The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-08

Culpeppsr 20 Orange Court House, making that my
basis OF operation. should then, by continually at
tackipg Lee retard bis march, and with my 225, 900
men force him irom his remaining railroad and cause
his surrender.
THIS IS tho bare outline Of tho plan OF campaign,
which Was submitted under the supposii on that Ice
with his army would give battle NJ Orange Court
House. IL was suggested, however, that ralhsr tuan
do so he might fall back on Lyncnburg, in which
the problem would become very mucn simpiined, as
he would then immcdi,leiy be separated IRON Rich
mond, which would be without defence. In case he
iel back TO the James River between Richmond ana
Lyncnoure, the Army OF the Potomac, by rapid pur-
SUIT, would bring MN 10 bay ana deliver battle with
all The advantages on their side, he lLec) having a
river and canal 10 cross IN case OF defeat. In case
the remnant o. ms army Reached kicnmond, the
supplies Of bo.h Richmond ana his arHiy coming
from tho south, southwest aud Lynchourg would
be very soon cut OF, ana starvation, II nothing else
would compel him 10 surrender.
ADVANTAGES on THE PLAN
This plan OF campaign was based on two OF the
soundest maxims ofwar-the 1rst, that II you hold
tho sea, force your enemy upon the Tor you then
deprive HIM oil his means OF subsistence. THIS was
laughably illustrated by shermans march, when
Cha lesion, savannah and Other places nj once
evacuated as no Approached, tho enemy preferrng 70
leave those PLACES than 10 remain ana DO starved out
The second maxim ~, that while having your own
communications and base Of supplies secure you must
operate the enemy's com ions TO cut Ia IN 5lT
this maxim that urged mat culpcpper should DO
made the base OF supplies tor the Army the Poto-
mac instead OF Washington.
HERALD KEPREsENTArIyE-Do you believe that tho
plan referred 10 IN tho interview between General
Grant and the HERALD AZ Paris rs tho
General PLsAsoNros-l have every reason 10 believe
so and l base my reason on the fact that was IN
formed by Chairman Of tho COMMITTEE on the Cou
OF The War Ono Hon. Benjamin y. Wade OF Ohio)
OF the course the committee adopted with reference
that plan.
thing more IN regard 70 that piaas
General pLsAsosroS- rhat question l would prefer
HERALD KxrREsENrArivE-rhen you did hear Of IL
AGAIN. Wnhout wishing 70 appear impairment am
General pLkAsoxros-I would prefer to s.op mere
having gwen all Inc facts promised relative 10 tns
plan, anu AZ do no. care 10 DO accused Of blowing
own horn
This was saId aughingiy, ana, gracefully rolling .
cigarette, the Gensrai arose-a gentle hut that she
HKRALD R.PREsKSTArwE-0ne word more General
Mr. ads IS dead, and he - tue only wi;nsss you
ced 50 far. Are there any living who know OF this
LINCOLN AND yAxsswoKrH
General PLEAsosToN docking the inq urer In the face
with rsnectivs alr)-You remind inc, and thank
you Tor II, that have only brought evidence one
VINO Is no more and who could not therefore, refule
substance Of a conversation which l. ok place
between President lincoln and General John
ei Congress and a personal tr,sna Of Mr.. Lsoou.
General Farnsworth shortly alter the told me
that when the army was ngn.ing IN tho Wilderness
he called " see Mr.. Lincoln 10 hear tho news; that
ne found Mr. Lincoln very much depressed the
OF the large number Of men which mad been re-
ported ~ killed ana wounded, am In commenting
on these losses ne remarked, 81 think have maze
grea. mistake In not having adopted Pleasonlos's
plan Of campaign
HERALD REPREsExrArlvk-Gensrai, II you noticed
tho assertion IN The PARIS interview that neithcr Mr.
LucOln nor Mr.. stanton was made aware oil General
Grants intended movements, DO you believe Ih al
Mr.. Lincoln knew what course General Graug was
likely 10 pursucy
General PLsAsoSroN (rcnectivsly blowing cloud Of
smoke into spaceI-From ything that General
Grant SAID, Mr.. Liucolp was PROBABLY not aware
information IN his possession, derived from Plan
OF campaign which had been submitted 10 him and
which Was NOT adopted, ne could readily surmss
what would be the mOvem uta oi me Army OF the Pc.
tomac under General Grant
herald REPRESENTATIVE -How 40 you arrive at that
General PLEAsoSroS-From the position Of the two
armies. Inc Army Of the Potomac, 10 dislodge Gen.
erai Lee from Orange Court House, had either 10
the lett flank oil Lees army Dy movement 10 the
right or turn his right flank Ny movement 20 the
lott, which would throw the army into tho Wilderness
The plan vi campaign Ny movement 10 tue right
having been rejected, the other follow
~ u consequences, and Mr. Lincoln NJ r. Stan ION
were both men u LOO mucr Intelligence mol 70 be aole
TO dclucc what would DO dono by knowing what oad
mol be undertaken. M1
HERALD KxPREskSrArIvE-which movement was
rccoinn nded IN your piaDf
General PLEAEoSroN-rho movement BY The right
HERALD RkPKEskNrArivK-wnyf
| Genera, PLEAsoNrox-As have already informed
you, 10 deprive General Lees army OF tho raroaG
from orange Court House 10 Ly nchburg, ny means 0
| whicn he received large amount oil ms supplies.
| Tho country far open and better adapt ted
Tor offensive military operations IMAM the try
called the WILDERNESS, which was 10 the right o
Lees army, and into which, u Lee had been forced
Ec would nave fought his army under tho same 4 IN
culties and embarrassments which The Army oil the
Potomac met with whom he sncount tered ~ there
under General Grant; or, 10 other words, 10 have
forced Lees army, by my operations on the rignt
INTO ne position IN the Wilderness Of the Army o.
me roomao wnsrs = was engaged oy Lee; ba. now
moro III u agreed TO. Good evening.
Thanking Tho General Tor tho IN iormAtion and his
courtesy, the HERALD representative Withdrew.