"
After the war, Colonel Taylor and his wife settled in Norfolk, where,
within a very short time, a United States grand jury indicted Jefferson
Davis and General Lee for treason--this, in the case of Lee, being in
direct violation of the terms of surrender. When Grant learned of the
shameful action of the grand jury he complained to Washington and caused
the proceedings against Lee to be dropped.
In Colonel Taylor's scrap-book I found a letter written by Lee before
the indictment had been quashed, referring to the subject:
Richmond, Va.
June 17, 1865.
My dear Colonel:
I am very much obliged to you for your letter of the 13th. I had
heard of the indictment by the grand jury at Norfolk, and made up
my mind to let the authorities take their course. I have no wish to
avoid any trial the government may order, and cannot flee. I hope
others may be unmolested, and that you at least may be undisturbed.
I am sorry to hear that our returned soldiers cannot obtain
employment. Tell them they must all set to work, and if they cannot
do what they prefer, do what they can. Virginia wants all their
aid, all their support, and the presence of all her sons to sustain
and recuperate her. They must therefore put themselves in a
position to take part in her government, and not be deterred by
obstacles in their way.
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