Sumter County GaArchives News.....Statham, John, letter to Ulysses S. Grant, Jr. January 17, 1920
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Donna Newman filberuthie@yahoo.com October 6, 2015, 6:49 am

The Evening Tribune (San Diego, Ca.) January 17, 1920
TRIBUTE IS PAID GEN. GRANT BY CONFEDERATE

A pretty tribute to the memory of Gen. U.S. Grant and a charming story 
reminiscent of the days of the civil war, when feeling between the north and 
the south was so tense, is told in a letter received recently by U.S. Grant 
Jr., son of Gen. Grant. The letter was written by John Statham, a confederate 
veteran. The letter, which is dated Americus, Ga., follows: 

Dear Sir: A day or two ago I saw a picture of your house and you, and this 
started me to thinking of the bygone days. I am now 82 years of age. I fought 
in the confederate army for four long years. I knew then that I was right, and 
I make no apology now. I gave the confederacy the best that I had. I learned to 
love Mr. Davis and to revere Gen. Lee. I had no personal hatred against Gen. 
Grant, but I fought him and his army with all of the strength that I had, and I 
was with the small army that surrendered at Appomattox. A short time after the 
surrender I learned how Gen. Grant regarded Mr. Davis and Gen. Lee. I learned 
that he would not accept Gen. Lee's sword, and from that moment I learned to 
love Gen. U.S. Grant, and have loved him every minute since, and I voted for 
him every time he ran for the presidency. While I have always been a Democrat, 
I am proud of the fact that I voted in this way. 

There are not now a great many years for me at best, and I am living somewhat 
in the past, and it just occurred to me that it would be of some interest to 
you to know how a confederate soldier regards the Grant family. I never saw 
you, but my best wishes are yours. May the God of infinite grace abundantly 
bless you and your loved ones. Yours truly, John Statham.



Additional Comments:
p. 3, col. 2

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