with until he took time to con-
slider. and now wait tie result of his
decision"
Like some cases in law. that decision
of the great War Secretary was re
served for all time, but whether the
oama of billiards betwaen Generals
Grant and Rawlins was ever played out
to an end has never been definitely
known, though it was surmised that
with the aid of a consoling cigar the
game was finished.-M Y. Cor. PhiiG-
delphia Times.