Find a Quote

samgrant

Captain
Retired Moderator
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Location
Galena, Illinois 61036 U.S.A.
Where did this quote come from?

" Lee asked: "Is that the "Sam" Grant that was in the Fourth at Chepultepec?" He was told it was the same. "I remember him," said Lee. "A very quiet fellow, but he seemed to have a good deal in him, and I"m afraid he's got it yet."
 
Nice post, Cindy, thanks. But now I have a question for everyone. Didn't Lee say, at Appomattox, something to the effect that he couldn't recall having met Grant in Mexico? One of these two accounts is fanciful. Which?
Ole
 
Lee meets Grant

ole said:
Nice post, Cindy, thanks. But now I have a question for everyone. Didn't Lee say, at Appomattox, something to the effect that he couldn't recall having met Grant in Mexico? One of these two accounts is fanciful. Which?
Ole


General Grant began the conversation by saying 'I met you once before, General Lee, while we were serving in Mexico, when you came over from General Scott's headquarters to visit Garland's brigade, to which I then belonged. I have always remembered your appearance, and I think I should have recognized you anywhere.'

'Yes,' replied General Lee, 'I know I met you on that occasion, and I have often thought of it and tried to recollect how you looked, but I have never been able to recall a single feature.'"

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/appomatx.htm

Grant began the conversation, "I have met you once before..." when the Virginian was General Winfield Scott's chief-of-staff during the Mexican War. Grant continued, "...but I would not expect a superior officer of your rank to remember it." Lee acknowledge meeting Grant, "I remember meeting you..." but admitted that he had not been able to remember much about his opponent. They recalled, almost fondly, the times serving under General Scott, the Virginian whose blueprint for Union victory became Grant's battleplan.

http://blueandgraytrail.com/event/Surrender_at_Appomattox


Don
 
Thanks, Don. That clears it up. But it still seems a bit incongruous that on one hand, Lee couldn't recollect a single feature of how Grant looked, but recalled that Grant "seemed to have a good deal in him."
Ole
 
Well, Grant may have been either cleanshaven at that time, or perhaps, as described in 1861, when he first commanded rough Illiniois recruits, a long beard without a moustache.

Probably the former.
 

Learn About Us
About CivilWarTalk
Contact the Webmaster
Meet the Staff
Link to CivilWarTalk
Join Our Community
Register
Browse Forums
View Today's Discussions
Search the Forum
Get Help
FAQ
Student Guide
Forum Rules & Etiquette
Copyright / DMCA

     Contact Us CivilwarTalk on Facebook CivilWarTalk on YouTube CivilWarTalk on Twitter RSS Feed

Bringing the American Civil War and More to Life.
© 1999 - , CIVILWARTALK, LLC - Site Version 10.0

SlaveryTalk.com - SecessionTalk.com - CivilWarTalk.com - ReconstructionTalk.com
Back
Top