Huntsville gazette., 1885-07-25

ered IN cnaOUlc mass, anu uno UoVefHOT
and his staff were nearly distracted.
the Governor with the remark that
he had been educated at West Point
and had served in Mexico, and asked for
something tos do. He was told to
call again, as there were no vacancies.
Grant returned to his hotel, and calling
again the next day received the same re-
sponse. He called again AMI again with
no better success. Finally, his funds run
ming low and his board bill being due,
Grant, as a last resort, asked for Office
work. This was given him, and he began
work, very much elated over his success.
From this subordinate place he was soon
transferred to the Adjntant- Generals Of
fee, and after making tour of inspection
of the various military camps in the State
was rendered the Colonelcy of the Twenty
first Regiment of Infantry, fine body of
men, but so turbulent and unmanageable
that nobody cared for the command. He
drilled and marched some of the unneces-
sary spirit out of this regiment during the
first four weeks it was in his charge, and
after marching it into Northern Missouri
he was, on the 9th of August, 1861, through
the influence of his old-time friend, Mr. E.
B. Washburne, of Galena, appointed Brig
adler General and put in command of a
district composed of Southeast Missouri
and Southern Illinois, with headquarters
dG cairo. mere was DcSul q
reer which in less than four years gave
him world wide fame.
1t is not the purpose of this review OF
the career of the dead General to recount
the incidents that marked his rise from
Brigadier General to General of the army.
The victories at Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort
Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga,
Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge in the
West, and the battles of the Wilderness,
the siege of Petersburg and the score of
encounters which distinguished his con-
nection with the Army of the Potomac, be-
long to branch of history which it is for
eign to the purpose of this paper, at pres
ent, to consider. The surrender of Lees
army and the subsequent and consequent
collapse of the Confederacy were brilliant
episodes in his career.
After continuous efforts to escape his en-
vironmentS, Lee at last realized that he
was at Grants mercy, and he offered to
surrender. General Grant as usual was
simple and composed, and with none of the
grand air about him. No elation was visi-
BILE in his manner or appearance. His
voice was as calm as ever, and his eye be-
trayed no emotion. He spoke and acted as
plainly as if he were tranSactlng an Ordl-
nary matter of business. No one would
have suspected that he was about to re-
ceive the surrender Of an army, or that one
of the most terrible wars of modern times
udu Ueeu OuSub W u ClOSc ny
the quiet man without q sword, who was
conversing calmly, but rather grimly, with
the elaborate gentleman in gray and gold.
The conversation at first related to the
meeting of the two soldiers in earlier years
in Mexico. when Grant had been a subal-
tern and Lee a staff officer of Scott. The
rebel General, however, soon adverted to
the object of the interview. 81 asked to
see you, General Grant," he said, ''to as
certain upon what terms you would receive
the surrender of my army!" Grant re-
piled that the officers and men must be-
come prisoners of war, giving up, of course,
all ammunition, weapons and supplies, but
that a parole would be accepted binding
them to go to their homes and remain there
until exchanged or relieved by proper au-
thority. Lee said he had expected some
such things as these, and made some other
remark not exactly relevant. Whereupon
Grant inquired: ''Do 1 understand, Gen
eral Lee, that you accept these terms?"
eyes," said Lee, ''and if you will put them
into writing l will sign them"
Grant then sat down to the little table
and wrote the following letter.
APPOMATTOx CoURT-HOUsE, April 8, 1865
General r. e. Lee, Commanding C. s. A.-In
accordance with the substance of my letter
to you of the Sth inst, / propose to receive the
surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia,
| on the following terms to wit:
Roll of all the officers and men to be made in
uuDIlcdlc, one CODY 10 De given TO an OIIGGr
designated by me. the other to be retained by
such officers as you may designate
The officers to give their individual paroles
not to take arms against the United States
until properly exchanged, and each company
or regimental commander sign a like parole
for the men of their commands.
The arms, artillery and public property to
be packed and stacked, and turned over to
the officers appointed by me to receive them.
This will not embrace the Side-arms of the
officers, nor their private horses nor baggage
&c 6n,,a noI, "a. I'LL H..
lowed to return to their homes. not TO be dis
turbed by the United States authority so long
as they observe their parole and the laws in
force where they may reside. Very respect
fully, q. s. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
While Grant was writing he CHANGED to
look up at Lee, who sat nearly opposite,
and at that moment noticed the glitter Of
his sword. The sight suggested an altera-
ton in the terms, and he inserted the pro-
vision that officers should be allowed to
retain their side arms, horses and personal
property. Lee had accepted Grants con-
ditions without this stipulation, and doubt
less expected to surrender his sword. But
this humiliation he and his gallant officers
were spared When the terms were writ
ten out Grant handed the papers to his
great antagonist, who put on his specta-
cles to read them. He was evidently
touched by their general clemency, and
especially by the Interpolation which saved
so much to the feelings of a soldier. He
said at once that the conditions were mag
unanimous, and would have a very good eff
feet upon his army.
He next attempted to gain little more.
The horses of his cavalry, he said, were
the property of the soldiers. Could these
men be permitted to retain their animals?
Grant said the terms would not allow this?
Lee took the paper again, and glancing
over it again said: "No, you are right.
The terms do not allow it." WhereupOn
Grant replied: 81 believe the war is now
over, and the surrender of this army will
be followed soon by that of all the
others. | know the men, and indeed
the whole South, are impoverished. l will
not change the terms of surrender, General
Lee, but will instruct my officers who re-
ceive the paroles to allow the cavalry and
artillery men to retain their horses and
take them home to work their little
farms" Lee again expressed his acknowl-
edgment and said this kindness would
have the best possible effect.
He then wrote out his letter in these
words:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN vIR-
GINA. April 8, lse5.-LIEUTENANr-GE G ENERAL
U. s. GRANT, Commanding q. s. A.. General.
have received your letter of this date, con-
tanning the terms of surrender of the Army of
Northern Virginia, as proposed by you; as
they are substantially the same as those ex-
pressed in your letter of the Sth inst, they are
accepted. 1 will proceed to designate the
proper officers to carry the stipulations into
effect. Very respectfully, your ohedient serv-