Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/251

 The Monument to General Robert E, Lee. 243

the civil and military officers of the Confederate Government. I shall only say that there was not an officer in his army who did not feel bound to him by ties stronger than those of discipline, and to whom his approval was not a sufficient recompense for any service.

The dignity and grandeur of General Lee never appeared to greater advantage than on the occasion of the surrender at Appomattox. Others have described better than I can his appearance in the inter- view with General Grant. Let me say, however, as the only Con- federate witness of that scene, that had General Grant and the offi- cers who attended him studied beforehand how to conduct themselves so as to spare as far as possible the feelings of their illustrious enemy, and show their generous sympathy for him in the supreme moment of his trial, they could not have acted their parts better than they did when they obeyed the promptings of the noble heart of the true American soldier.

The scene was in no way theatrical, but in its simplicity it was dramatic in the extreme. It can only be painted by one who knows how to depict victory without triumph.

As General Lee stood confronting General Grant, before they be- gan to speak of the business they had in hand, a number of Federal officers were near General Grant, listening to the conversation, and some of them taking part in it, and had a stranger entered the room ignorant of what was taking place, it would never have occurred to him that anything was going on but a pleasant conversation among friends. General Lee was as calm and collected, as dignified and gracious as I ever saw him in the hour of victory.

Through the pain and humiliation of his position, his great career about to close in defeat, and all that he had done about to be made unavailing, he saw the path of duty, and he trod it with as firm a foot and as brave a heart and as lofty a mien as if it had been the way of triumph.

GRANT* S TRIBUTE TO LEE.

Perhaps the highest tribute that was ever paid to General Lee was paid by General Grant himself at Appomattox.

After the meeting at McLean's house, where the terms of surrender were agreed upon, (General Grant requested another interview with General Lee.

Upon his return to his quarters. General Lee informed myself and other members of his staff, that in his conversation with General Grant the latter had expressed the most earnest desire that peace