He remembered, no doubt, how Grant had given Lee's army their horses, but Lee at the time had been thoroughly beaten, and his men had laid down their arms.

A similar boon to the partially conquered Boers led to very different results, and the prolongation of the war is largely due to this act of clemency.

At the same time political and military considerations were opposed to each other upon the point, and his moral position in the use of harsher measures is the stronger since a policy of conciliation had been tried and failed.

Lord Roberts returned to London with the respect and love of his soldiers and of his fellow-countrymen.

A passage from his farewell address to his troops may show the qualities which endeared him to them.
'The service which the South African Force has performed is, I venture to think, unique in the annals of war, inasmuch as it has been absolutely almost incessant for a whole year, in some cases for more than a year.