"As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.-R. E. LEE, General."

Several officers now entered the room, where the surrender had been arranged and concluded, including Longstreet, Gordon, and Pickett from the South; Sheriidan and Ord from the North; and the conversation became general. Reader, mark the fact that the conqueror never asked for-did not accept the sword of the conquered; and the spirit here displayed has ever animated him towards the South. General Lee explained to Grant that most of the animals in his cavalry and artillery belonged to the men: he inquired whether they would be regarded as public or private property under the terms. The Union Commander replied that they belonged to the Government. Lee examined again the conditions, and admitted that it was so. And here Grant gave further proof of his great foresight and generosity. He expressed his belief that the war was virtually over; spoke of the wisdom of these disbanded soldiers getting home to work upon their farms and plantations as soon as possible, and added that he would give orders that any officer or soldier claiming a horse or a mule should have it. This further proof of Grant's magnanimity and tender spirit was more than the Great Virginian could bear, and he gave way to emotion. The Union

Chief shared the experience: he was doubly a conqueror this day, for he won the heart of Lee.

Within a short time of the event the news of surrender reached us. Cheer after cheer hailed the fruit of all our sufferings and privations. We looked forward with joy to the time when we should again meet our friends and loved ones in our Northern homes. And we talked of our gallant comrades-tried friends of many a doubtful hour-buried long since, somewhereGod alone knows where! The 9th of April, 1865, was a day of cheers and tears: a point where joy and sorrow met within the soldier's heart. Our task was accomplished: Government of the people was vindicated: millions were made free: and the Federal Volunteers became peaceful citizens of the Republic again-settling back into their old vocations at the desk and the forge, the plough and the plane—with nothing to distinguish them from other men but the inward consciousness of having served and saved their country.

CHAPTER XIX.

LINCOLN AT THE FRONT.

"And in this world's great hero list
His name shall lead the van."

REMEMBER seeing President Lincoln at the front upon two anxious, memorable occasions-occasions widely different in military significance and prospects. He first visited us while the Army of the Potomac was huddled together at Harrison's Bar, after the severe fighting of the "Seven Days." We had been driven from the gates of Richmond; our front was menaced by Lee's victorious troops; the object of the campaign had been defeated; our army was reduced in number by about one-half; and the conquest of the Confederacy could only be looked upon as a remote possibility. One day early in July, 1863, our brigade was ordered into line. Soon thereafter we were reviewed by the President and McClellan. Lincoln was an excellent

િ

rider; but upon this occasion he seemed utterly to disregard his horse, looking intently, kindly at the men, waving his hand at us as he rode along. What a depth of devotion, sympathy, and reassurance were conveyed through his smile: how our hearts went out to him. We knew that "Old Abe"-as he was called by the people who loved him, trusted him— was true. The second time I saw Lincoln in camp was just before the last campaign of the war was inaugurated. It will be remembered that, during the winter of 1864, an unsuccessful attempt was first made to capture Fort Fisher, which commanded the approach towards Wilmington, North Carolina. After this failure, the "Johnnies" loudly and frequently called from their picket line to ours: "Have you heard from Fort Fisher?" Our silence was significant. But within a month the stronghold was again assailed, and this time captured. It then became our turn to cry out from the picket line: Have you heard from Fort Fisher?" The enemy was now as silent upon the subject as we at first had been. Well, a large earthwork was built in front of our brigade line, and it was christened "Fort Fisher;" and I last saw President Lincoln walking along the parapet of this newly-built stronghold. He was accompanied by the Lieutenant-General and several officers.

The circumstances attending his visit to the army are worth recounting:-A member of General Grant's

staff inquired of his Chief one day: "Why don't you ask the President to come down and visit you?"

The General replied that the President, being Commander-in-Chief of the army, could come and go at pleasure. But when it was intimated that the Chief Magistrate stayed away from a sense of delicacy, and to avoid being charged with interfering with commanders in the field, Grant immediately telegraphed that it would afford him the greatest pleasure to see the President and have him see the army. Lincoln came to the front at once, and remained with Grant until Richmond fell. Concerning this visit the exPresident spoke to Mr. Russell Young as follows :—

Lincoln, I may almost say, spent the last days of his life with me. I often recall those days. He came down to City Point in the last month of the war, and was with me all the time. He lived on a despatchboat in the river, but was always around headquarters. He was a fine horseman, and rode my horse Cincinnati. We visited the different camps, and I did all I could to interest him. He was very anxious about the war closing; was afraid we could not stand a new campaign, and wanted to be around when the crash came. I have no doubt that Lincoln will be the conspicuous figure of the war; one of the great figures of history. He was a great man, a very great man. The more I saw of him the more this impressed me. He was incontestably the greatest man I ever knew. What marked him especially was his sincerity, his