The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-08
CIR mt AND PLEAS0N7ON.
A Criticism Of General Ora nt's
Recent Sta tement.
THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
General Pleasonton Defends the Memory
OF President Lincoln.
THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.

THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
on Thursday OF last week, among tho many notc.
worthy which took place In The celebration OF
ceremonies commemorative Of the deeds oil our de.
parted heroes tAere great gathering of military
and civic celebrities al Booths Theatre In the house.
In the obbes, al cvery corner In tho neirhbornood,
stood larger or smaller groups OF men earnestly
dghting old battles again discussing the INFER
view had A. Paris between General Grant aud
Herald representative, which WAS published on the
9Th uit Tho substance OF this interview appeared
afford considerable material for heated arguments,
and "that plan OF campaign" seemed to be Of tho
chief features oil the interview which gave 10
much feeling, while some venturcd to laugh whom
It was mentioned Passing by the several groups
pcatedy your representative heard frequent mention
made OF General Alfred Pleasonton, one speaker re-
maPking:-"lf PlsasoniOn would say what he knows
10 rsgsrd 70 the events that shaped Grants campaign
from Cuipeppcr Richmond there would probably DO
some Interesting revelations disclosing the fact that.
while Lincoln int erfered with the plan OF CAM
pagn which Grant decided to carry out emphatical),
Mr. Lincoln was oil the opinion that II not the
plan which could have been adopted ~ that time"
Another animated speaker criticised tho assertion OF
Of campaign suggested by Mr. Lincoln General Grant,
Pessonton would tell " truth about that plan.
He knows more about It than the public will evcr DO
likely 10 hear.n
Having heard 50 much, and more. the representa-.
tive Of the HERALD sought General Pleasonton, ana
found him ~ tho st. 0mer Hotel Sending up hts
card he was soon ushersd into cosey paror ana
sraciousy received by the famous SOLDIER who in his
close retirement has by word sign intimaed
that he, too deserves 10 be rcmempered. General
PIcasonton has brilliant and therc were few
officers In the army sincerely loved he Gentle
aud unosten tatous IN his manner, be obeyed orders
without murmur, and by his example no obtained
the good result from those under his com mar
and their utter devotion Holding the card his
General Picasonton, with . pleasant smile, asked.
s.You wish 10 mofn
HERALD REPRKsENTAnv1-Yes, General, I have
come with a request from tho HxRALD to have you
throw = little light q subject which many appear
TO be Of the opinion that pou only cplighten tho
public upon refer TO the plan OF campaign men.
toned tho interview between HERALD correspond
emit and General Grant at Paris, which presume
you read.
General PLEAsoSr0N Gracefully drawing chair and
motioning the representative TO bo soascd)-wli you
Tell rather what particular portion or the inter-
view you refer tor t8
tN WHAT GENERAL GRANT SAID
HERALD REPREsESrATlvE-rhat describing tho In
tcrview between Mr.. Lincoln and General Grant,
when the lattor had been summoned TO take
command OF the armies, in which General Grant
says:--"He tmesning Mr. LincOlnl spoke OF . plan
he had long thought over and took down a
map. He drew imaginary line between two
OF the Virginia creeks rivers, tho OF which
have escaped me, ana sald that might move on tina,
line and have tho streams for supplies. looked Al
the plan and saw In moment that II pu, my army
on such limo would DO In much the same position
as tho army OF the James-I would be poworless. I
could do no good TO side and harm TO tho
other. would bs locked up. told Mr.. Lincoln /
would consider she plan, and tina. the last Of Il
Tho route was an impossible route. and was never
mentioned again by Mr. Lincoln. That il, as far az
remember tho exact story OF the conference between
Mr. Lincoln, Mr.. Stanton and myself whom l took
command Of tho army"
- aExERAL PLEAsoSroS's REPLY.
General Peasonton, loogng earnestly az pattern
of carpet, reflected moment and said that he was
glad Of an opportunity 10 oblIse the HERALD, but
added that he did wish 10 criIcise into
any controversy between General Grant, Secretary
weiles and General Taylor; but when suggcstsd
that duo 10 the memory Of Mr.. Lincoln that all
doubts should be cleared regards his position In
cigarette and consented 10 give the Information
sought In tho following words:sI cannot deny that
possess knowledge Of what you are commas led
20 discover. and under me circsms'sncss, nave
give you conciss Outline Of tho facts ELECTED by your
questioning.
cavalry corps Of the Army OF the Potomac. was
summoned by the joint Committee on Inc ooniucI of
the war, vi the two houses OF Congress, TO gve my
testimony on ,he campaign oil Gettysburg Alter Inc
COMMITTEES had received my evidence was requested
suea by tho Army Of Inc Potomac In The next
paign. This did IN the most complete ana compre-
hensvs manner, discussing and answering evcry
point which was raised by Tue committee rs to tue
feasibility oil the operations | advanced. The CON-
mittsc deciaed that this was the best plan Of
pagn that had been submitted TO Them during tue
war; tnst the means required 10 carry into eject
were not unreasonable; that the President should bs
requested 10 adopt tnis plan oil campaign. place
ms Ia command OF tho Army OF tho Potomac
give the iotce required 10 carry out this plan
anu 10 mold me responsible Tor lis iul and proper
execution. 1he committee submitted tho plan
Prcsidcnt and ne took into the most careful coDsd
Grafton, EXPRESSED himself as personally In favor Of
y, but addsd that tue matter was oil such Vast im-
portancc AZ TO require time Tor It's iu consideration
aud That no wouia give decisive answer ear
iiesl moment. The PresidcDps answer never was
ccvcd by the committee, and about two there
after was Renewed from duty Ia me Army OF Tho
Potomac and ordered 10 ST. Louis, MO. General Grant
was then IN washington AS Lieutenant General In
command OF all Tue armies
rHs PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
HkKALD RkrnssENTArivk-BAvc you any objection
TO giving the HERALD tno plan you submitted TO The
commiueef
Geuersl PLKAsoSTos-Nono; the war has passed
into history, ana all important facs relating TO II
SHOULD be made known 10 erebo people 10 properly
understand tho great cvonts as tbey occurred At The
time submitted TINS plan Of campaign the Two op
posing armios were iacing cacn o,ner. TIE Army o
the Potomac was at Culporper Court House, General
Lees army DsiLg south the Rapdan River al orange
Court House Inc situation o. Affairs al that tin,c
sucn that General Lees army anu Rich mond,
the proper objective pout tor the Army oil inc
Potomac 10 STRIKE The defeat and surren0er ci Lees
army would DriDg about the Ia OF Richmond. Ny pian
therefore, WAS based upon attacking Lees army ana
defeating and destroying him, takag into considera
lion mis- weak points ana Tue ponsi Ia which ths Army
OF the Potomac would be immeasurably nis superior
Tho weakness Of Lees army consisted Ia hts want OF
means Tor trAnsportatiop. and MS army could not
have subsisted three days ufven IRON tue railroads
wniIe tho Army OF the Potomac had 1000 six-nule