General J. M. Schofield, commander of the United States Army.
I will say that it was the well-known character of the Southern soldiers, of which that of General Robert E. Lee was the highest type, which made it possible for the Union army to regard the Confederates not as rebels to be ether punished or pardoned, but as honorable antagonists, worthy to become trusted friends when they had laid down their arms.
Thus this high character became of inestimable value to the Southern people, and hence to the whole country.
