The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-06
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mattox, when he refused to take the
sword OF his old teacher" etc.
Gen. Grant was possessed of a mag
unanimous heart; history records it;
the soldiers who wore the Gray cheer
| fully express it and posterity will re-
we're it. But with all due respect to
the memory of DR.. Morris, Gen. Grants
claim to a magnanimous heart was
not, Is not and never will be truthfully
based on this supposed refusal to take
the sword of Gen. Lee.
In DR.. Jones's "Reminiscences of
General Lee" occurs on page 303, the
following passage:
While in company with Gen. Lee
one lay l said: General Grant re-
turned your sword, did he not, gen.
eral? The old hero, Strengthening
himself up, replied in most emphatic
Etone: mo, sir, he did not. He had
no opportunity of doing so. I was de-
Ftermined that the side arms of officers
should be exempt by the terms of sur
render; and Of course ! did not offer
mine. All that was said about swords
was that General Grant apoiog1Zed to
me fer not wearing his own. saying
that it had gone off in his baggage,
and he had been unable to get it in
time. Qtalics are mine).
In Southern Historical Papers,
Vol. 9, pages 139 and 1.40, under the
question: Did Grant return Lees
sword at Appomattox Court House." i:
is said: Poetry, art and romance
have combined to paint the historic
scene of Lee rendering, and Grant
magnanimously declining to receive,
his sword at Apponattox court house
but nothing of the kind occurred
Perhaps some unkind friend may
say: But this is only the Southern
side Of the story" To all such Doubt
ing Thomases invite their attention
to the following correspondence:
Buffalo Lithia Springs, Va, March
| IL, 1881. Gen. US. Grant, New York
Dear Sir: In friendly discussion be-
tween several gentlemen of Northern
and Southern procliyities as to the
truth of history question arose
whether Lee at the surrender actually
| rendered, and you received, his sword
! dt was mutually agreed that you should
be written to for decision. There is
no idle curiosity or desire for noto-
riety in regard to this request, and a
reply from you would be highly ap-
preciated. Very respectfully, ]. ..
General Grant replied as Follows on
the same sheet of papeE:
General Gadean's book, now in the
hands Of the printer, will give the
exact truth of the matter referred to
in this letter. There was no demand
made for General Lees sword, and no
tender of it offered. u S. Grant"
Gen. Grant in his Memoirs, %
written when he was dying and there
fore actuated by. the highest motives
not to make any false claims, confirms
the facts stated in his above quoted
reply.
The statements of Gems. Lee and
Grant should set at rest any doubt that
might heretofore have been entertain
ed. As Hon. J. B. Policy, of Flores
vile, Tex. aptly says:
ITO say that Gen. Grant demanded
at Appomattox9 the sword of an officer,
for whom he no doubt entertained a
higher respect than for. any other
military man in the world, is to say
that Grant was less great at heart
than he really was"
After all, truth is more beautiful
than fiction!
Adherence to truth is not neces-
sarilyi rehabilitation of bitterness
and hatred Let us honor the valor
and deeds of both sides; at the same