07586- Henry Heth
“… we have been chatting here for half an hour, and that you have not asked me once to take a drink.” – C.S. Gen. Henry Heth to U.S. Gen. Grant, Appomattox Court House, Va. April 9, 1865
Confederate General and West Point graduate Henry Heth may be best remembered today for initiating the Battle of Gettysburg, Penn. During the War, he was known for his fighting spirit and sense of humor.
Before the War, Heth and U.S. Gen. Ulysses Grant were friends. On April 9, 1865, the day of the surrender at Appomattox, Grant and Heth reminisced over old times and the last time they saw each other in 1852. Grant recalling, “… not one of those fellows asked us to take a drink.”
After Heth pointed out that Grant had not offered him a drink, Grant laughed and said, “I have nothing here to drink, but if you will send your orderly with mine, you will find something to drink at your quarters when you reach them.”
On his return, Heth found two gallons of good whisky in his ambulance.
