Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-02-10
TWO WOMEN PEACEMAKeRs.
Gen. Grants Singular Proposition to Gen,
Longstreet.

Gen. Grants Singular Proposition to Gen.
Lopgstreet.
In those idle and peaceful days which
followed graduation at West Point,
army duties were pleasant rather than
exacting, and time hung lightly enough
to make social life about post very at
tractive, 1t was in those haleyon days
that the friendship between Grant and
Longstreet began which was afterward
drawn upon by the great union com.
mander in his attempts to bring peace
to the country months before the cy.
clone of conflict knocked the life out OF
the confederacy and left politicians to
wrangle over details for restoring the
union that bred no end of trouble.
Gen. Grants idea was an inspiration.
The attempt was bold enough to be
startling even now, but it gives another
evidence of the wonderful soldiers cour.
age and faith in his judgment The
peace conference at Hampton Roads
had failed. President Lincoln had re-
turned to Washington and the southcrl
commissioners had gone to their homes
The union commander had set great
store upon the result of this meeting,
and was much depressed as he saw the
prospects for an early peace vanish.
But the man of many resources did not
spend time in regrets. He soon turned
his mind in the direction of arranging o
military conference between himself
and Gen. Lee, in the hopes of reaching
some terms for the cessation of hostili
ties that would be so fair to both Sec
tions that the politicians would be
forced by public sentiment to accept
them as the basis of a peaceful settle.
ment of the war.
The task was difficult and delicate
one, and could only be accomplished by
indirection. Gen. Grant instinctively
turned toward Gen. Longstreet for aid
to accomplish it. The confederate gem
eral had been near him when he mar.
ried Miss Dent and took up his residence
rs post quartermaster at the City of the
Straits. In the whirl of those days
Grant and his young wife and Long
street and his bride were prominent
and interesting figures To restore the
old-time relations between the two
wives, who were as fast friends as their
husbands, would be to open the door
for social communion between mill
tary spirits that might lead to good re-
suits if not solve the problem in the
head and heart of the union leader
Both armies were facing each other
in winter quarters. Mrs. Grant was
with her husband within the federal
lines, and Mrs. Longstreet was with
the general within the confederate. AS
women were quite willing to perform
the important part which had been as
signed them. Gen. Ord, who it is said
was always hunting fight, was sent
for by Gen. Grant and received certain
directions. An hour later in the oppo-
site confederate camp one of Long
streets staff officers rode up to his chief
and said:
''There is flag of truce along the
line, with Gen. Ord in charge, SIR"
1t was only few minutes before
Gen. Ord and Gen. Longstreet met at
the latter's tent. Our men," said Ord,
''are trading sugar for tobacco, and cof'
fee for other things your men have.
They are even playing games and run
ming horses together, making picket
service a pleasure rather than an i'm
portant duty 1t is desirable that il
should be stopped"
Longstreet agreed that it should and
that settled it. This incident brushed
away, which was really only to pave
| the way for one of the most remarkable
conversations that ever took place be.
tween opposing generals in time of war,
Gen. Grid told Longstreet of Gen. Grants
plan for bringing himself and Gen. Lee
together that they might discuss some
plan looking toward ending the war,
The plan was that Mrs. Longstreet
should come through the lines for a
social visit to Mrs. Grant, staying as
long as she pleased. AS many officer:
as Longstreet thought desirable should
come with her and go about freely with
then become her guest, accompanied by
as many federal officers as Grant might
! select
1t was his idea that in this social way
suggestions about the cessation of hos
tilitics would be natural, as the officer;
Of the two armies came to know eacf
other better. In this way the com
manders of the hostile forces could also
be brought into contact in an unoificia
way and discuss methods toput stop tC
further bloodshcd Even if nothing
practical came of it, kindly and hui
name spirit would, at least, be showr
among the men doing the fighting, al
the leaders of whom were anxious tC
stop further sacrifice of human life.
~ was much pleased with the propo
sition," said Gen. Longstreet more thar
a quarter of century after the memor
able incident of the winter of 1865
"But having no authority to treat upoI
such matters agreed to place the i'm
portant subject at once before Gen
Lee. / did so, and he favored it. A
Richmond the scheme was earnestly
talked over and approved. Mrs. Long
street was anxious to do her part in thu
plea fer peace, and was soon ready t.
start upon her delicate but interesting
GRAND. Gen. Lee gave her letter t.
Gen. Grant which was to be seen by mt
before she passed through the lines.
ut was direct request for confer
ence to consider definite articles o
peace. l knew that request, the mo
ment l read it, would be fatal to tn
plans arranged by Grant lie had nj
right to consider such articles, and
knew him well enough to know that h
would never assume an authority n
aid not have. went promptly to Gen
Lee and urged such change in hi
Inttnr n yvpuld at least omen the way fO