The Portland daily press., 1878-05-28
GEN. GRANT INTERVIEWER.

He Corrects Rebel Dick Taylor's Errors
NEW York, May ga Paris letter contains
an interview with Gen. Grant, in which he de-
MES the statement of rebel general Dick Tay-
lor, in the North American Review, that Grant
fought his campaign in Virginia against his
own judgment, and in doing SO had thrown
away the lives of a hundred thousand men,
Gen. Grant said that part of Taylor's article
which referred to him was wholly and utterly
false, without shadow of foundation. Gen.
Taylor says that in conference between
President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton and my
self in 1864, the approaching campaign in VIr-
ginia was discussed.
No such conference was ever held, and no
such campaign ever discussed. Taylor says 81
insisted on advancing my whole army against
Richmond by the James River. Il never said
word to the President or Secretary of War
any one else in authority as to how should ad-
vance. Taylor reports Lincoln as saying gov
eminent required the interpostioD of the army
between Lee and Washington. Lincoln never
said word resembling this or anything at all
on the subject Taylor reports me as saying
any change of route from my own BY the
james to another would cost 100, 900 men. THIS
is pure fiction.
Taylor says the story comes to him we'll au-
thenticsted, and he has no doubt of its correct
ness. There are only three persons who could
authenticate such a story-Lincolp, Stanton
and myself. Lincoln and Stanton are dead,
and say the whole story is a fabrication, and
whoever vouched for it to Taylor, vouched for
great men, apart from any sentiment of self
vindication, to make this denial as emphatic
and clear as possible"
Gen. Grant said he had interviews with Sec
rotary Stanton and then with President Lin
coin. and neither desired to know his plans of
campaign. They only wanted him to beat Lee
and told Grant he should have whatever he
wanted to do that, and President Lincoln said
SO long as Grantsbet the rebel army he would be
satisfied. The question of my plans and their
wisdom or unwisdom was never afterward a
subject of conversation or correspondence If
there were blunders in the campaign, the blum.
ders were mine md not those of Lincoln or
Stanton. They did everything in the world to
assure my success, and upon me, and upon me
alone, must the whole responsibility fall.
Gen. Grant says of the article in the Atlantic
Monthly from Gideon Welles, in which Wells
arralgned Grant upon the aut hority of General
Taylor for having insulted Lincolns memory
by attempting to throw upon Lincoln his own
fault, In the Wilderness and other campaigp:
So far as Mr.. Welles is concerned, he is dead
and any resentment one might have felt at his
extraordinary misstatements would now be out
OF place. 1t is unfortunate for Mr.. Wells
fame that he should have spent his last years in
striving to belittle the very administration in
which he held prominent place, butt the real
reason Is that Wetles never was Republican.
He blundered into Lincoln's cabinet
he remained as quiet as a mouse so long as
he held high Office under Republican ad.
ministraton, and drew large salary. AS soon
90 NtL' cOuAcOu udu6 advances TOWARDS
the Democrats he became a loud and earnest
supporter of his administration. From that
time to the end of his life Wells was in perfect
sympathy with the men who tried to break
down the government-men who, whether thew
did much or little, did all in their power.
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 cause me the
least surprise or vexation. My only sorrow is
that gentleman who had been Secretary of
the navy during the rebellion, should devote
his powers to defame men who did all they
could to suppress rebellion. 1 cannot conceive
of more painful and humiliating position.
As to General Taylo r's assault on Lincoln,
am not surprised. Taylor fought on the other
eide, drew pay on the other side, and writes on
the other side. Taylor, unlike Welles, is loyaI
70 his cause, and it he can destroy the reputa.
uon OF Lincoln and those who served Lincoln
why, OF course he has right to do So That is
wnst the Southern Confederacy tried to do for
so far as Taylor and ave concerned we are
Irienas, ana have maintained the best of
reiatlons am quite sure he would not do ma
any unKlhuness, as 1 would not do him
Taylor is one of the most agreeable man III
talks well and talks great deal and liz mnO
of that kind often gets his facts blended with
fiction. / mean by that, that if TavIor said
about me positive untruth, as he does in this
article, it would be a misfortune on his mart nr
an inadvertance rather than any wilful error