There is a double echo in the Lincolnian saying, "No surrender, though
at the end of one or a hundred defeats," from General-President
Taylor's reply at Buena Vista: "General Taylor never surrenders," to
its antecedent, not so well authenticated, of General Cambronne at
Waterloo: "The Old Guard dies, but does not surrender."
* * * * *
"NOT THE PRESIDENT, BUT THE OLD FRIEND."
In February, 1865, General Grant's plans were so well shaped that, with
the reenforcement of General Sherman returned from his march to
Savannah, he could count on crushing up Richmond, as an egg under
trip-hammers. Before this the doom was registered, for the Southerners
were at the end of their men, as before they had been at that of their
means. Bridges burned or blown up, the rebel army was pouring out of
their capital with the fear that their one or two ways of flight were
already blocked by Sheridan or Sherman. The desperate attempt to arm
the slaves against their coming deliverer was the "last kick." Lee
clung to Richmond in hope that his lieutenant, Johnston, would check
the oncomer, but he was compelled to notify his President and
colleagues that flight was their only resource when he could no longer
fight.
Lincoln was at Petersburg at Grant's headquarters when, a few miles
off, Davis received the fatal intelligence that Lee was being deserted
so freely that there would not be a body-guard left him. He fled, to be
ignominiously captured in female disguise. His lair was hot when
Lincoln entered it, and made it his closet, whence he issued his orders.
Soon after this occupation the victor heard the name of Pickett
announced to him. The Southern general, George Pickett, was a protégé
of his, as he smoothed his entry upon the West Point Military Academy
book when he was a congressman. Without either knowing it, the hero was
lying dead on a hard-fought field close by. But Lincoln ordered her
admittance. She was accompanied by her little son. This alone would
have prevailed over the President, but, as she formally addressed him
as the authority, he interrupted:
"Not the President, but George's old friend!"
And beckoning the wondering boy to him with the irresistible attraction
of men who love the young, and are intuitively loved by them, he said:
"Tell your father, rascal, that I forgive him for the sake of your
mother's smile, and your own bright eyes."
This reconciliation on the fall of the sword was a token of the
forgivingness of the North toward the chastened foes.
* * * * *
"CLOSE YOUR EYES!"
The Marquis of Chambrun, a French volunteer, who entered the Lincoln
circle, relates in a more elegant strain the above incident. He states
that Thompson and Sanders were informed upon, and Stanton repeated the
information to the President with a view of having them intercepted.
But the other in his tender voice responded:
"Let us close our eyes, and leave them pass unnoticed."
* * * * *