The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-06-06

Nor to Throw Away q Hundred
Thousand Men,
Nor to Do Anything Except to Find
Lee and Fight Him.
New York Herald.r
PARIS, May 8, 1873.
Gen. Grant arrived in this city from
Italy on the evening OF the 9TH OF May.
Your correspondent took occasion to bring
to the Generals attention the publication
in the North Ame,ican Rerier from General
Richard Taylor, saying in effect that Gen.
Grant had fought his campaign in Virginia
against his own judgment, and in doing so
had thrown away the lives OF hundred
thousand men. Your correspondent also
called the attention of the General to the
article in the Atiantic Montiiy from the pen
OF the late Gideon Welles, in which MIR.
Welles arraigned Gen. Grant, upon the au-
thority of Zen. Taylor, for having insulted
Lincoln's memory by attempting to throw
upon Lincoln his own fault in the Wilder
ness and other campaigns. The result OF
this ws- an interesting conversation with
Gen. Grant, some OF the points OF which l
will rescue from oblivion for their hIstori-
cal value.
Mr.. WELLS AND GENERAL TAYLOR.
$50 far as Mr. Welles is concerned said
the General, "he is dead, and any resent
ment one might feel at his extraordinary
misstatements would now be out of place.
1t is unfortunate for Mr. Welles' fame that
he should have spent his last years in striv-
ing TO belittle the very administration in
which he held a prominent place. But the
real reason is that Mr.. Welles never was a
Republican. lie blsndered into Lincoln's
Cabinet. lie remained as quiet as n mouse
so long as he held high Office under the
Republicans and drew large salary. As
soon as Mr.. johnson made his advances
toward the Democrats he became a loud and
earnest supporter of his administration.
From that time 10 the end of his life. Mr..
We.les was in perfect sympathy with the
men who tried to break down the govern
ment, and it is only natural that he should
belIttle and defame those who did their best
save the government, men who, whether
they did much or little, did all in their
power. Mr.. Welles was never so sincere in
anything in his life as in his Democracy.
and nothing that he has written against
myself or others for what We tried TO do in the
war would canse methe least surprise or vex-
alton. My only sorrow is that gentleman
who had been Seer. tary of the Navy during
the rebellion should devote his powers to de-
lame men who did all they could to SUD-
press the rebellion. cannot conceive a
more painful and humiliating position.
As to General Taylor's assault on Mr. Lin
coin | am not surprised. General TAYLOR
fought on the other side, drew pay on the
other side and writes on the other side.
Taylor, unlike Welles, is loyal to his cause.
and if he can destroy the reputation OF Mr..
Lincoln, and those who served Mr.. Lincoln,
why, OF course, he has a right to do so.
That's what the Southern Confederacy
tried to do fpr many years. So far as Tay-
Tor and | are concerned we are friends. and
have maintained the hest relations. | am
quite sure he would not do me any unkind-
ness, ~ ! would not do him. Taylor is one
of the most agreeable of men, who talks
well and talks great deal, and, like men
OF that kind, often gets his facts blended
with fiction. mean by that that il Taylor
said about me positive un,ruth, as he
does in this article, it would be misior
tune on his part or an MISUNDERSTANDING
any wilfui error. He fwould say it in all
seriousness without knosing any better.
TAlLoRs NARRATIVE A PURE FICTION.
Then" sid your correspondent. "this
article is not altogether true?''
II have no Doubt" said the General
there are some true things in the article
but the part which refers to me is wholly
false, utterly f-lse, without a shadow of
foundation. General Taylor SAYS that in a
conference between President Lincoln, Sec
rotary Stanton and myself, in 1864. the ap-
preaching campaign in Virginia was dis
cussed. No such conference was ever held
and no such campaign was ever discussed.
General Taylor says that insisted upon
advancing my whole army against Rich
mond by the james River, | never said a
word to the President or Secretary of War.
or any one else in authority, ss to how
would advance. General Taylor reports Mr..
Lincoln as saving that the government re-
quired the interposiiion of an army between
Lee and Wa. hington. Mr.. Lincoln never said
a word resembling this, or anything at all
on the subject. General Taylor reports me
as saying that any change of route from nv
own by the James to another would cost
5000 men. This is a pure fiction, as, in
deed, the whole story is pure fiction. Gen
eraI Taylor says that the story comes to
him well authenticated, and he has no
doubt Of its correctness. There are only
three persons who could authenticate such
a story-Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Stanton, and
mys. If. Lincoln and Stanton are dead, and
| say the whole story is fabrication, and
whoever vouches for it to General TAYLOR
vouches for fiction. feel it due to the
memory OF these great men, apart from any
sentiment OF Standardization, to make the
denial IS emphatic and clear az possible"
GRANTS INTERVIEW WITH LINCOLN AND
STANTON.
THIS denial of General Grant led TO an
resume on his part. al remem-
ber,' he said, very well, my first inter-
view with Stanton You know / did not
come TO Washington until l came in rela
ton Ia an order TO assume command of
the armies. | had once been there
as young man. but otherwise, it was nv
first trip. found Stanton cordial and will
ing to do anything, so We suppressed the
REBELLION. Nothing could have been more
and hearty than his treatment OF
me. Now says he, General, / do not
want to know your plans. Tell me what
you need to carry them out That is all l
care to know. And when you go to see Mr..
Lincoln you will do we'll to observe the
same discretion. Mr.. Lincoln NAV not
want to know any more of your plans THAI
do, but can understand how YOU might
seek the confidence of the Presi-
lent Now Mr.. Lincoln is Of gentle and
lender nature, apt to confde in many
people, and what yon tell him about mill
AIRY movements he may tell TO the next
senator with whom he has an intimate |
/ saw Lincoln. He was as
,ordial and hearty as Stanton, if possible |
more so. because he vas a man OF more af- |
able AM gracious manners. When Lin
,oln and | vert alone the President began
he conversation by repeating story from
IN article by Orpheus C. Kerr--a comic ar
icle satirizing the conduct of the war 1t
vas, as remember. a story about Captain
Cob Shorty and the Mackerel Brigade, and
he anaconda policy, something about gen.
rails in the field being hampered BY a food
4 orders. When he bad finished Lincoln