The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-24

reaching Switzerland in the late summer early fall
have some memoranaa OF odds and snds OF con-
versations in idle moments while wandering about
these old towns and II seems to me that can Dc no
better service to the historian than TO throw these
memoranda into some shape. There few men
more willing 10 converse any subject which
he knows than the General, and although
his fame is that OF silent man
those who know him all know that
IN reality have few better takers in America The
charm Of the Generals talk is that IL II never about
anything he does not know and what he does know no
knows we'll He IL never vindctivs and never COS
sips, and when referring to men and things in the
events OF his he b passoniess aud just
a historian He never refers the war unless you
put the SUBJECT TO him directly. am afraid nave
been this point not that ever wanted 70
trouble General Grant, but because the judgments and
opinions OF such q man belong to history. hope,
therefore, that what gather up and send you irom
various table talk memoranda will have value TO tho
historian. do not hope TO give you the Generai's
exact words, although as far as memory serves
do so. remember, for instance, ask
Ing tho General why he had not invested
Richmond he had invested Vicksburg and starved
out Lee:-"Such movement" said the General,
.swoud have involved moving my army from the
Rapidan Lynchburg / considered the plan with
great care before l made the Wilderness 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 communi.
cations. II had made this movement successfully
If had been as fortunate as was when threw my
army between Pemberton and Joe Johnston the war
would have been year sooner. am not sure
that 1t tho best thing TO have done It certainly
was tho plan should have preferred II had tailed,
however, 1t would have been very serious
for the country, aud ] aid not dare the
Whotd hnW vyaa a
1 was new the army, did not have 1t In hand and
did not know what could do with the generals or
men. II II had been six months later, when had the
army In hand, and knew what splendid army IL was
and what officers and mon were capable OF doing, and
could have and Sheridan to assist IN the
movement, / would not have hesitatcd for mo-
msnt"
THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
'sBy the way, said he General 'there Is one point
about the campaign In the Wilderness worth remem'
oenng Ny critics say that threw away 1907 900 men
in that campaign. This has been repeated so often
that it viii soon be history. Now, my total losses
were about thirty thousand, all told. Badeaus
pook will have the figures, but that is about the
ngurc ana those losses do not mean killed, but the
number OF effective men taken IRON my army by
death, wounds, capture and desertion. That move
ment cost 49, 900 men. but do not forget what 1t
cost Lee. Remember that Leo had to hight as much
as did. He had the advantage OF being on the dc.
fepsve, which is always advantage, and had TO
attack and attack but every blow struck weakened
him, and when at last he was forced into Richmond 1t
was lar different army from that which menaced
Washing ton and invaded Maryland and Pennsyvana.
1t was no longer an invading army. The Wilderness
campaign was necessary to the destruction Of the
Southern Confederacy.
BUTLER AND HIS CAMPAIGN on THE JAMEa
II have always regretted the censure that unwit-
| tingy came upon Butler in that campaign, and my
| report was the cause said that the General was
bottled up, and used the phrase without meaning 10
| annoy the General or give his enemies weapon.
like Butler and have always found him not only as
all the world knows OF great ability but patri-
| otto man, and a Of courage, honor and sincere
convictions Butler lacked tho technical experience
Of military education and is very possible to be
man Of high parts and be great general Butler
as general full OF enterprise and resources and
| a bravo man. II had given him Two corps command
ers ike Adeibert Ames, Schodcd, or Mackenzie, or
| dozen could mention, be would have made hne
campaign on tho James and helped materially In my
| plana have always been sorry did not do SO.
Butler is q it fashion to abuse, but BIO is a
man who done the country great service and who
is worthy OF Its gratitude"
sURkENDER OF LEE.
We we're conversiag one evening about Lees sur
| render. The General told the story OF the mcmora-
| BILE event "The night before Lee surrendered" he
| said, 81 had . wretched Observation-Disclosures TO
which have been subject-nervous prostration, Ia
tence personal SOLDERING But suner or not, had TO
keep moving. saw clearly, especially alter sheri-
dan had OF the escape to Danvie, that Leo must
| surrender break and run into the mountains
break IN all directions and leave dozen guerilla
bands to fght My campaign was not Richmond, not
the defeat Lee in actual light but TO remove him
| and n at ha
have him his influence in inducing the surren der
OF Johnston ami the other isolated armies. You sec
tho war was enormous strain upon the country.
Rich we're do not now see how We could nave
endured IL another year even from financial point o.
view. SO with these views wrote Lee and opened
the correspondence with VIII ch the world IL familiar
Lee does appear we'll In that cores
nearly so we'll no did in subsequent interviews
where his whole bearing that oil q patriotic and
gallant soldier. concerned alone for the wei
iare Of his army aud his state. received wore
that Leo would meet me at q point within our limos
near Shcridan's headquarters. had to ride quite
distance through a IN uady country. remember now
that 1 was oncerned about my personal appearance
had old suit on, without my sword, aud without
any Distinguishing marx OF rank, except tho shoulder
straps OF a Lieutenant General a wooeu blouse.
was splashcd with mud In my long ride
1 was afraid Lee might think meant TO show bin
studied discourtssy by SO comsg--at least though
80 But / had no ether clothes within reach, as Lsei
letter found me away from my base Of supplies.
kept on riaiGg until l met sheridan. The General
who vas one Of Of the paign, aud whose
pursuit oil Lee perfect In generaIshp and en-
srcy, told me whore nnd Lee. ] remember tha
| Sheridan was impatient when met hm-auxious anC
suspicious about The whole business, feared thcr,
DO plan TO escape, that he had Lee at his feet
wanted 70 end the business BY gong In and forcn
IN absolute surrender by capture In FACT he had hi,
troops ready such assault when Lees white
| came within his lines went up to the house where
Lee was waiting found him IN a fine, new. splendid
Uniform, which only recalled my anxiety a,
70 my own clothes while my way
TO meet him. expressed my regret thai
was compelled TO meet him In unceremonious
manner and he replied that the only suit no hac
| ri Ind hnan hin, nam.