The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-22
WAR STORIES TOLD AGAIN.
The Meeting Of Lincoln, Grant, Sherman
and Porter in the Spring of 1856.
Admiral Porter's Tribute to Grants Abilities
as Displayed at the Siege of vicksburg
-ROSecrans's Opposition to Grant.
Great Sreet,nrin1ss

made junction with the forces of Generals
Schofield and Terry, which had come up from
the coast at Newbern and Wilmington. My
army was hard up for food and clothing, which
could only reach US from the coast, and my
chief attention was given to the reconstruction
OF the two railroads which meet at Goldsboro,
from Newbern and Wilmington, so as to re-
clothe the men, and get provisions enough with
which to continue march to Burksville, Va,
where we would come into communication with
Gen Grants army, then investing Richmond and
Petersburg. / had written to Gen. Grant several
times, and had received letters from him, but it
seemed to me all important that should have
personal interview. Accordingly, on the 18th
of March, leaving Gen. Schofield in command, |
took the first locomotive which had come over
the repaired railroad, back to Newbern and
Morehead City. where / got the small steamer
Russiato convey me to City Point We arrived
during the afternoon of March u, and | found
Gen. Grant and staff occupying neat set OF log
huts, on bluff overlooking the James river.
The Generals family was with him. We had
quite long and friendly talk, when he re-
marked that the President, Mr. Lincoln, was
near by in steamer lying at the DOCK and he
proposed that we should call at once. We did
80 and found Mr.. Lincoln on board the Ocean
Queen. We had met in the early part Of the
war and he recognized me, and received me
with warmth of manner and expression that
was most grateful We then sat some time IN
the aftercabin, and Mr. Lincoln made many
inquiries about the events which attended the
march from Savannah to Godsboro, and seemed
TO enjoy the humorous stories about ''our bum
mers of which he had heard much. When In
lively conversation, his face frightened wonder
fully; but if the conversation tagged, his face
assumed sad and sorrowful expression.
General Grant and explained to him that my
next move from Goldsboro wonld bring my
army. increased to $4,000 men by Schofelds
and Terrys achievements in close communica-
ton with General Grants army, then investing
Lee in Richmond. and that unless Lee could eff
feet his escape, and make junction with John
ston in North Carolina, he would soon be shut
UP in Richmond, with no possibility of supplies,
and would have to surrender. Mr.. Lincoln was
extremely interested in this view of the case,
y ard when we explained that Lees only chance
was to escape, join Johnston, and, being then
between me in North Carolina and Grant In Vir-
ginia could choose which to fight. Mr.. Lincoln
seemed unusually impressed with this, but Gen
eral Grant explained that at the very moment OF
our conversation General Sheridan was pressing
his cavalry across james river, from the north
to the south; that he would with this cavalry,
extend his left below Petersburg as to meet
the South Shore road and that if Lee should
'let GO his fortified lines. he Grant would fol-
low him SO close that he could not possibly fall
me alone in North Carolina. /, in like man
ner, expressed the fullest confidence that my
army in North Carolina was willing to cope with
Lee and Johnston combined, till Grant could
come up But we both agreed that one more
bloody battle was likely to occur before the close
of the war;
Mr.. Lincoln repeatedly inquired as to General
Schotields ability, in my absence, and seemed
anxious that should return to North Carolina,
~anl-Rsnre than once exclaimed: Must more
blood be shedl Cannot this last bloody battle be
avoldedW We explained that we had to presume
that General Lee was a real general; that he
must see that Johnston alone no barrier to
my progress, and that if my army of 81, 900 vet
Grams should reach huntsville, he was lost in
Richmond and that We were forced to believe he
would not await that inevitable conclusion, but
make one more desperate effort
L think we were with Mr.. Lincoln an hour
or more and then returned to General Grants
quarters where Mrs. Grant had prepared us
some coffee, or tea. During this meal Mrs.
Grant inquired il we had seen Mrs. Lincoln
answered.. NO. did not know she was on
board" Now" said Mrs. Grant you are a
pretty pair" and went on to explain that we had
been guilty of piece of objectionable rudeness.
but the General said: Never mind We will
repeat the visit tomorrow, and can then see
Mrs Lincoln"
The next morning good many officers called
to see me, among them Generals Meade and Ord
also Admiral Porter. The latter inquired as to
the Russia in which 1 had come up from More
head City, and explained that she was a slow
tub, and he would send me back in the steamer
Bat Captain Barnes, United States Navy, be-
cause she was very feet, and could make seven
teen knots an hour Of course | did not object,
and fixed that afternoon to start back.
Meantime we had to repeat our call on Mr.
Lincoln. on board ms Ocean Queen, then an
chored out in the stream at some disrai,ute from
the wharf. Admiral Porter went along, and we
took tug at the wharf which conveyed us off
TO the Ocean Queen Mr. Lincoln met US all in
the same hearty manner as on the previous oc-
casion, and this time we did not forget Mrs.
Lincoln General Grant inquired for her and
the President explained that she was not we'll
but he stepped to her stateroom and returned to
us asking us TO excuse her. We all took seats in
the after cabin, and the conversation became
general explained to Mr. Lincoln that Admi-
raj Porter had given me the Bat, very fleet
vessel to carry me back to Newborn, and that
was ready to start back then 1t. seemed to re-
lieve him, as he afraid that something
might 60 wrong at Goldsboro in my absence I
had such fears. and the most perfect conf
dence in General Schofeld, and doubt not said
as much.
ought not, and must not attempt to recall
the words of that conversation. OF course none
OF US then foresaw the tragic end of the princi-
pal figure of that group so near at hand; and
none OF us saw the exact manner in which the
war was to close; but knew that felt, and
believe the others did, that the end of the war
Was near.
The imminent danger was that Lee, seeing the
meshes closing surely around him. would not re-
main passive, but would make one more des-
pSfaL0 BuOfC ana Otne1al Grant was providing
for it, by getting General Sheridans cavalry well
to his left flank. so as to watch the first symp
toms, and to bring the rebel army to bay till the
infantry could comeup. Meantime l only asked
two weeks delay, the status quo, when we
would have our wagons loaded and
would start from Goldsboro for Burksville via
Raleigh Though cannot attempt to recall the
words spoken by any one of the persons present
on the occasion, 1 know we talked generally
about what was to be done when Lees aud John
md IL usaA In
this point Mr.. Lincoln was very full He said
that he had long thought of it. that he hoped
this end could be reached without more blood
Shed, but In any event he wanted us to get the
aelnded men oil the rebel armies disarmed and
back to their homes; that he contemplated no re.
yenge. no harsh measures, but quite the contra
~, and that their suffering ard hardships during
the war would make them the more Submissive
to law l cannot say that Mr. Lincoln or anv
body else used this language, but know lett
bis pIesehce with the conviction that he lad l.. |