The Indianapolis journal., 1885-07-24

mendation from somebody. He thought perhaps
3 he could, and telegraphed 70 Hon. E. B. Wash
burne, at Galena, asking if he could recommend
him for field Office. Washburne did recon-
mend him, and other citizens of Galena sent
4 messages to Governor Yates in Grants behalf.
Just then several regiments were being organ
lied, among them the Twenty first Illinois, and
there was a demand for a regiment
to 60 at once to Missouri, to q place where
the rebels had burned bridge and committed
other depredations Though several gentlemen
were waiting about Springfield at that time for
z coonelces. the prospect of taking raw reSl-
ment right into the field was not an inviting one,
and as Grant said to M, There was consider
able diffdence mantle ted by these gentlemen to
taking command at once, and so the colonelcy
was given to me-
I Grants treatment of Pitcher afterwards was
another illustration of the oftrepeated fact that
4 the great soldier never forgot friend He made
him commandant at West Point. This position
had previously been given only to officers of the
engineer corps, exclusively. Grant broke this
rule for his friend. Later on he appointed
< Pitchers son a cadet at West Point. After Gen
eral Pitchers term as commandant had expired
& three years, | think being the term-he ap-
pointed him governor of the Soldiers Home at
3 Washington, and he retained him there during
I; his two terms as President"
& THE SURRENDER OF LEE.
y John B. ELAN, of this city said: Il was in
q the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio, Sixth army
corps, Sedgwick's old corps. was with Grant
& from the Wilderness to the surrender at Apo
i mattox and saw him frequently. He.made the
impression upon the boys that he was able to
take care of them; there was something in the
manner and bearing of the man that inspired
q them with that idea. He went about as if he
were serious business, but with air of
3 hopetulness. There was seldom cheering when
Grant rode along the line, in the case of Sheri-
d dan and Custer. There was nothing in his man
1 ner to indicate that any such demonstration was
either expected or desired. While there was
nothing about him that could be said to repel
Z It, there was something that seemed to inspire
Z a feeling which was not best expressed in that
way The men under his command always
8 seemed to think that everything respecting their
g welfare would be looked after, and that they
were safe with Grant.
q Il took part in the pursuit of Lee. bat was
half mile from where the surrender took place,
and did not see the meeting between Grant and
q Lee. The most wonderful thing about the Ap-
z pOmattOX surrender was the fact that so large
i an array of veteran soldiers were compelled to
surrender in the open field in their own country
after so short campaign. From Five Forks to
4 Appomattox was only nine days. Wnen the
4 battle of Five Forks began Lee was in an in
trenched position. and while his army was
) somewhat depleted, it was still a very large body
I of veteran soldiers. He was driven from this
pOstion--large numbers of guns and prisoners
were taken at Petersburg and in the vicinity
b and was pursued with such tremendous vigor
and every attempt to escape fOiled with such
admirable Judgment that he could neither stand
nor fly in the direction he wished to 90, and in
nine days he was compelled to surrender his
entire force.
considering the weather and the condition of
8 the roads at the time of this memorable pursuit,
it is doubtful whether it has been surpassed in
any campaign by any commander. When further
retreat was impossible and the surrender
4 occurred. there not the slightest disposition
manifested to make any parade, or in any way
to the humiliation of the brave men who
were forced to lay down their arms. Everything
was done in the quietest possible way The
federal soldiers who cared to do so allowed
q to mingle with the captives, and converse with
them. but there was nothing that looked like an
exhibition OF prisoners as trophies of war; but,
4 Oh the contrary, their feelings were spared In
I every way possible The two armies had been
so often opposed to each other in terrible con-
4 tict that each had learned to respect the
courage and manllness of the other, so
that when hOstilities were at an end the meet
ing of individuals from the opposing armies
seemed the meeting Of friends rather than of
enemies Much bitterness of feeling has arisen
since that time between residents of the North
! and South the greatest bitterness being displayed
aS rule by those who took no part in the con-
tlict when 1t was at hand. But on that day there
Was disposition to fight battles over again as
they sat about the campfire and compared notes
of experiences had while they had been on oppo-
site sides of certain field Or piece of woods.
tone of conversation was both kindly and hope
full"
HIS QUICKNEss AND THoUGHTFULNEss
Charles w. Smith, of this city, said "The
first time saw Grant was at a brigade review.
The incident to which | refer was
not a matter of any Importance but
5is to me significant as illustrating his
quickness Of apprehension. L was adjutant, and
1t was just at that point in the review when the
officers were in front of the regiments and the
adjutants to the center. At that moment l
heard catter of cavalry to the right and,
without daring to look around, | tried to get d
glance from the corner of my eye. | thought it
I might be a lot of caValrymen on a lark and that
they would ride down between the commanding
officers and the brigade line In the next instant
they into view. 1t General Grant
1 and his staff. Grant was magnificent horse
man, and they were going at great speed.
Quick as thought, gave orders to the color
sergeant to dip the colors three tmes-the salute
q to the General 1t done. Grant observed
I it and said quickly, as he went by Very well
i done Lieutenant; very we'll done Now it took
close observer to see just how quickly that was
B DONE and how we'll
Another circumstance like to remember, as
4 illustrating Grants exceeding thoughtfulness.
8 1t was about the time of Lees surrender at Ap-
pomattox. The army Of the James had been
pushing Lee exceedingly hard. We were tired
anu LoolSorc, anu yeI trying Hdru 10 De cHeeFluI
and good tempered. Our brigade had splendid
I band of twenty three or twenty-four pieces. We
saw Grant and his staff coming up, and prepar
q ed to give him salute. The musicians, just as
I he came up, started in upon Hail to the chief,
which, you know begins with grandly swell
ing strain. Grant looked greatly pleased, salut-
ed and rode on. few moments later staff
officer came back, sent by Grant, saying the
General desired to give thanks for the attention
D paid him, and complimented Us upon the excel
q lence of the music. The staff officer also said
that the General requested him to tell us that he
was then going forward to meet Lee and receive
3 his surrender.
Now, this made the boys, tired as they were,
z feel good We felt that it kind and thought
q full in the General, just at that time, to send us
such news. There was no OStentation about the
q surrender. We were in camp upon a hill, and
orders strict for all federal soldiers to keep
s in camp. There no surrenderng in the face
u LIZ md o,,ltnnt Int