Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-19

GEMS. LEE AND GRANT.
An INTERVIEW WITH THE con
.FEDERATE CHEF.


ne speaks Freely with Uulou Chaplain
About Grant, sherman and other ON
cers-Eeasou- why the Coufederscy
Faned-Les Grateful Appreciation Of .
Grant
Prom te Fsn York SUI.
WOOSTER. OHIO, Aur, I5-When the |
army Of s4ernau. wIt1 which was con /
nectea as chaplain, was making its ceie- /
brated march from the Carohnas 70 Wash. /
ugt0n. ID rested Tor few days ia Rich /
mond ] was riding with Cen Geary,
afterward Governor Of Pennsylvania. and
provided with letter from Gen. Hazeu, /
VINO had known Gen. Robert + Lee at
West Point, and at the suggestion Of Gen.
Geary. made up my mind u interview
the lsa6er Of the Confederate armies.
Ringing the bell, WITH considerable
anxiety J awaited the result 81 lLy rash
attempt.
Quickly there appeared Al t1e door a
good-l0oking mulatto, who politely waited
10 be told what my business vas.
"Can [ see Gen. LecW was my ques-
tion.
This is not the REGULAR day when he
receives company, and ne has not yet en-
tertaine1 any visitors Nut. but'-aud
he surveyed me win Leslt8fhg LOOK.
] remarked that perhaps Toe General
would see chaplain Of ohermau's army
for o few minutes.
"Your name, sirt' De asked. "Chaplain
PEPPER of the Fifteenth Corps army of
the tennessee" giving him Gen. HJzpn's
letter Hn quick g di-app eared, and in
few nom ut- returned, saving 10 was all
right, and would ] please walk into the
parlor.
took my seat upon a very plain sofa.
The house was marked by extreme sim
phCity. There were no rich carpets, no
rich curtains, no painted windows. The
Go0r was perfectly bare There was not
even a picture 20 attract attention. There
were a few old-fashioned chairs, a table
covered with books, but nothing that be-
tokened that this was the residence OF the
mightiest man in the South.
My musings were soon interrupted by
the appearance Of Gen. Lee, who, with a
gracious smile aud cordial simplicity Of
manner, asked me to be seated The
events Of long and bloody war had made
their impressions upon his face. What
ever NAV be- thought of the science of
physiognomy, there was certainly a re-
maIkable correspondence between the
features Of the General and his
mental and moral characteristics In
both there was symmetry that be-
spoke the healthy development of the en-
tire man. NOpart was in excess, and none
defective; erect in carriage, with an elias
tic step, composed and graceful in all his
movements, full-orbed and beaming eve.
an ample forehead, a mouth that indicated
equal sweetness and firmness. and. diff
FUSED over all, serene and peaceful ex-
preston. He still seemed TO be i'm the full
vigor Of life, but his splendid head was
siIyered, the fire oil his brilliant eyes was
in some measure dimmed. There was
great dignity in his carriage, such as a
of II
part. At the same time there was an ex-
preston Of deed sadness piercing through
his smile.
The conversation turned upon variety
Of subjects, on all of which he EXPRESSED
his opinions freely He was very delibpr-
ate, as ii feeling the gravity of his utter
ances. The murder Of Lincoln was filing
the world with sorrow and Indignation
with dismay and grief. This naturally
was the first topic touched upon.
"The assassination of President Lin
cOln,' said Gen. bee, 'has filled me with
horror If there were some blemishes in
his character, his administration has
shown many splendid and wise acts. He
was one Of the most extraordinary men
that ever lived in our country. Hisheart
was noble and large. Had he been spared.
the South would have been treated with
generous magnaminity that can hardly be
expected now. Mr.. Lincoln was, as the
old Romans used TO say. happy in the on
p0rtunity Of his death, for he died in the
moment Of triumph, the smile Of victory
on his lips, the palm branch of the martyr
in his hands"
Gen. Lee spoke with profound feeling.
walking the room. He pronounced Booth
"a cowardly ruthan," and said that all
the tragic machinery OF the globe could
not produce so dire a fend; that the sol.
diers Of the South and the entire people
regarded the murder Of the President not
only as a crime against our Christian civi.
lizatiOn and our common humanity. but
that his death at that time was a terrible
blow 20 the vanqulshed, who would
have TO bear the responsibility Of the
cruel and bloody deed. The shirt
Of clemency, the moderation and the
desire for Cancellation exhibited bv Mr..
Lincoln were virtues not to be expected
in his successor. "Let the avengers
blow he almost ehrieked, "fan upon the
guilty. Let not my innocent soldiers
suffer. Lincoln would have been our best
iIlend, lie was fond father; his heart
was kind and tender; he had hosts OF en- /
thuslastic friends; he lad done MS no /
wrong, and yet snch a man is pistoled In
Nashir gton as 70 he We're the greatest
enemy OF the human race, We may boast /
Of our civilization, but there is surely /
something wrong In the society which /
produces such villains as Booth. and
bLcn crimes as LincOn's assassination" /
TO MY question, "DO You think the war
is oyert' he replied very en.pbaticauv
Yes, sir; and mad IL not been fOrthe poU. /
ticians 10 would never have commenced.
i was opposed 20 tbe war at the begin.
nlng; ] wept when ! heard Of the bCm.
bardment oi Fort sumter ] sought rs.
tirement 80 tlat might not hear on see
any OF the leaders, the great cud and
aim OF whose statemanship was 10 me.
cipitate the havoc that subsequcntlv
swept our fields and cities. But when
Virginia, my native State. seeded. tbcrs
Was only one course for rfetopursue. ana
that was 10 go With my people"
cen. Lee next adyeried TO the character
OF Gen. Grant, Of whom he spoke 40 length
ln most enthusiastic terms. He ascfibed
to him the possession Of the grandest at.
tributes Of American manhood. and said
that be possessed the military talents
requisite for the organization Of armies.
lu the generous terms accorded 90 the I'm.
poYeIished South, OF which be spoke sew.
eral times. Grant had won for himself
impersnable reu0Wn,