The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-06-04
A MAN OF HIS WORD.
How General Grant Prevented the Ar
rest of General X. T.. Lee.

rest of General II. +. Lee.
The war was over. General Lee and
his half-starved Confederates had re-
turned to their desolated homes on
their parole of honor. The victorious
Northern and Western armies, under
command of Grant and Sherman, were
encamped in and around Washington
City. Jefferson Davis was an inmate
of casemate in Fortress Monroe, and
Edwin Nj. 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
dulglng in that pastime at an opposite
table. A major in the regular army
entered the spacious room in a hurry
and whispered to General Grant. The
latter laid his cue On the table, saying:
''Rawllns, don't disturb the balls until
l return" and hurried out. One of the
civilians said to the other: .'Pay for
the game and hurry out. There is
something 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 in
to the saddle, put spurs to the horse
and rode up the avenue so fast as to at
tract the attention of pedestrians.
The first civilian questioned the soldier
as to the cause of such haste on the
part of General Grant, but was an
swered with the surprise of one who
knew nothing. The second citizen
appeared, saying, What has become
OF Grantp'
On being told of the Generals break
neck ride up Pennsylvania avenue it
was decided to 90 to the War Depart
ment and learn the cause, if possible
Colonel Barroll, Second Regular In
fantry, and husband of Sue Denim, the
actress, was disbursing officer in the
quartermaster's department, presided
over by General Rucker and to the
Colonel one of the civilians went for
information. Asking him if he knew
the reason of General Grants hastv
action, and if he had seen the hero of
the hour around the department, Colo
mel Barroll answered, Yes" but was
surprised at anybody's knowledge of
the event. When told of what tran
spired in the billiard-room of the Ma
tional Hotel, the Colonel said: 'Well,
as you are aware of the coming of
General Grant, | will tell you all about
it, provided 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
pleasant good morning. which the
latter returned, and in continuation
said: Mr.. Secretary, / understand
that you have issued orders for the ar
rest of General Lee and others, and |
desire to know if such orders have
been placed in the hands of any officer
for execution
Il have issued writs for the arrest
of all prominent Confederates, and
officers will be dispatched on the mis-
sion pretty soon, replied the Secre-
tary.
General Grant appeared cool,
though laboring under mental excite
ment, and quickly said:
Mr.. Secretary, when General Lee
surrendered to me at Appomattox
Court House, | gave him my word and
honor that neither he nor any of his
followers would be disturbed so long
as they obeyed their parole of honor /
have learned nothing to cause me to
believe that any of my late adversaries
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
angry at being spoken to in such a
manner by his inferior officer, and
said:
"General Grant, are you aware whom
you are talking to? | am the Secre-
tary of War
Quick as flash Grant answered
back: And | am General Grant Is
sue those orders at your peril Then
turning on his heel General Grant
walked out of the room as uncon-
cerned as if nothing had happened.
"lt is needless to say" continued
Colonel Barroll, ''that neither General
Lee nor any of his soldiers were ar
rested. | was dismissed from the pres
ence of the Secretary with the remark
that my services in connection with
the arrest of the leading Confederates
would be dispensed with until he took
time to consider, and l now await the
result of his decision.n
Like some cases in law that decision
of the great War Secretary was re-
served for all time; but whether she
game of billiards between Generals
Grant and Rawlins was ever PLAYED
out to an end has never been definite1v
known, though it was surmised that
with the aid OF a consoling cigar the
game was finished. .-fbi}G. Times.