Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-01-23
Just Before Appomattox.
About 9 a. m. the general rode in

ADOuI y d. III. Jlc ScucTdl TOuc lubO
Petersburg. Many of the citizens,
panic-stricken, had escaped with the
army. Most of the whites who re-
mained stayed indoors, few groups
of negroes gave cheers, but the scene
generally was one of complete deser-
ton. Grant rode along quietly with
his staff until he came to a comforta-
BILE looking brick house with a yard
in front, situated on one of the prin-
cipal streets, and here he and the Of
ficers accompanying him dismounted
and took seats on the piazza. A
number of the citizens now gathered
on the sidewalk and gazed, with ea-
ger curiosity, upon the features of
the commander of the Yankee arm
les.
The general was anxious to move
westward at once with the leading in
fantry columns, but Mr.. Lincoln had
telegraphed that he was on his way
to see him, and the general decided
to prolong his stay until the presi-
dent came up. Mr.. Lincoln soon af-
ter arrived, accompanied by his little
son "Tad," dismounted in the street
and came in through the front gate
NTH Iono onI pat,id otr;1as HE fooo
beaming with delight. He siezed
Gen. Grants hand as the general
stepped forward to greet him, and
stood shaking it for some time and
pouring out his thanks and congratu-
lations with all the fervor of a heart
which seemed overaowing with its
fullness of joy. / doubt whether Mr..
Lincoln ever experienced a happier
moment in his life. The scene was
singularly affecting and one never to
be forgotten. He then said
''Do you know, general, that
have had a sort of sneaking idea for
some days that you intended to do
something like this, though thought
some time ago that you would so ma
neuver as to have Sherman come up
and be near enough to cooperate
with you"
"Yes," replied the general, 81 tho't
at one time that Sherman's army
might advance so far as to be within
distance of the eastern
armies when the spring campaign
against Lee opened, but l have had a
feeling that it is better to let Lees
old antagonists give his army the fl
nal blow and finish up the job single |
handed"
81 see, l see," said Mr.. Lincoln, |
''but | never thought of il in that
light. In fact, my anxiety has been
so great that / didn't care where the
help came from so the work was done
Mr.. Lincoln then began TO talk
about the civil complications that
would follow the destruction of the
Confederate armies in the field, and
showed plainly the anxiety he felt
the great problems in state
raft which would soon be thrust up
IN him.
Meanwhile Tad, for whom he al
Ways showed great affection, was now
becoming a little uneasy and gave
certain appealing looks to which a
taft officer responded by procuring
ONE sandwiches, which he offered to
lin, saying: "Here, young man,
,uess you must be hungry" Tad
eized them as a drowning man would
eize life preserver, and cried out
Yes, am; that's what's the matter
1ith me-" This greatly amused the
resident and the general-in-chef,
Tho had hearty laugh at Tad's ex-
ense.
The general hoped that he would
ear before he parted with the presi-
ent that Richmond was i'm our pos
ession, but after the interview had
lsted about an hour and half, the
eneral said he must ride on To the
ront and join Ord's column, and took
cave of the president, who shook his
and cordially,an with great warmth
f feeling wished him God speed and
very success.