Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-12
HE MEANT TO SHOOT GRANT.

A Story that an officer in Lees Army
Is Said TO Have Related After the war.
A correspondent of the New York San
tells this remarkable, II true" story
The part of it relating to Lees sword is
known TO be incorrect: A few months az
ter the termination of the siege of Paris in
1871, during which had acted as special
correspondent for an English newspaper,
| was staying for a short time at the
Grand hetel in that city. While l was
slipping coffee and smoking a cigar an
American friend, Col. W.. entered
ana introduced me to gentle
man who accompanied him. We sat
down at the little marble table Of the cafe
Tor chat. The conversation soon became
interesting, for all three were brlmful of
military anecdotes and "reminiscences OF
the late war I'm France az well as of the
war in America. Col. WIS friend. whose
name has escaped my memory, was pre-
vailed upon to relate the following story,
which Is given as thoroughly reliable:
Although the Colonel here and were
firm friends from the days of our youth,
we found ourselves, like many others,
when the war of secession broke out,
ranged upon opposite sides. We were,
however, spared the distress Of being
thrown into immediate personal contact
during that dreadful period. He was
always headstrong, impetuous sort of
fellow. and red hot partisan OF the Con-
federate cause. Toward the latter part of
the war had worked up my incorporate
zeal to the point OF believing that nothing
could save the Confederacy from destruc-
tion except some heroic deed Of self
sacrifice. The continued series of defeats
which we had recently sustained at the
hands of Gen. Grant had served to in
spire in my mind an intense rage which
ultimately degenerated into bitter per-
sonal hatred against the man himself.
SAT this particular period we were
nearing what proved to be the termina-
ton of the terrible struggle. for Gen. Lee
IN whose army ! was an officer, was eX-
pecting to come into actual collision with
Gen. GRANTS main army from day to day
OF course you have read and heard all
about the final surrender of the C0nfeder-
ate forces. AS soon as information
reached me that our sacred cause was
ruined, my Indignation rendered me
furious, but l breathed not a
word Of the ignObe resolution
which l had suddenly formed, namely,
that Gen. Grant should not survive his
triumph. Briefly, I so contrived as to
officers surrounding Gen. Lee when Grant
rode down unostentatiOuslyt to receive the
formal surrender of our chieftain. / had
previously, however, fortified myself for
the critical moment with two stiff glasses
of whisky. Then I set myself to watch
ing closely for an opportunity of getting
a shot at him with my revolver.
when Lee advanced with melancholy
but courteous dignity and rendered his
sword to the cOBqueror, l could have
lodged bullet In Grants heart with dead
certainty, but some mysterious interpo-
sitiOn of Providence stayed my murder
Gus hand for the moment. Gen. Grant
took the prOf'ered sword with both hands.
examined it, and, with a winning smile,
gracefully handed it back to its owner,
saying: This beautiful weapon could
not be worn by Drawer or wor' hier man.
Therefore, Gen. Lee, have the honor of
returning it to you,' or words to this
effect.
"A sudden revalsion of feeling over
came me, and tears rushed to my eyes.
Time passed, and It was not until about
two years ago that l found the chance of
once more seeing Gen. Grant. On that
occasion / was presented TO him in the
White house by Col. w. With choked
utterance ] entreated a few private words
with him; confessed the shame which for
several years had weighed heavily on my
Geart, and craved his forgiveness. Lay
ing his left hand on my shoulder, he held
my right hand within his warm and
friendly grasp, as, with that sad but be-
witching smile of his. he said softly, Let
us both thank God. sir, and never speak
OF the incident again.