11, Mobile had fallen, and on the 18th Johnston's army surrendered to Sherman. The terms were, however, considered too liberal and Sherman was much abused by the President, the Secretary of War, and by the public in the North, but Grant stood by him and acted with great delicacy in straightening out matters, and finally on the 26th, Johnston surrendered on the same terms on which Lee surrendered to Grant. In no action in his life did Grant appear to better effect than in the way in which he dealt with his tried friend Sherman in the matter of Johnston's surrender. By the end of April there was not a Confederate force of any importance left in the field. Grant meanwhile was hard at work in Washington getting ready for disbanding the armies, and stopping the purchase of supplies. His work in the months immediately after the war saved his country many millions of dollars.

The war was over and it was decided as the final act of the war to have a grand review of the troops in Washington. For two days the battle-scarred armies marched past the general who had led them on so many victorious battle-fields. On May 24, the Army of the Potomac, which had so long endured so much without making material progress but which had finally run the great general of the South to earth, marched in triumph through the streets of the Capital; and on the following day the Army of the West, led by Sherman, fully restored to popular favour, marched through the crowded streets. The four years of fighting had made these men veterans. The army that lined past General Grant on these momentous days was the greatest army the world has ever seen, greatest because as brave as any in the

world and at the same time possessed of intelligence without a parallel.

General Grant was ever a man of few words but he could not allow his veterans to go to their homes without unburdening his heart to them. His farewell address to his soldiers at the close of the Civil war is one of the most important of his life and not unworthy to be studied beside Lincoln's Gettysburg speech.

"Soldiers of the Armies of the United States:

"By your patriotic devotion to your country in the hour of danger and alarm, your magnificent fighting, bravery and endurance, you have maintained the supremacy of the Union and Constitution, overthrown all armed opposition to the enforcement of the laws, and of the proclamation forever abolishing slavery-the cause and pretext of the rebellion-and opened the way to the rightful authority to restore order and inaugurate peace on a permanent and enduring basis on every foot of American soil. Your marches, sieges, and battles, in distance, duration, resolution and brilliancy of results, dim the lustre of the world's past military achievements, and will be the patriot's precedent in defence of liberty and right in all time to come. In obedience to your country's call you left your homes and families, and volunteered in its defence. Victory has crowned your valour, and secured the purpose of your patriotic hearts; and with the gratitude of your countrymen, and the highest honours a great and free nation can accord, you will soon be permitted to return to your homes, conscious of having discharged the highest duty of American citizens. To achieve these glorious triumphs, and secure to yourselves, your fellowcountrymen, and posterity, the blessings of free in

stitutions, tens of thousands of your gallant comrades have fallen, and sealed the priceless legacy with their lives. The graves of these a grateful nation bedews with tears, honours their memories, and will ever cherish and support the stricken families."

CHAPTER XIII.

PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT (Concluded).

UNTIL the close of the Civil war General Grant had of necessity to concentrate his mind upon the great struggle in which he was playing a leading part. So far he had been altogether a soldier, but now he was forced to take an interest in questions of statesmanship.

During the progress of the war, the European Powers in defiance of the Monroe Doctrine had interfered in Mexican affairs. The situation had been gravely considered by Lincoln and his cabinet, but, with their hands tied by the struggle at home, it would have been unwise to become embroiled with the Powers who were one and all eager to see the Republic come to grief. The war over, however, the United States was prepared to deal promptly and decidedly with the Mexican matter. France was alone in the field at this time supporting Maximilian who had been placed on the throne by her armies. General Grant sent Sheridan with a strong force to the Rio Grande river to observe the movements of the French. As a result of this step the French army was withdrawn from Mexico and Maximilian was ultimately dethroned and executed.

It would have been a serious matter for

any Power

to have declared war against the United States at this stage of her history. At this time, despite the criticism of some of the Europeans that her army was nothing but an armed mob, she had the largest and best trained force in the world. Modern warfare has proved that for the making of a fighting force experience in the field is needed, and excepting for the work done by France and England in the Crimean war, and by England in the Indian Mutiny she alone had a large army of troops disciplined on the bloodiest battle-fields of the century.

Grant

Shortly after the surrender of General Lee a United States court in Virginia indicted Lee and others, who took part as leaders in the rebellion, of treason, and in many quarters there was a desire that somewhat severe punishment should be meted out to these men. President Johnson, through personal animosity, at this time at any rate, strongly favoured harsh treatment for the Confederate leaders. was opposed to such a course and he fearlessly spoke his opposition. He was for peace, a permanent and abiding peace with the South, and he believed that harshness would be the means of increasing a spirit of animosity in the South against the North that would greatly protract the struggle between the two great sections of his country. He came to Lee's rescue and vigorously maintained that these men could not be tried for treason unless they broke their parole. Johnson was hard to move, but Grant threatened to resign unless his wishes in the matter were agreed with; and the nation on the whole supported him. His letter to President Johnson at this time shows his attitude.

"In my opinion," he wrote, " the officers and men paroled at Appomattox Court House, and since, upon