he landing, and
there found him and his party seated under some linden-trees, waiting
for the ferry. I had a package of letters for the general which had come
to my care, and which, after mutual introductions, I delivered to him at
once. Tearing open and throwing away the envelopes, General Grant
hastily inspected the letters and passed them to General Badeau. By this
time the Ruedesheim steamer had arrived, and we all went on board. In a
moment more the boat pushed off and turned its course up the stately
river. The rippling waters sparkled in the sunshine, and all the
vine-clad hills were dressed in summer beauty. On the right, dropping
behind us, was Bingen, famous in legend and in song, and on the left, in
the foreground, appeared the curious spires and roofs of Ruedesheim. The
scene was an ideal tableau, such as Byron describes, of the

Wide and winding Rhine,
Whose breast of waters broadly swells
Between the banks which bear the vine,
And hills all rich with blossom'd trees,
And fields which promise corn and wine,
And scattered cities crowning these,
Whose far white walls along them shine.

From Ruedesheim to Wiesbaden the railway follows the Rhine as far as
Castel, at the mouth of the Main, opposite Mayence. A short distance
above Ruedesheim the Taunus bluffs sweep back from the river, and the
garden of the Rhine valley opens out right and left. This is the heart
of the wine-growing region, and within it lie many of the most
celebrated vineyards in the world. The valley is dotted with villages
whose names are famous in the Rhine-wine nomenclature, and upon a bold
promontory, commanding all, the queen of the German vintage rules from
the Johannisberg Schloss.

While our train bowled along, and we were discussing these various
objects of interest, General Badeau discovered by accident among the
letters which General Grant had given him one which had not been opened.

"The address is in the handwriting of General Sherman," said Badeau.

"Yes," said General Grant, glancing at the superscription, "that is from
Sherman. Read it."

Accordingly, General Badeau read the letter aloud, and the whole company
was deeply impressed with the cordiality of its friendly expressions. In
heartiest terms the letter felicitated General Grant upon the splendid
receptions which had been given him, and the merited appreciation
awarded him in the Old World. The letter was that of an admiring and
devoted friend rathe