Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-05-22
A MAN OF HIS WORD.
How General Grant Saved tho Mock OF
.. General II. Il. Lee.


A MAN OF HIS WORD.
How General Grant Saved tho Neck oil
General II. Il. Lee.
The war was over. General Lee and |
his half-starved Confederatos had re-
turned 10 their desolated homes on their |
parole of honor. The victorious North
ern and Western armies, under COM
mand of Grant and Sherman, were en-.
camped in and around Washington
City. Jefferson Davis was an inmate
of easement in Fortress Monroe and
Edwin M. Stanton was the power be-
hind the throne who ran the Govern
ment while Secretary of War.
Generals Grant and Rawlins were
playing game of billiards in the Ma
tionaI Hotel and two civilians were in
dulging in that pastime on an opposite
table A major in the regular army en-
tered the. spacious room in n hurry and
whispered to General Grant. The lat
ter laid his cue on the table saying:
"Rawlins, don't disturb the balls until
l RETURN and hurried out. One of the
civilians said to the other: ..Pay for the
game and hurry out There is some
thing up"
General Grant had reached the street,
where, in front of the hotel, stood a
mounted sentinel. Grant ordered the
soldier to dismount and springing into
saddle put spurs to the horse and rode
up the avenue so fast as to attract the
attention of pedestrians. The first civ
ilian questioned the soldier as to the
cause OF such sudden haste on the part
of General Grant, but was answered
with the surprise of one who knew
nothing. The second citizen appeared
saying: "What has become of Grant?'
On being told of the Generals break
| neck ride up Pennsylvania avenue it was
decided to go to the War Department
and learn the cause, if possible. Colonel
Barroll, of the Second Regular Infantry
and husband of Sue Denim, the actress,
was dsbursing officer in the Quarter
masters department, presided over by
General Rucker, and to the Colonel one
| of the civil ans went for information.
Asking him if he knew the reason of
| General Grants hasty action and if he
had seen the hero of the hour around
the department, Colonel Barroll an
swered: YES" but was surprised at
anybody's knowledge of the event.
When told of what transpired in the
billiard room of the National Hotel the
Colonel said: "Well, as you are aware
of the coming of General Grant l will
tell you all about it, providing you
promise not to repeat il"
The promise being given, Colonel
Barroll said: Secretary Stanton sent
for me in reference to the execution of
certain orders, and while listening to his
instructions General Grant came in.
The Secretary greeted the General with
pleasant Good morning. which the
latter returned and in continuation, said:
"Mr. Secretary, | understand that you
have issued orders for the arrest of
General Lee and Others and desire to
! know if such orders have been placed
in the hands of any officer for execution. "
60 have issued wrts for the arrest
of all tho prominent rebels, and officers
will be dispatched on the mission pretty
soon, replied the Secretary.
General Grant appeared cool, though
laboring under mental excitement, and
quickly said:
"Mr. Secretary, when General Lee
surrendered to me at Appomattox Court
House gave him my word and honor
that neither he nor any of his followers
would be disturbed so long rs they
obeyed their parole of honor l have
learned nothing to cause me to believe
that any of my late adversaries have
broken their promises, and have come
here to make you aware of that fact,
and would also suggest that those orders
be Cancelled. .... ~, 4. -.., w. ...-,...-,.--.
Secretary Stanton became terribly an
CRY Mt being spoken to in such man
ner by his inferior officer, and said:
General Grant, are you aware whom
you are talking TOP l am the Secretary
of War;
Quick as a flash Grant answered
back: ''And am General Grant Issue
those orders at your peril. Then
turning on his heel General Grant
walked out of the room as unconcerned
as ii nothing had happened.
at is needless to say" continued
Colonel BarrolL "that neither General
Lee nor any of his soldiers were arrest
ed. was dismis ed from the presence
of the Secretary with the remark that
my services in connection with the ar
rest of the leading rebels would be dis
! pensed with until he took time to con-
slider, and now wait the result of his
decision.
Like some cases in law that decision
of the great War S crctary was re-
served for all time, but whether the
gamo OF billiards between Generals
Grant and Rawlins was ever played out
to an end has never been definitely
known, though it was surmised that
with the aid of a consoling cigar the
game was finished. In y. Cor. Phila-
| dekyhia Times.