Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1885 — Page 3

GRANT AND LEE

Interesting Story of Appomattox Retold. On the night of April 2,1865, Gen. Lee ordered the evacuation of Petersburg. The movement was conducted w.th wonderful address, ■and, the march being pushed vigorously all -night, Lee's army, now reduced to 25,000 >men, had by dawn put sixteen miles between dt and Petersburg. On April 3 a squad of ‘Federal cavalry rode into Richmond without -molestation, and thus the Confederate capital felt When morning revealed the flight of Lee's army. Grant made haste to follow. ‘Pursued and pursuers marched by parallel dines, Lee by the north side of the Appomattox and-Grant by the south bank, in a southwesterly direction. It was Lee's des.re to reach the mountains, in the fastnesses es which he hoped to recruit the strength and spirits of his army. It was a terr.ble race for life. The Confederates began the retreat with but one ration, and the country through which they passed had no supplies. Hundreds of men dropped from exhaustion and thousands let fall their muskets from inability to carry them any further. When night came, exhausted divisions sinking iu -Che woods for a few hours' repose would hear •suddenly the boom of hostile guns and they had to rise and hasten away as fast as their weaty limbs would carry them. It was Loe’s hope to reach the Danville Railway at Amelia Court-House, concentrate -at that point, then fall back south-westward to Danvjlie and make a junction with the ■army of Joseph E. Johnston. It was the determination of Grant and Sheridan that be should do no hing of tho kind. Lee expected ■Grant to follow on his track; Grant decided to race and head him off. At Amelia CourtHouse Longstreet, Gordon, and Ewell united their wearied and hungry troops. Here was the railway, but where'were the hoped for •supplies? Sheridan had seized the road ten miles to the southwest of them and held and barred tho way. Meade was but a short distance behind him; Grant, with Ord and the Twenty fourth Corps farther to the south, along the South-side railway. Lee found ’that he could not reach Danville; but there "was another hope: Lynchburg, fifty m les west —Lynchburg and the neighboring mountains. Thither he turned his weary -eyes, and, with Shenidan hanging to his bleeding flanks and worrying the column over every mile of road, the Southern leader strove to keep his men together and still push ahead. Almost every hour he had 'to turn and fight; first on one side, then on the other, in front, flank, and rear; small detachments of cavalry leaped upon his batteries or trains, lopping off a few guns, a score of wagons, or a hundred prisoners at ever cross-road, while behind him and on his left pushed relentlessly ahead the now enthusiastic infantry of the Army of the Potomac. Night and day, for five successive days, it was one vehement, never-relaxing pursuit, varied only by the savage combats that attended Lee’s every halt for breath. At Sailors’ Creek, at Farmville, at High Bridge, where again they strode along the banks of the Appomattox, there was b oody fighting; but never could the General shake off the death-grip of Sheridan. He had fully forty thousand men at Amelia on the sth, and at least one-fourth of these were gone when his staggering columns pushed on for the last march of all— April 8. He had succeeded in crossing to the north side of the Appomattox now, leaving Kwell’s corps, with Ewell himself, Kershaw. Gustls Lee, Dubose, Hunton, and Corse as prisoners, a loss of fully eight thousand men sustained in one day; and now, with Humphreys and Wrght close behind him on the north side, and Sheridan’s cavalry, Ord, and Griffin’s corps on the south, side and even with his leading columns, Lee was striking for Appomattox Court House, where supplies were awaiting him. On tho'Tth Grant had written a few w«rds to Gen. Lee, pointing out the hopelessness of further resi tance, and asking his surrender, as the only means of avoiding further bloodshed. Lee replied that he did not regard bis position as hopeless, but inquired what terms would be offered. On the Bth Grant had offered most lenient terms—the mere disqualification of aM surrendered officers or men from again taking up arms until properly exchanged; but Lee still hoped to escape. He counted on getting those <applies at Appomattox and then breaking for Lynchburg, only a long day's xqarch away, and he declined. This correspondence was really conducted on the run, Isrboth armies were pushed to the utmost in the race. But Lee stopped twice on the 7th a.nd Bth to fight Humphreys, who was clingifig to tho rear with a grasp that threatened tri pull him to earth, and the delay was fatal, (topping for nothing, Sheridan’s cavalry •hot forward along the lower road, sprang Upon the railway station beyond the Court House, Ouster's troopers rode in among the coveted trains, and long before the morning Cf the 9th had whisked every vestige of supplies out of sight; brigade after brigade came trotting up from the southeast, and deploying its skirmish lines up the Richmond road toward the Court House, five miles •way, whither Custer had already driven the advance guard of Lee’s army, sent forward With empty wagons lor those desperately weeded rations. Lee knew that Sheridan’s cavalry had “headed” him, and that now he must not only fight back the tierce pursuers so close at his rear—he must cut through those daring troopers in front. When Lee perceived his inability to force a passage through Sheridan’s lines he was conscious that, unless he quickly submitted to whatever terms * Grant chose to impose, be and every man in his army would be annihilated. With Sheridan, Ord, and Griffin in front, and Meade with Humphreys and Wright in the rear, there was no possible avenue of escape. One solitary road over tiie hills was indeed still open to Lynchburg, an ! by this route one of Lee’s nephews, Gen. Fitz-Hugh Lee, even now led a lew hundred cavalrymen, in opposition, it is said, to the wish of his uncle. But it was impossible for LeeFto save his army by this road, and all that was left of the host that had so ong defended Richmond was in reality inclosed in the lines of the conqueror. A dispatch that Lee wrote to Grant on the 9th was in these words: “I received your note of this morning on the picket line, whither I bad come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in you proposal of yesterday, with reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask an in er\ lew in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose.” Grant had started for Sheridan’s front at an early hour, and this communication was sent by the way of Meade's cornu and. It, therefore, did not reach him, the General-in-chief, until nearly midday. He immediately replied: “Your note es this date is but this moment (11:50 a. m.) re elved. In consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg Road to the larmville and I ynchbiirg Road, I am at this writing about four miles west of Walter's Church, and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take place will meet me." This note was carried forward by Col. Babcock, »f Grant’s staff, who passed the enemy’s pickets, and was conducted to Lee. The great rebel was sitting by the roadside, tinder an apple tree, surrounded by his officers, but he immediately mounted and rode forward to select the place for the interview, in accordance, with the suggestion of GrantFirst. however, he d sired to send a message to Meade. He had been so anxious to avoid any further fighting that he had requested of Meade, as well as .Sheridan, a cessation of hoetilit es, and Meade, a*> well as Sheridan, at first declined to receive the proposition, declaring that he had no authority, bat finally agreed to a truce until 2 p. m., by which Mme it was supposed the Generails-in-ehiuf

would have met. Dee informed Babcock of this arrangement, and requested that word might te sent to Meade, and the truce extended. Babcock accordingly wrote a line to Meade, notifying him of the circums antes, and requesting him to maintain the truce until positive ordersfrom Gen. Grant oou.d be received. But the hours were passing, and the distance to Meade's headquarters, around the national front, was nearly twelve miles, while through the rebel army it was not more than two miles, and in his anxiety lest the fighting should recommence Lee now volunteered to send an officer through his owu lines with the message to Meade, l abcock's note was accordingly transmitted in this way by Gen. lorsjth, of Sheridan’s staff, escorted by a rebel officer. Lee then rode on to the village of Appomattox, and selected the house of a farmer named McLean for the interview with Grant. Information was at once sent back to Sheridan's headquarters, not half a mile away, where the cavalry leader was impatiently awaiting the arrival of his chief. Firing, of course, had ceased, and hheridan was at the very front with a handful of officers. AT GRANT’S MERCY. Aware that Grant now held the remainder of the Army of Northern Virginia in his grasp, and indignant that Lee should have continued to fight after he had proposed to surrender, the national trooper was inclined to consider the rebeloverture a ruse intended only to gain time to escape. He was pacing up and down in a little farm-yard like a p nther in a cage when the General-in-Chief arrived and assured him of the truth that Gen. Lee, rinding himself circumvented and surrounded, had indeed expressed a willingness to surrender. A few words from Sheridan explained the situation in his front, and made Grant aware how completely the rebel leader and the fragments of the rebel army were at his mercy. With the Army of the Potomac on the north and east, and Sheridan and Ord on the south and west, the enemy that had withstood, and repelled, and averted, and avoided Grant so long was absolutely in his power. He proceeded at once to the interview. The two armies came together in a long valley at the foot of a ridge, and Appomattox was on a knoll between the lines which could be seen for miles. The MoLean bouse stood a little apart, a plain building wi.h a veranda in front. Grant was met by Leeatthe threshold. There was a narrow hall and a naked little parlor containing a table and two or three chairs. Into this the gentlemen entered, each at first accompanied by a single aid-de-camp, but as many as twenty national officers shortly followed, among them Sheridan, Ord, and a number of Grant’s own staff. No rebel entered the loom but Leo and CoL Marshall, who acted as his secretary. The two chiefs shook hands, and Lee at once began a conversation, for he appeared more unembarrassed than his victor. He, as well as his aid-de-camp, was elaborately dressed. Lee wore embroidered gauntlets and a burnished sword, the gift, it is said, of the State of Virginia, while the uniforms of Grant and those who accompanied him were soiled and worn. Some had slept in their boots for days, and Grant, when he started for Farmville, two days before, had been riding around in camp without a sword. He had not since visited his own headquarters,' and was therefore at this moment without side-arms. The contrast was singular, and Col. Marshall was asked how it came about that his ch es and he were so fine, while the nat.onal officers had been unable to keep themselves free front the stains of battle and the road. He replied that Sheridan had come upon them suddenly a day or two before, and they were obliged to sacrifice their headquarters train; and, as they could save but ono suit of clothes, each hurriedly selected the best that he had, and so it was that at this juncture Lee and his aifis-de-camp were better dressed than the men that had pursued them. Lee was tall, fine in person, handsome in features, grave and dignified in bearing—if anything, a little too formal. There was a suggestion of effort in his deportment: something that showed he was determined to die grace: ully; a hint of Caesar muffling himself in hfs mantle. But apart from this there was nothing to criticise. GRANT S TERMS. Grant, as usual, was simple and composed, but with none of the grand air about him. No elation was visible in his manner or appearance. His voice was as calm as ever, and his eye betrayed no emotion. He. spoke and acted as plainly as if he were transacting an ordinary matter of business. No one wou d have suspected that he was about to receive the surrender of an army, or that one of the most terrible wars of modern times had. been brought to a triumphant close by the quiet man without a sword who was conversing calmly but rather grimly with the elaborate gentleman in gray and go d. The conversation at first related to the meeting of the two soldiers in earlier years in Mexico, when Grant had been a subaltern and Lee a staff officer of Scott. The rebel General, however, soon adverted to the object of the interview. “1 asked to see you, Gen. Grant,” he said, “to ascertain upon what terms you would receive the surrender of my army.” Grant replied that the officers and men must become prisoners of war, giving up of course all ammunition, weapons, and supplies, but that a parole would be accepted binding them to go to their homes and remain there until exchanged or relieved by proper authority. Lee said he had expected some such things as these and made some other remark not exactly relevant. Whereupon Grant inquired: “Do I understand, Gen. Lee, that you accept these terms?” “Yes,” said Lee. “and if you will put them into writing I will sign them.” Grant then sat down to the little table and wrote the following letter: Appomattox Court House, April 9, '65. Gen. R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A.: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you or' the Bth inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in dup icate, one copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such officers as you may designate. Tlie officers to give their individual paroles not to take arms against the United States unt.l properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of the r commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be p eked and stack d, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their parole and the laws in spree where they may reside. Very respectfully, U. 8. Grant, Lieutenant General. While Grant was writing he chanced to look up at Lee, who sat nearly opposite, and at that moment noticed the gl tter of his sword. The sight suggested an alteration in the terms, and he inserted the provision that officers should be allowed to retain their sidearms, horses, and personal property. Leo had accepted Grant’s conditions without this stipulation, and doubtless expected to surrender his sword. But this humiliation ho and bis gallant officers were spared. When the terms were written out. Grant handed the papers to his great antagonist, who put on his spectacles to read them. He was evidently touched by their generous clemency, andespec ally by the interpolation which saved so much to tho feelin.s of a soldier. He said at once that, the conditions were magnanimous, and would have a very pood effect upon his army. He next attempted to gain a little more. The horses of his cavalry, he said, were the property of the soldiers. Could these men be permitted to retain their animals? Grant sad the terms would not allow this. Lee took the paper again, and glancing over it

I said: “No, you are right. The terms do not allow it.” Whereupon Grant replied: “I believe the war is now over, and the surrender of this army will te followed soon by that of all the others. I know the men, and indeed the whole South, are impoverished. 1 will not change the terms of the surrender, Gen. Lee, but I will Instruct my officers who receive the paroles to allow the cavalry and artillery men to retain their horses and take them home to work their little farms.” Lee again expresed his acknowledgment and said this kindness would have the best possible effect. He then wrote out his letter in these words; Headquarters army of Northern I Virginia, April 9. 1865. i Lieut Gen. U. S. Grant, Commanding United States Army: General—l have received your letter of this date containing tho terms of surrender of the Army of Nor.hern Virginia, as proposed by you; as they are substantially the same as those expr. ssed in jour letter of the Bth inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect. Very repsectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. Lee General. While the conditions were being copied the various Union officers were presented to Lee. He was collected and courteous, bowing to each, but offered none his hand. One, Gen. Seth Williams, who had served closely with him in the old army, attempted to revive old memories, but Lee repelled the advance coldiy. He was in no mood to remember ancient friendships, or to recall pleasantly his service in the army.of which he was now a prisoner or under that flag which he had betrayed. He had, however, another request to make. His men were starving; thej' had lived, ho said, on two ears of corn a day lor several days. Would Grant supply them with food? There was a train of cars at Lynchburg loaded with rations which had come from Danville for his army. Would Grant al ow them ‘o be distributed among the prisoners? Grant, however, told him that this train had been captured the day before by Sheridan. Thus, at the moment of his surrender Lee was absolutely dependent for supplies upon his conqueror. Grant, of course, acquiesced in tho request and asked how many rations Lee required. But the rebel General declared that he could not answer tho question. He had no idea of his own strength. No return of the brigades had been made for several days. Besides those lost in the battle—killed, captured, and wounded or left on the roadside—the men had been deserting and straggling by thousands. He could not tell what number he had left. All his public and private papers had been destroyed to prevent their falling into the Federal hands. Grant finally inquired if 25,000 rations -would suffice, and Lee replied he thought that number would be enough. Twenty-five thousand, therefore, was Lee’s estimate at Appomattox of the number he surrendered. Grant turned to the officer of the commissariat on his staff and directed him to issue 25.000 rations that night to tho Army of Northern Virginia. The order was obeyed, and before the rebels gave up their arms they were fed by their enemies. Lee also requested Grant to notify Meade of the surrender, so that no lives might needlessly be lost on that front, and on account of the distance to Meade’s headquarters, two Union officers were again dispatched with a rebel escort through the lines of the Army of Northern Virginia, this time carrying the news of the surrenderor that army. The formal papers were now signed, a few more words were exchanged by the men who had opposed each other so long, they again shook hands, and Lee went to the porch. The Union officers followed and saluted him, and the military leader of the rebellion mounted his horse and rode off to his army, he and his soldiers prisoners of war. As the great rebel entered his own lines the men rushed up to their chief, breaking ranks, and struggling to touch his hand. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he said: “Men, we have fought through the war together. I have done the best I could for you.” They raised a few broken cheers for the leader they had followed in so many a fierce battle and arduous march, and the career of tho Army of Northern Virginia was ended. Grant also returned at once to his headquarters, now pitched almost at the front ot Sheridan’s command. As he approached the Union lines tho news had passed before him and tho firing of salutes began, but he sent at once to stop them. “1 he war is over,” he said, “the rebels are our countrymen again, and the best sgn of rejoicing after the victory will be to abstain from all demonstrations in the field.” But he had not yet reported the capitulation to the Government, and, dismounting at a roadside, he sat on a stone and called for paper and pencil. An aid-de-camp offered his order book, and, at 4:30 p. m. on Bunday, the 9th of April, he announced the end of the rebellion in these words: Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington: Gen. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this afternoon, on terms proposed by myself. The accompanying additional correspondence will show the conditions fully. U. 8. Grant, Lieutenant General. At his headquarters he remained as calm as ever, but talked frequently of the importance of the event and of its consequences. He declared that this was the end of the war, that all the other rebel armies would quickly yield; there might be guerrillas, or partisans fighting here and there, but no great battle or campaign wo’ld now occur; and he announced his intention of returning to Washington on the morrow to direct the disbanding of the armies. His officers were disappointed at this determination, for they hoped to see something of the army they had contended with so long; and those who were intimate enough suggested that he should remain at Appomatox at least a day. But the expenses of the war amounted to at least $4,000,000 a day, and it was important to save this cost to the country. Grant was indifferent to the spec;acle of his triumphs, and only anxious to secure their reality arid result. One of the most important results would be the diminution of this immense outlay. It was ascertained, however, that the Petersburg and Lynchburg Railway could be put in condition from a point a few miles off by noon of the following day, and as no time would be gained by starting sooner the General-in Chief consented to visit the rebel lines. Accordingly, •at about 9 o’clock on the morning of April 10 he rode out with his staff, accompanied by Sheridan, Ord, Griffin, and several ot their officers, a small cavalry escort attending. The party proceeded to the mound In the valley between the two armies, but when they arrived at the rebel pickets it was discovered t at no directions had yet been given to admit Union offle irs. A messenger, however, was promptly sent to Lee’s headquarters for orders, and when the great prisoner learned that Grant was at the picket line he at once mounted his horse, and, with a single orderly. cajne out to moot him. Grant waited on the hillock, and t -en, sitting on their horses in sight of the two armies, whose lines could bo seen stretching away under the br.ght spring sun for miles, the two Gene als conversed for more than an hour. The officers and men who had accompanied Grant fell l ack a rod or two to be out of bearing, and formed a semicircle behind him of fifty men or more. With Lee was b.ssing e orderly. The two great opponents found much to say. Both were convinced Lee as firmly as Grant, that the war was over, and Lee expressed his satisfaction at the result. Slavery, he said, was dead; the South was prepared to aoquie-ce in th's as one of the consequences of national victory. Tho end had long been foreseen. The utter exhau tion of resources, the ann hllation of armies, which had been steadily going on for a year, coni 1 have but one termination. Johnston he said, would gertalnly follow his example, and surrender to Sherman, and tho sooner

I the rebel armies were all surrendered the i better now. Nothing could be accomplished tby further resistance. When Grant discovered that Lee entertained these opinions he urged him to address the rebel government and people, and use his great influence to hasten the result which he admitted was not only inevitable but, under the circumstances d’-sirable. But this step Lee was not inclined to take. He said that ho was now a prisoner of war, and felt a delicacy about advising others to put themselves in his pcsition. But he had no doubt they would speedily arrive at the same conclusion without bis urging. The conversation was protracted, and the restless Sheridan, not used to waiting, at last rode up and asked permission to cross the lines and visit some of his old comrades in the rebel army. Leave, of course, was given, and with Sheridan went Gens. Ingalls and Seth Williams, both men of the old army, w th as many personal friends among the rebel officers as under the Union flag. They soon found acquaintances, and when the interview between Grant and Lee was over the three returned, bringing with them nearly every officer of high rank in the rebel army to pay their respects to Grant and thank him for the terms he had accorded them the day before. Lee now bade good-morning and returned to his own headquarters, while tho Union chief And those with him repaired to the farm-house hard by, where the capitulation had teen signed. Hither, also, came Longstreet, Gordon, Heth, Wilcox, Pickett, and other rebel offic“rs of fame, splendid soldiers, who had given their enemies much trouble; and Sheridan, Ord, Griffin, and the men on Grant’s staff m t them cordially. First, of course, the rebels were presented to Gen. Grant, who greeted them with kindness. ' Most of them ho knew personally. 1 ongetreet hud been at his wedd ng; Cadmus Wilcox was his groomsman; Heth was a subaltern with him in tho Mexican war; others had served with hkn in garrison or on the Pacific coast. They all expressed their appreciation of his magnanimity. One said to him: “General, we have come to congratulate you upon having wound us up.” “I hope,” replied Grant, “it wIH be for the good of us all." Then the other Union officers took their turns, shaking hands cordially with the men whom they had met in many a battle, or w.th whom thdy had earlier shared tent or blanket on the Indian trail or on the Mexican frontier, with classmates of West Point and . sworn friends of boyhood. Pome shed tears as they hugged each other alter years of separation and s rife. Countrymen' all they felt themselves now, and not a few of the rebels declared they wore glad the war had ended in the triumph of the nation, Their humility was marked; the’y felt and said that they hud staked all and lost. They inquired if they would be permitted to leave the country, but none dreamed they would ever regain their property. The officers sat for an hour or more on the steps of the porch, or on the veranda, and at noon Gran mounted his horse and set out for Washington, not having entered tho rebel lines. On April 12 the Army of Northern Virginia was formed by divisions lor the last time. Lee had already been given his personal parole and was not present. But Commissioners had been appointed on each side, under whose direction the troops marched to a spot in the neighborhood ot Appomattox Court House. 'J he Union column halted on a distant hill, where a white flag was waving. No guns were in position, no bands played. In profound silence tho Southerners dressed their lines, fixed bayonets, stacked arms, and deposited their accouterments. Then slowly furling their flags they laid them down; and many a veteran stooped to kiss the stained and tattered colors under which ho might fight no more. All day the sad ceremony went on; the disarmed men streaming to the Provost Marshals’ tents for their paroles. Then they started for their homes. There was hardly a man possessed a particle of money, and some had a thousand miles to travel in a country where railroads had been annihilated. They were allowed to wear their uniforms, but w thout insignia. and t > pass free over all Government transports and railroads. Lee rode from Appomattox Court House to Richmond, which he entered on the It.th, while his army was laying down Its arms. A few of the inhabitants gathered around him on Jiis way to his house, but he discouraged any.demonstration, and no disturbance occurred. The population had been fed by the Union authorities since the capture of tho town, and the officer who had charge of this duty issued a ticket for a “destitute ration” for Gon. Robert E. Lee.

Grant’s Freedom from Profanity.

In a conversation with a Washington correspondent, Mr. Marklaud, who was the head of the mail service of Grant's army, said: “Gen. Grant never swore, and in my long connection with him I have never heard him utter a profane word. I have boon with him on many occasions in which perhaps the use of profanity would have been pardonable. I have heard him tell stories in which oaths |»aye always been used, but in retelling them he would notiquote the oaths. He was freer from using unkind expressions toward his fellow-man than any one I hajye ever known. And the chief misfortunes of his life have arisen from his misplaced confidence in his fellow-man. Speaklngof bls profanity, I remember two occasions on which Grant should have sworn and I tlriuk would have sworn if he could. One was while we were at Young’s Point, with headquarters on the steamboat Magnolia. Two of the staff off'cers had been sent north under orders, leaving their rooms en the boat vacant. Gen. Grant invited two officers on board one night for consultation. During the consultation a violent rain-storm came up, and Gen. Grant asked these officers to remain on board over night, saying that he had two rooms, and that it would be more pleasant for them to stay there than to go to their camp in the storm. The time for retir,ing arrived, and the officers were shown to iheir rooms. When the doors were opened, however, it was found that the beds were occupied by the colored servants of the officers who were absent. Gen. Grant was very angry, tut his indignation did not find vent in oaths; he merely ordered these servants out on shore into lhe ra'n, and in a short time, his indignaf'on having cooled, he sent an orderly to tell them they could come back upon the b- at. “At another time, after having performed his morning ablutions, he left his lulseteeth in the wash-basin. His servant, in putting the room to rights, emptied the contents into ihe river, and for the time being Gen. Grant was toothless. But his amiability developed itself even here. Ho said to the Servant: •You have put me in a very embarrassing position, but you <Ld not intend to do it,’ and that was aIL”

Thought He Would Do It.

It is said that during tho dreary days of the siege of Vicksburg, a knot ot mon collect d in a druggist’s shop in Cincinnati were discussing the probabilities of his success In taking Vicksburg. An aged countryman, who had to n a silent listener, was lit last appealed to lor his opinion. “1 rather think he’ll do it,” said the stranger, in a tone of certainty. , “W hat makes you think so?” said the oompan . “Well, I don’t know; but our Ulysses always d.d do whaiever he s.iid he would. You see, Ulysses is my boy,” added the old man; and the event justified hfs confiden t. Never was an enterprise hedged in with difficult! s more gigantic; but against these Grant placed the silent, intlexil le lotoe of a will which no length of time oouKl weary, no obstacles discourage and the combinations of a brain which seemed equally capable of attending to the vastest plans and moat trivial mimitie.

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

The appropriation bill was discussed again Its the Senate on the 7th inst. Senator Fowler opposed the item allowing the Adjutant General n clerk at a salary of S6OO a year. It was explained bv Senator Magee that a clerk would be re<iui ed for the work ot making a new copy ot the enrollment of Indiana soldiers. The mutton to strike out the item was defeated. The bill authorizing the payment of the John Martin claims was advanced to the second reading. The oleomargarine bill tailed, and also the bill allowing apjieals by ferry co i.pani«*s irmi rates fixed by Count? Commissioners. In the House, t-enator I'ailey’s Lili prohibiting the im]x>rtation or immigration of foreigners and otners under contract or agreement to perform labor within Indiana was taken up, the const itutiemfl rules suspended, and the bill passed bv a vote of 77 to 6, n spite of Mr. Patton’s earnest assurance that its provisions h d a tendency to encourage Chinese immigration, to which lie was much opposed. The following bills passed: Legalizing certain acts of the Board of Conimissioners of Wells County in relation to the Blufiton and Rockport Gravel Road Company; providing tor the proper recording ot assignments and can eflation of mortgages and me. hanics’liens; fixing the time for hold ng <ourt in the Tenth Judicial Circuit; authorizing the Board of Cknnty Commissioners to construct free gravel roads oh boundary lines between bta'es, eaoii to defray one-half of tho expense: authorhing the Trustees of the HosSital for the Insane to u-e certain lands (the IcCaslin farm) for the benefit ot the institution; provi Ing lor the distribution of certain money and funds in the treasury ot the incorporated town ot Clinton, Vermillion County. Consideration of the general appropriation bill was resumed on the Bth lust., but, although two hours’time was consumed, no changes were made materially affecting the amount of the appropriations. Pending the consideration the Senate took a recess for the purpo e ot allowing a committee to make a change in the phraseology of the bill, at'er which the constitutional rule was suspended to allow tho bill to tie read the third time. The bill finally passed. The House bill legalizing the issue of gravel road bonds in Wells County was passed under a Huspens'on of the rules. In the House the bill allowing security on lie.uor-dealers’ bends to be released upon j>ctition to the court as other sureties are released, passed. Sena or Meyers’ bill providing for tho establishment of an Apjiellate Court of live jud.es at an annual salary of $4,5 u each, at Indianapolis, was reported back from the committee without recommendation. After a long debate a motion to strike out the enacting clause preva led. The following bills were taken up out of their order and passed: Abolishing the office of Supreme Court Commissioner; to legalize the incorjtoratlon and official acts of the town of English, Crawford County; regulating the measures used by County Surveyors and legalizing certain official measurements therefor; to prevent the payment of wages in scrip or the selling of goods to employes at excessive rates; an act concerning the duties ot County Treasurers and Auditors, and requiring tho prompt payment of all funds duo Township Trustees. Mr. Williams introdu' ed a resolution, which was unanimously adopted, highly complimentary to Mr. Henry Georre (“I’TOgross and Poverty"), and extending to him the courtesies of the House. The same gentleman introduced a resolution, which was also adopted, allowing H. C. Darnel), Clerk of the House, S4OO for extra work in preparing the calendars for the regular and special sessions. Mr. Pendleton called up the bi fl to appropriate David 8, Munson 12,600 for lightning-rods rut on the Insane Hospital, which had twice before failed for want of a constitutional majority, and it was passed. The Governor signed the bill prohibiting the importation of foreign labor lute Indiana. Senator Sellers, the Chairman of the special committee appointed before the end of the regular session to investigate the accounts of Huffstetter, the deposed Assistant Secretary, presented a report to the Senate on the 9th inst., showing that Huffstetter had, on forgi d warrants, drawn on the account of Ezra 0. Knowles, an enrolling clerk, the sum of $45; on Senator Hillegass, $100; on Senator May. $ 6; on Senator Shiveley, $80; and on Senator Adkin°on. SIOO, making the total amount of his peculations, besides tho overdrafts of ills own salary, $341. ’ The sums drawn bv Mr. Huffstetter from the treas ry upon fraudulent warrants and orders," the committee stated, "have been covered back into the State Treasury or repaid to tho losers by his dish most transactions. While this lias been done voluntarily and without any agreement upon the part of the losers by Huffstetter’s transactions, still this restitution was but an act of simple justice to men whom Huffstetter had wronged, and it can no in any way jusi tfy an outrage com mitt d before’the eyes of this Sena e, and which has now been brought to the knowledge of the entire State. We, therefore, call the attention ot tho Prosecuting Attorney of the Criminal Court of Marion County to the facts above set forth, that lie may take such steps as may further the ends of justice." The report ot the committee w- s adopted unanimously. In the House, the general appropriation bill was reported back from the Senate with the various amendments made to it. A motion to concur in the amendments made by the Senate was defeated by a vote of 36 to 60. The Speaker appointed as the House members of the conference committee on the bill Messrs. McMullen and Brownlee. Senator Magee presented a report to the Senate, on the 10th Inst, from the Finance Committee on the general appropriation bill A compromise on the Senate amendments had been agreed upon by the committee. The changes were explained by the members of the committee, and the Senate concurred in the rei ort of the committee. The House did likewise. Senator Willard tendered his resignation of the Finance Committee and it was accepted. In the House tne following bills were passed: Winter’s bill regarding decedents' estates; tho bill authorizing the citizens of any county td form voluntary associations for the purpose od the insurance of property from damage by fire or lightning; McCullough's bill providing that! incorporated towns and cities may, if they so> desire, employ Township Assrssors to make local assessments and County Treasurers to collect their municipal taxes, without providing special officers for these purposes; Brown’s bill providing that polling-places on election dayk shall be opened at 6 o’clock a. m; Mr. Wilson introduced a bill to reorganize the State b nevolent institutions on a non-partisan basis, which, on motion, was referred to a committee; Mr. Copeland introduced a resolution denouncing Cleveland for sending Gen. Lawton, an "unhung rebel,” to Russia. The resolution was proc ptly tabled. 'J he Governor signed the bill regulating the practice of medicine, surgery, snd obstetrics. The bill provides that any person desiring to practice xn die ne or surgery shall procure from the Clerk of the Circuit Court a license, to secure which he must file an affidavit showing graouat on in some reputable medical college: or he shall present the affidavit of two reliable freeholders that he has practiced medicine in the State for ten years. The bill limiting the rental charges for telephones to $3 a month passed the Senate on the 11th inst., after a Ion? debate. Senator McCullough stated that there had been something said about the lobbying of telephone companies to defeat tne bill There had been no money used, he believed, but he said teat he had se n letters and telegrams from employes of the House demanding money fiomthe telephone compmies for the defeat of the bi 1, giving thd names of the members and tho sums they demanded After the passage of the bill an investigation was ordered into McCullough's intimation of the use of money to defeat the biiL In the House, the regular order was the consideration of Senate bills on third reading. Senator Hillegass' bill compelling liens, deeds, and mortgages to be recorded within ten days after they have been delivered was variously discussed and defeated, t-enator Rohm's bill to amend the act concerning the taxation of unplatted tra< te of lands with n the city limits was read a third time and defeated. Senator Fon ke’s bill prohibit ng the use of dynamite and other explos.ves for felonious purposes and provid ng strict penalties tor the violators of its provisions whs def< ated Sena or Hillegass’ bill to amend the present law regarding the State printing was read. Mr. M< ck explained that, in accordance with a special message from the Governor on the subject, this bill had been drawn to cut off certain unnecessary printing, and that it would save the State about $20,0 o a year. Passed. The House took cognizance of Senator McCullough's statements about money being u ed to br .be members of the House io vote againbt the telephone bill, and appointed a committee to Investigate the matter.