Lee and Grant: A Dual Biography by Gene Smith

Author:Gene Smith [Smith, Gene]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781504039758
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2016-10-04T07:00:00+00:00

In the morning, by prearrangement, they met again. Surrounded by Yankee officers they sat their horses, Traveller and Cincinnati, just outside the village. Grant had been halted by Southern pickets as he rode to the rendezvous—force of habit keeping him out of Lee’s lines, thought Horace Porter—and when Lee was informed he put Traveller into a gallop to join his former opposite number. They talked for nearly an hour in a drizzling rain, Grant suggesting that Lee meet with Lincoln. “I want you to meet him. Whatever you and he agree on will be satisfactory to the reasonable people of the North and South. If you and Mr. Lincoln will agree on terms, your influence in the South will make the Southern people accept what you accept, and Mr. Lincoln’s influence in the North will make reasonable people accept what he accepts.”

“General Grant, you know that I am a soldier of the Confederate Army, and I cannot meet Mr. Lincoln. I do not know what Mr. Davis is going to do, and I cannot undertake to make any terms.” They saluted each other and Grant rode back to his tent to pack up and make for City Point. Lee returned to his tent to work with Charles Marshall on a last message to his men. As he rode he met a Union officer who took off his cap and offered a cheery good morning. Lee did not recognize him at once and the officer said, “Don’t you know me? I’m George Meade.”

“Oh, is that you, Meade? But what are you doing with all that gray in your beard?”

“You have to answer for most of it!”

Old friends from long ago, they rode along together. It seemed to Theodore Lyman of Meade’s staff that Lee was entirely overwhelmed by his fate, but determined to keep up his pride to the last. At times, it seemed to Lyman, his mind wandered. They passed some rebel veterans who raised a cheer. Meade’s color bearer unfurled his flag, and a Southern voice yelled, “Damn your old rag! We are cheering General Lee!”

After lunch he worked with Marshall on his final words to the men.

After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.

I need not tell the brave survivors of so many hard fought battles who have remained steadfast to the last that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them: but feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.

By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from a consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a Merciful God will extend to you His blessings and protection.

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