The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-08-01
GRANTS "REMINISCENCES.

| HIS VIEWS AND RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN
AND THINGs-THE SOLDIERS OF THE
TWO ARMIES-GENERALS AND STATES
MEN MADE AND UNMADE BY THE TOUCH
STONEOF ExPERIENCE-THESU SURRENDER
OF LEE AT APPOMATOX.
A correspondent OF the New York Herald
undoubtedly Mr.. John Russell Young. sum-
marizes numerous conversations he has held
with General Grant during his pending trip
abroad in seven column interview, from
which the following extracts are made:
asked the General why he had not in
vested Richmond as he had invested Vicks
burg and starved out Lee.
'sSuch a movement said the General,
"Would have involved moving my army from
the Rapidan to Lynchburg. l considered the
plan with great care before l made the Will
derness move. l thought Of massing the
Army of the Potomac in movable columns,
giving the men twelve days rations, and
throwing myself between Lee and his COM
munications. IL had made this movement
successfully-if | had been as fortunate as
Was when Threw my army between Penn
berton and Joe Johnston, the war would hav5
been over year sooner. am not sure that
it was not the best thing to have done it GER
tanly was the plan should have preferred
very serious for the country, and [ did not
dare the risk. What deferred me, however,
was the fact that was new to the army, did
not have. it in hand, and did not know what
could do with the generals or men. Ii it
ad been six months later, when had the
| army in hand, and knew what a splendid
army it was, and what officers and men Were
| capable Of doing, and | could have had.
Sherman and Sheridan to assist in the
| movement, would not have hestated for
| a moment"
THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
ssBy the way said the General "there is
one point about the campaign in the Wider
ness worth remembering. My critics say chat
1 threw away 100000 men in that campaign
This has been repeated so often that it will
soon be history. Now, my total losses were
i
have the figures, but that is about the fig
ure; and these losses do not mean killed, but
the number of effective men taken from my
army by death, wounds, capture and deser-
ton. That movement cost me $4,000 men,
but do not forget what it cost Lee.''
BUTLER AND HIS CAMPAIGN ON THE JAMES
81 have always regretted the censnre that
unwittingly came upon Butler in that cam
paign, and my report was the cause. said
that the General was bottled up, and used the
phrase without meaning to annoy the Gen
eral or give his enemies weapon. l like
Butler, and have always found him not only.
as all the world knows, a man OF great abil-
ity. but patriotic man, and man of cour-
age, honor and sincere convictions. Butler
lacked the technical experience Of military
education, and it is very possible to be mar
of high part and not great general. Butler
as general was full of enterprise and re-
sources and brave man. If | had giver
him two corps commanders like Adelber
| Ames, or Schofield, or Mackenzie, or dozer
could mention, he would have made fine
campaign on the James and helped me ma
terially in my plans. l have always beer
sorry did not do so. Butler is man it il
fashion to abuse, but he is man who has
done the country great service, and who il
worthy OF its gratitude"
THE SURRENDER OF LEE.
We were conversing one evening abou
Lees surrender. The General told the story
Of the memorable event. 1.-The night ..befor,
Lee surrendered, he said, II had a wretchet
headache-headaches to which l have beer
subject-nervous prostration, intense per
sonal suffering. But suffer or not, | had t.
keep moving. saw clearly, especially aftc
Sheridan had cut off the escape to Danyille
that Lee must surrender or break and rul
into the mountains-break in all directions
and leave us a dozen guerilla bands to fight
My campaign was not Richmond, not tht
defeat of Lee in actual fight, but to remove
him and his army out of the contest, and, i
possible. have. him use his influence in Undue