Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-27
GENERAL GRANT.
Has 40 a of our Late URpiens-
antneSs and The Generals Engaged
ThaFefn.

His Arrival at Hamburg-WhRt he
Has 40 say of our Late URpiehs-
anGneks and the Generals Engaged
Therein.
National Associated Press to the Start
New YoRK, July "a "A Hamburg cor
respondent, writing under the date Of
July 9Th, says Ex-President Grant ar
rived there July I'd. In a conversation
the general gave his views about the
American war and its generals. Among
other things, be said if he had known
the soldiers and generals of the Potomac
army better he would have preferred to
invest Lee in Richmond from Ly~ncbburg,
or the land side, as he invested Pember-
ton IN Vicksburg.
BE says his total loss in the Wilder.
ness campaign amounted to only 80, 900
men. BE says General Butler wishes he
had ADLER subordinales, and expresses
regret that an unlucky phrase in his off
cial reports should have annoyed Butler.
he thinks Jefferson Davis did all he
could for the Confederates, aud did not
deserve the harsh criticism be got. He
thinks Stonewall Jackson might not
have proved so effective q general later
in the war, and opposed to men like
Sherman and Sheridan, when his pecu-
liar tactics would hove tailed.
He seems to think Lee not so great as
his reputation, speaking of him, Of
course, as o soldier and not as a
man. He was never SO uneasy when in
trout OF Lse as some of our other com
manders, and be describes him as a man
of slow mind, without Imagination, and
Of grave dignity Of deneanor. General
Joe Johnston, in his opinion, was the
ablest commander on the Southern side
OF Bragg he appears to have but a poor
opinion. He tells a singular story Of
President Johnsoa's desire az one time
10 arrest General Lee aud the other
Southern commanders for treason by way
of making rebellion odious. Grant and
Seward had, it seems, the means and
good sense 10 oppose and defeat the
folly, and General Grant says he would
have resigned bis command rather than
consent to the arrest, Southern men
being sacred under their parole to him.
Rosecrans. Buekner, Mcclellan, Buell.,
Stone and Mcdowell we're, be says, 10
the opinion Of the old army, most prom
Using officers 10 1861. He still thinks
Buell. had genius for the highest com
mands, and Mcdowell wal a man OF
great ability, aud be cannot account for
the ill.luck of poor Stone, which has
pursued him more than macy other meu
whe knew him as one of the most highly,
cultivated officers in the old army, and
one Of its best soldiers. Sherman snd
Sheridan be praises without stint, anC
relates an odd story of his first meeting
with the latter, when Sheridan, who wal
then colonel Of a regiment, was rude Il
him.
Sherman, be says, is not only one o
the best men living, but one OF the great
est we have in our history; and he give
various accounts of how Sherman's mar
rstive Of the war was misrepresented Il
him, so that be determined to read il
pencil in hand, and publish a reply; bu
be found il q true book, an honorable
book, just to all, and be approves ever.
! word Of it.
Hancock, he thinks, vas D OF tn
ablest Of our generals. BE did not wan
} to 20 to West Point, never liked to IN
mand, aud demonstrated against tn
creation Of the grade Of lieutenant ger
2 eral made for him, though be saw th
necessity for it later.
He dispels some romances Of the wal
IS where he says. there was no battle @
, Lookout Mountain, no action worthy t
! be called a battle. he says neither b.
Sherman nor Sheridan ever held a cour
e ell Of war. BE determined on bis cours
: 10 private, and no one knew what he wa
about to do until orders were write
out. Finally he speaks about his Presi
dental career, thinks the second teri
I was almost his due, because be had bee
bitterly opposed, but relates that be r
a fused persmptorily a third nomination
which was urged upon him.