tal. He could see our weakness, but he could not see that the enemy was in danger. The enemy would not have been in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field." This judgment makes an amusing comparison to Stanton's remark about McClellan, "If he had a million men he would swear the enemy had two millions, and then he would sit down in the road and yell for three." It is, perhaps, significant also that Sherman had the friendliest feelings for Lincoln and the most thorough hostility to Stanton.

When, toward the end of March, Grant, Sherman, and Admiral Porter visited Lincoln on the River Queen and told him that one more bloody battle was probably necessary, he showed the greatest disappointment. Sherman asked if he was ready for the end of the war, and what would be done with Jeff Davis and the rebel armies. "He said," Sherman records, "he was all ready. All he wanted of us was to defeat the opposing armies, and to get the men comprising the Confederate army back to their homes, at work on farms and in the shops. As to Jeff Davis, he was hardly at liberty to speak his mind fully; but intimated that he ought to 'clear the country,' only it would not do for him to say so openly. As usual he illustrated his meaning by a story." This story has been told by various hearers in various ways, of which the following is the best:

says,

“When I was a boy in Indiana, I went to a neighbor's house one morning and found a boy of my own size holding a coon by a string. I asked him what he had and what he was doing. He 'It's a coon. Dad cotched six last night, and killed all but this poor little cuss. Dad told me to hold him until he came back, and I'm afraid he's going to kill this one too; and oh, Abe, I do wish he would get away!' 'Well, why don't you let him loose?' 'That wouldn't be right; and if I let him go, Dad would give me hell. But if he would get away himself, it would be all right.' Now, if Jeff Davis and those other fellows will only get away, it will be all right. But if we should catch them, and I should let them go, Dad would give me hell.'

On March 3, when Grant first sent word that Lee was likely to surrender and asked about a conference, Lincoln had written immediately, with his own hand, this despatch:

"WASHINGTON, March 3, 1865. 12 P.M. "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT:

"The President directs me to say that he wishes you to have no conference with General Lee unless it be for capitulation of General Lee's army, or on some minor or purely military matter. He instructs me to say that you are not to decide, discuss, or confer upon any politi cal questions. Such questions the President holds in his own hands, and will submit them to no military con

ferences or conventions. Meanwhile, you are to press to the utmost your military advantages.

"EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War."

Grant was now soon to use as much authority as was his in regard to peace. March 29 he wrote to Sheridan that he felt like ending the matter then. After victories on April 1 and 2, Grant sent a note to City Point, saying, "I think the President might come and pay us a visit to-morrow," and about the same time Lee sent word to Davis that Petersburg and Richmond must be abandoned. April 3 Grant and Meade entered the deserted Petersburg, Lincoln joined them, and they three walked alone through the

streets.

On the same morning General Weitzel, with a few attendants, entered Richmond, which was in confusion, with buildings afire, men drunk, and negroes crazy with excitement. The next day Lincoln entered the Confederate capital with so little care for his safety that he walked without protection through streets full of drunken rebels. When he reached Weitzel's headquarters, a house from which Jeff Davis had just made a sudden flight, Lincoln, weary and without exultation, sank, it is said, into the very chair which the Confederate President used at his writing-table. One account of Lincoln's trip through the city says:

66

Mr. Lincoln was evidently perplexed and suffering - he had his hat in his hand trying to fan his furrowed face, which was streaming with perspiration; he had mopped his face till his handkerchief was too wet to absorb more. But the negroes were happy in their frenzy, and they took no further note of events or the sober world. One old 'Aunty' had a sick white child in her arms, who was alarmed at the surrounding riot, and was crying to go home; but the good negress kept trying to get the child to gaze at the President, which she was afraid to do, and she would try to turn the child's head in that direction, and would turn around herself, in order to accomplish the same object. See yeah, honey, look at de Saviour, an' you'll git well.' Touch the hem of his garment, honey, an' yur pain will be done gone,' she would urge. 'Glory! Hallelujah!' 'God bress Massa Linkum!' 'Open de pearly gates.' 'I'se on the mount ob rejoicin'.' 'He's de Messiah shuah.' Heah am de promise land.' 'Rally round de flag, boys.' 'Jerusalem, my happy home. 'I'se on Mount Pisgah's stormy top.' 'I'se bound for de lan' of Canaan.' 'De Lord save us!' 'Dis am de judgment day.' 'Come, Lord, I'se ready to go.' 'Chariot ob fire.' 'De mount ob transfigurashun.' 'My tribulations all done gone.' 'No more sighin' an' a-weepin'. These were some of the expressions used. They would shout in each

other's ears; negroes and negresses alike would suddenly spring in the air; and young negresses would spin themselves on the edge of the crowd like a teetotum."

On April 6 Sheridan reported, “If the thing is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender." Grant sent the despatch to Lincoln, who replied, "Let the thing be pressed." After various negotiations, Grant, on April 9, appearing "with no sword, travel-stained, and severely plain both in dress and manner," had a conference with Lee, in which he agreed to parole the Confederates, and allow the officers their side arms, private horses, and baggage. "Each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authorities so long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they may reside." Although this sentence exceeded the general's authority, the President made no objection, and Admiral Porter, who took notes at the time, says that when Lincoln heard Grant's terms, he exclaimed a dozen times, "Good!"" All right!" "Exactly the thing!" and similar expressions. General Sherman says that he then argued that he could get his own terms for the surrender of Johnston's army, but that Lincoln insisted that he must obtain a surrender on any terms. One who was present when Lincoln heard the news of Lee's surrender, said that Jeff