memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第87章
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social visit； we took our leave and returned to General Grant's quarters； where Mrs； Grant had provided tea。 While at the table； Mrs。 Grant inquired if we had seen Mrs。 Lincoln。 〃No；〃 said the general； 〃I did not ask for her；〃 and I added that I did not even know that she was on board。 Mrs。 Grant then exclaimed； 〃Well； you are a pretty pair！〃 and added that our neglect was unpardonable； when the general said we would call again the next day； and make amends for the unintended slight。
Early the next day； March 28th； all the principal officers of the army and navy called to see me； Generals Meade； Ord； Ingalls； etc。； and Admiral Porter。 At this time the River Queen was at anchor out in the river； abreast of the wharf； and we again started to visit Mr。 and Mrs。 Lincoln。 Admiral Porter accompanied us。 We took a small； tug at the wharf； which conveyed us on board； where we were again received most courteously by the President； who conducted us to the after…cabin。 After the general compliments； General Grant inquired after Mrs。 Lincoln； when the President went to her state… room； returned； and begged us to excuse her； as she was not well。 We then again entered upon a general conversation； during which General Grant explained to the President that at that very instant of time General Sheridan was crossing James River from the north； by a pontoon…bridge below City Point； that he had a large； wellappointed force of cavalry； with which he proposed to strike the Southside and Danville Railroads； by which alone General Lee； in Richmond； supplied his army； and that； in his judgment； matters were drawing to a crisis； his only apprehension being that General Lee would not wait long enough。 I also explained that my army at Goldsboro' was strong enough to fight Lee's army and Johnston's combined； provided that General Grant could come up within a day or so； that if Lee would only remain in Richmond another fortnight； I could march up to Burkesville； when Lee would have to starve inside of his lines； or come out from his intrenchments and fight us on equal terms。
Both General Grant and myself supposed that one or the other of us would have to fight one more bloody battle； and that it would be the last。 Mr。 Lincoln exclaimed； more than once； that there had been blood enough shed； and asked us if another battle could not be avoided。 I remember well to have said that we could not control that event； that this necessarily rested with our enemy； and I inferred that both Jeff。 Davis and General Lee would be forced to fight one more desperate and bloody battle。 I rather supposed it would fall on me； somewhere near Raleigh； and General Grant added that； if Lee would only wait a few more days； he would have his army so disposed that if the enemy should abandon Richmond； and attempt to make junction with General Jos。 Johnston in North Carolina； he （General Grant） would be on his heels。 Mr。 Lincoln more than once expressed uneasiness that I was not with my army at Goldsboro'； when I again assured him that General Schofield was fully competent to command in my absence； that I was going to start back that very day； and that Admiral Porter had kindly provided for me the steamer Bat； which he said was much swifter than my own vessel； the Russia。 During this interview I inquired of the President if he was all ready for the end of the war。 What was to be done with the rebel armies when defeated？ And what should be done with the political leaders； such as Jeff。 Davis； etc。？ Should we allow them to escape； etc。？ He said he was all ready； all he wanted of us was to defeat the opposing armies； and to get the men composing the Confederate armies back to their homes； at work on their farms and in their shops。 As to Jeff。 Davis； he was hardly at liberty to speak his mind fully； but intimated that he ought to clear out； 〃escape the country；〃 only it would not do for him to say so openly。 As usual； he illustrated his meaning by a story：
A man once had taken the total…abstinence pledge。 When visiting a friend； he was invited to take a drink； but declined； on the score of his pledge； when his friend suggested lemonade； which was accepted。 In preparing the lemonade； the friend pointed to the brandy…bottle； and said the lemonade would be more palatable if he were to pour in a little brandy； when his guest said； if he could do so I unbeknown' to him； he would not object。〃 From which illustration I inferred that Mr。 Lincoln wanted Davis to escape； 〃unbeknown〃 to him。
I made no notes of this conversation at the time； but Admiral Porter； who was present； did； and in 1866 he furnished me an account thereof； which I insert below； but the admiral describes the first visit； of the 27th； whereas my memory puts Admiral Porter's presence on the following day。 Still he may be right； and he may have been with us the day before； as I write this chiefly from memory。 There were two distinct interviews； the first was late in the afternoon of March 27th； and the other about noon of the 28th； both in the after…cabin of the steamer River Queen； on both occasions Mr。 Lincoln was full and frank in his conversation； assuring me that in his mind he was all ready for the civil reorganization of affairs at the South as soon as the war was over； and he distinctly authorized me to assure Governor Vance and the people of North Carolina that； as soon as the rebel armies laid down their arms； and resumed their civil pursuits； they would at once be guaranteed all their rights as citizens of a common country； and that to avoid anarchy the State governments then in existence； with their civil functionaries； would be recognized by him as the government de facto till Congress could provide others。
I know； when I left him； that I was more than ever impressed by his kindly nature； his deep and earnest sympathy with the afflictions of the whole people； resulting from the war； and by the march of hostile armies through the South； and that his earnest desire seemed to be to end the war speedily； without more bloodshed or devastation； and to restore all the men of both sections to their homes。 In the language of his second inaugural address； he seemed to have 〃charity for all； malice toward none；〃 and； above all； an absolute faith in the courage； manliness； and integrity of the armies in the field。 When at rest or listening； his legs and arms seemed to hang almost lifeless； and his face was care…worn and haggard； but； the moment he began to talk； his face lightened up； his tall form； as it were； unfolded； and he was the very impersonation of good…humor and fellowship。 The last words I recall as addressed to me were that he would feel better when I was back at Goldsboro'。 We parted at the gangway of the River Queen； about noon of March 28th； and I never saw him again。 Of all the men I ever met； he seemed to possess more of the elements of greatness； combined with goodness； than any other。
ADMIRAL PORTER'S ACCOUNT OF THE INTERVIEW WITH Mr。 LINCOLN。
The day of General Sherman's arrival at City Point （I think the 27th of Marsh； 186G）； I accompanied him and General Grant on board the President's flagship； the Queen； where the President received us in the upper saloon； no one but ourselves being present。
The President was in an exceedingly pleasant mood； and delighted to meet General Sherman； whom he cordially greeted。
It seems that this was the first time he had met Sherman； to remember him； since the beginning of the war； and did not remember when he had seen him before； until the general reminded him of the circumstances of their first meeting。
This was rather singular on the part of Mr。 Lincoln； who was； I think； remarkable for remembering people； having that kingly quality in an eminent degree。 Indeed； such was the power of his memory； that he seemed never to forget the moat minute circumstance。
The conversation soon turned on the events of Sherman's campaign through the South； with every movement of which the President seemed familiar。
He laughed over some of the stories Sherman told of his 〃bummers；〃 and told others in return； which illustrated in a striking manner the ideas he wanted to convey。 For example； be would often express his wishes by telling an
