The party came in sight of Richmond at last, and, two or three miles from the city, General Lee rode ahead of his escort, accompanied only by a few officers, and, crossing the pontoon bridge below the ruins of Mayo’s bridge, which had been destroyed when the Confederate forces retreated, entered the capital.  The spectacle which met his eyes at this moment must have been exceedingly painful.  In the great conflagration which had taken place on the morning of the 3d of April, a large portion of the city had been burned; and, as General Lee rode up Main Street, formerly so handsome and attractive, he saw on either hand only masses of blackened ruins.  As he rode slowly through the opening between these masses of debris, he was recognized by the few persons who were on the street, and instantly the intelligence of his presence spread through the city.  The inhabitants hastened from their houses and flocked to welcome him, saluting him with cheers and the waving of hats and handkerchiefs.  He seemed desirous, however, of avoiding this ovation, and, returning the greeting by simply raising his hat, rode on and reached his house on Franklin Street, where, respecting his desire for privacy under circumstances so painful, his admirers did not intrude upon him.

We have presented this brief narrative of the incidents attending General Lee’s return to his home after the surrender, to show with what simplicity and good sense he accepted his trying situation.  A small amount of diplomacy—­sending forward one of his officers to announce his intended arrival; stopping for a few moments as he ascended Main Street; making an address to the citizens who first recognized him, and thus affording time for a crowd to assemble—­these proceedings on the part of General Lee would have resulted in an ovation such as a vanquished commander never before received at the hands of any people.  Nothing, however, was less desired by General Lee than this tumultuous reception.  The native modesty of the man not only shrunk from such an ovation; he avoided it for another reason—­the pretext it would probably afford to the Federal authorities to proceed to harsh measures against the unfortunate persons who took part in it.  In accordance with these sentiments, General Lee had not announced his coming, had not stopped as he rode through the city; and now, shutting himself up in his house, signified his desire to avoid a public reception, and to be left in privacy.

This policy he is well known to have pursued from that time to the end of his life.  He uniformly declined, with great courtesy, but firmly, invitations to attend public gatherings of any description, where his presence might arouse passions or occasion discussions connected with the great contest in which he had been the leader of the South.  A mind less firm and noble would doubtless have yielded to this great temptation.  It is sweet to the soldier, who has been overwhelmed and has yielded up his sword, to feel that the love