The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-13
Messenger.
SOaE FIGURES AND A REMINIs-
CENCE.

So many f~alsehoods and exaggera-
lions concerning the great war between
the states have appeared and are APP
pearing, it is a pity that some work
aiming at the truth and printing the
truth is not published. This is thirty
five years after the last battle; the
second generation has come upon the
scene since the flag Of the Lost
Cause"-may il ever live in the hearts
and memories of the people Of the
south-was forever furled, and a
truthful, carefully prepared history is
so II Ich needed. The reports that
have been published on either side have
often been erroneous. Some of the
generals published lies as did old slow
paced General Longstreet did Of the
North C~aroIinians and others in the
Third days battle Of Gettysburg. Cen
era stephen d. Lee, of Mississippi, lie
pr of the Historical society Of
~ ississippi. IN a recent address before
hi 0ody he discussed the defence Of
Vicksburg, in which he shared, for he
is a gallant and meritOrious soldier.
We find this in the New York Tribune.
and we suppose it gives correctly the
point General Lee made:
General Lee said in the assault Of
May % General Pemberton had 1899 to
Grants $1,000 men n 1S6 guns.
These figures dispose of the theory that
this assault was made by the union
army against an ~intrenched army
which they did not outnumber even two
to one, as has been claimed by some
military writer's, who protested to re-
gard that assault as the most remark
able one in the history of military
operations"
In this connection let us give a story
connected with the two commanders
in that battle. 1t is authentic, and
General NJ. w. Ransom, and DR.. Robert
Atkinson, Of Baltimore, Heard the story
from General Pemberton's lips:
About 1860, he was standing on the
steps of the large st. Louis hotel one
morning. He saw a man coming dag
onaIiy across the street, and his APP
pearance indicated that ne was in a
heavy iebauch. He was seedy, hat
mashed, clothes worn and soiled, linen
dirty, face flushed and eyes red. He
said to himself hat looks very much
like Grant. He had been allowed to
resign from the army because of
drunkenness. As the man approached
the side walk a little below where
General Pemberton was standing, he
saw his surmise was correct. that it
was his old West Point friend with
whom he had served. He moved to-
wards tn edge of the pavement and
extending his hand said, why Grant,
how do you do. l am glad to meet
you Grant looked up II recognize
ing him said: '~'Pemberton lend me a
dollar" He gave it to him, and with
out thanking him or one word of greet
ing, he put out as rapidly as he could
walk for a bar room on the other side,
and which he entered. General Penn
bertOn added: THAT was the last time
L saw Grant until L stood before him
at Vicksburg to surrender my sword"
Grants history is one of the marVels or
history. He made a big reputation with
a very great army fighting a very mall
army in comparison. 1t is most for
.tunate for his fame that General Albert
Sidney Johnston was killed at Shiloh,
and that General Lee did not command
an army one half the size of his own.
If he had commanded one Of equal size
there would have been but one battle
between them.