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
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should be instantly restored, and that not another drop of American blood should be shed.
He then proposed to
General Lee that the latter should forthwith meet
Mr. Lincoln, and said that whatever terms of pacification
Mr. Lincoln and
General Lee might agree upon would be satisfactory to the reasonable people of the North and South, and should have his own earnest support.
He told
General Lee that his influence with the
Southern people would secure their concurrence, and that
Mr. Lincoln's counsel would be accepted by the whole
North.
General Lee expressed the great pleasure which
General Grant's noble and patriotic sentiments gave him, but declined to comply with his request, because he was an officer of the Confederate army, and could do nothing inconsistent with his duty to the Confederate government.
There remains the final act of his life, with which I will close what I have to say, and complete the explanation of the meaning of this monument.
