Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-14

In the Norm Anteyle0n 1ep7elC. 1t WILL be re-
membered that Grant assumed all RESPONSE
bility for the movement upon Lee which re-
suited in the sacrifice of 100000 men. Gen.
Pleasonton gives concise narrative of the
movements of the Army of the Potomac at that
critical PERIOD and as it differs materially from
that given by Grant, and throws further light
upon the subject, we reproduce it's essential
points, Said Gen. Pleasonton:
I'm the winter of 1864, when was command
ing the cavalry corps Of the Army of the Poto-
mac, was summoned by the joint committee
OH the conduct of the war. of the two Houses
Of Congress, to give my testimony on the CAM
paign of Gettysburg. After the committee
submit my views on the proper course to be
pursued by the Army Of the Potomac in the
next campaign. This l did in the most COM
plete and comprehensive manner, discussing
and answering every point which was raised by
the committee as to the feasibility of the oper-
atoms l advanced. The committee decided
that this was the best plan of campaign that
had been submitted to them during the war;
that the means required to carry it into effect
were not unreasonable; that the President
= hould be requested to adopt this
plan of the campaign, place me in command of
the Army of the Potomac, give me the
aud to hold me responsible for its full and
proper execution. The committee submitted
the plan to the President and he took it into
the most careful consideration, expressed him
self as personally in favor of it, but added that
the matter was Of such vast Importance as to
require time for its full consideration and that
he would give decisive answer at the earliest
moment. The Presidents answer never was
received by the committee and about two
weeks thereafter relieved from duty in
the army of the Potomac and order to st.
Louis, Mo. General Grant was then in Wash
ington as lieutenant general in command of all
the armies.
The war has passed into history, and all inn
portant facts relative to it should be made
known to enable people to properly understand
the great events as they occurred. AZ the time
/ submitted this plan of campaign the two OPP
posing armies were facing each other. The
army of the Potomac WAS at Culpepper court
house, General Lees army being south of the
Rapidan river at Orange court house. The sit
uation of affairs at that time was such that
General Lees army, and not Richmond, was the
proper objective point for the army OF the
Potomac to strike. The defeat and surrender
Richmond. My plan, therefore, was based
upon attacking Lees army and defeating and
destroying him, taking into consideration mis-
weak points and the points in which the army
of the Potomac would be UNNECESSARILY his
superior. The weakness of Lees army con-
and his army could not have subsisted three
days, if driven from the railroads which sup
piled him from Richmond and Lynchburg,
while the army of the Potomac had 1000 six
mule teams and could leave its base Of supplies
for ten days. My plan, therefore, was to force
Lee from his railroads, when his army would
soon be under the necessity of surrendering or
dispensing. Culpepper was the great stragetic
position of northern Virginia between the
James river and the Potomac. Whenever Lee
held Culpepper he commanded the Shenandoah
valley, and when the army of the Potomac oc-
cupied Culpepper it covered the Shenandoah
valley, for the reason that the roads from VIM
and Lynchburg conferred at Oulpepper.
|, therefore, suggested that Gull
pepper should be perman u5ly occu-
pied and sufficient feldwork be thrown up
to protect three months supplies for 100000
men. Then, leaving 100, 900 men in position at
| 100000 men and force him from the railroad
| connecting Orange court house with Lynch
burg. Lee would then have but one railroad
to fall back upon, which would be that OF
| Richmond, and the country in which the army
| of the Potomac would operate on the west in
| following him on that road, was far more ia
vorable to the army Of the Potomac than the
which was that of the Wilderness and it would
| have taken in reverse the positions which Lee
had been preparing on that liue during the two
| years previously. The moment Lee fell back
| from Orange court house should bring Is, OO(
| men from the 100000 at Culpepper to Orange
court house, making that my basis of opera
| ton. should then, by continually attacking
Lee, retard his march, and With my 1885, 0l
men force him from his remaining railroad ant
! cause his surrender.
This is the bare outline Of the plan of cam
paign, which was submitted under the suppo
hot ~, ~
tie at Orange court house. 1t was suggested
however, that rather than do so he might fal
back on Lynchburg, in which case the problem
would become very much simplifed, as b.
would then immediately be separated from
Richmond, which would be without defence
In case he fell back to the James river between
Richmond and Lynchburg, the Army of th
Potomac, by rapid pursuit, would bring hin
to bay and deliver battle with all the advanta
ges on their side, he (Lee) having river an,
canal to cross in case of defeat. In case tn
remnant of his army reached Richmond, tn
supplies of both Richmond and his army com
ing from the south, southwest and Lynchbur
would be very soon cut off, and starvation. i
nothing else, would compel him to surrender
Herald Representative-Do you believe tina
the plan referred to in the interview betwee
General Grant aud the Herald representative
at Paris is the one you submitted?
General Pleasonton-1 have every reason t
OoAACS0 81 duN UdeC Ivy IcdoOA OA Vic AdCt Iud
l was informed by the chairman of the com
mittee on the conduct of the war (the Hor
Benjamin +. Wade, of Ohio) of the course til
committee adopted with reference to tina
plan.
Herald Representative-Mr. Wade is deac
and he is the only witness You have cited =
far. Are there any living who know of th
plan?
General Pleasonton Cooking the inquirer
the face with a reflective air)rYou remind mi
and thank you for it, that 1 have onl
brought as evidence one who is no more, an
!, who could not, therefore, refute my stat.