Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09
wright, 1912, by the Century Company

,
him dismounted and took seats on the
piazza A number of the citizens soon
gathered on the sidewalk and gazed with
eager curiosity upon the commander or
the Yankee armies.
Soon an officer came with dispatch
from Sheridan, who had been reinforced
and ordered to strike out along the Dan
vile railroad, saying he was already nine
miles beyond NamoZne creek and press
ing the enemy's trains The general was
anxious to move westward at once with
the leading infantry columns, but MI
Lincoln had telegraphed that he was on
his way, and the general. though he had
replied that he could not wait for his
arrival. decided to prolong his stay until
the President came up.
Mr. Lincoln, accompanied by his little
son Tad dismounted in the street and
came in through the front gate with long
and rapid strides, his face beaming with
delight 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 heart that
seemed overlooking with its fullness Of
JOY 1 doubt whether Mr. Lincoln ever
The scene was singularly affecting and
one never to be forgotten. He then
said
DO you know. general l have had a
sort of sneaking idea for some days that
you intended to do something like this.
though 1 thought some time ago that you
would SO maneuver as to have Sherman
come up and be near enough to cooperate
with you
Yes" replied the general. Il thought
- hat ~ v,,sy ~
advance SO far as to be In supporting dis
lance Of the eastern armies when the
spring campaign against Lee opened, but
1 have had feeling that it is better to
let Lees old antagonists give the final
blow and finish up the job.
IF the western armies were even to
put in an appearance against Lees army
1t might give some OF our politicians a
chance to stir up sectional feeling in
claiming everything for the troops from
their own section of country. The west
ern armies have been very successful in
their campaigns and it is due to the
eastern armies to let them vanquish their
old enemy single-handed.''
II see, see." said Mr.. Lincoln, but
never thought of 1t 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"
oh" Gen. Grant continued. IT do
not suppose 1t would have given rise to
much of the pickering I mentioned, and
perhaps the idea would not have occur
red to any one else. I feel sure there
would have been no such feeling among
the soldiers. but there might have been
among our politicians. While would not
have risked the result of the campaign
on account Of any mere sentiment OF this
kind. felt that our troops here are am
ply able to handle Lee"
Mr.. Lincoln then began to talk about
the civil complications that would fol-
low the destruction of the Confederate
armies in the field. and showed plainly
the anxiety he felt regarding the great
problems in statecraft that would soon
be thrust upon him. He intimated very
plainly. however. In a rambling talk
uf nearly half an hour that thoughts of
mercy and magnanimity were uppermost
in his heart.
At 1890 the general wrote telegram