The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-03-09
JUST BEFORE ApPoMArrox.
Meeting Between Grant and Lincoln Just
Before the Close OF the war.

Before the Close Of the war.
About 0 a. M. the general rode int
Petersburg. Many of the citizens, panic
stricken, had escaped with the army
Most of the whites who remained stayed
indoors, a few groups Of negroes gave
cheers, but the scene generally was one al
complete desertion. Grant rode alono
quietly with his staE until he ann TO d
comfortable looking brick house with. q
yard in front, situated on one of the prin,
cipal streets, and here he and the officers
accompanying him dismounted and took
seats on the piazza. A number Of the
citizens now gathered on the sidewalk and
gazed, with eager curiosity, upon the
features OF the commander Of the Yankee
armies.
The general was anxious to move west
ward at once with the leading infantry
columns, but Nh. Lincoln had telegraphed
that he was on his way to see him, and
the general decided to prolong his stay un.
til b president came up. Mr.. Lincoln
soon after arrived, accompanied by his lit
tie son TAD dismounted In the
street and came in through the
tront gate with long and rapid
strides, his face beaming with de-
light. He seized Gen. Grants hand as
the general stepped forward to greet him,
and stood shaking it for some time and
pouring out his thanks and ~congratula-
tons with all the fervor OF a heart which
seemed overlooking with its fulIness OF
Joy. / doubt whether Mr.. Lincoln ever
experienced a happier moment in his life.
The scene was singularly affecting and
n never to be forgotten. He then said:
do you know, general, / 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 maneuyer as to have Sherman
come up and be near enough to cooperate
with you.''
yes replied the general, ~ thought
at me time that Sherman's array might
advance so far as to be within supporting
distance Of the eastern armies when the
spring campaign against Lee opened, but
1 have had a feeling that il is better to
let Lees old antagonists give his 6rmy
the final blow and finish up the job single
handed
~ see, ! see, . said Mr.. lincoln, 'sbut i
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 perfectly 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
anHiety he felt regarding the great prob
lens in statecraft which would soon be
thrust upon him.
Meanwhile Tad, for whom ne always
showed great affection, was now becom-
ing a little uneasy and gave certain APP
pealing looks TO which a staff officer re-
sponded by producing some sandwiches,
which he offered to him, saying; Here,
young man, / guess you must be hungry"
Tad seized them as q drowning man
would seize a life presefver, and cried ont:
Eyes, / am; that's what's the matter with
me- This greatly amused the president
and tbe general-in-chief, who had a hearty
lauCN at Tad's expense.
The general hoped that he would hear
before he parted with the president that
Richmond was In our possession, but after
the interview had lasted about an hour
and a half, the general said he must ride
on to the front and join Ord,s column, and
took leave of the president, who shook his
hand cordially, and with great warmth of
feeling wished him God speed and every
success,-Gen. Horace Porter in The
Century.