The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-10
THAT CHAPTER OF HISTORY"

INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL JOSEPH +. JOHNS
TON HE DECLINES TO GIVE MS AUTHORITY
FOR THE STATEMENT MADE To GENERAL
TAYLOR, BUT BELIEVES II TO BE TRUE.
RICHMOND. Va, June g. 1878.
The HERALD correspondent called upon General
joseph f. Johnston this morning and asked him II ho
had read tho ..Chapier Of history" in the HERALD OF
yesterday. The General in reply said:-
Ny note to Genera Taylor was private motto, pub
lished without my being consulted Lhave author
ity TO Give my authority. got note from General
Taylor yesterday morning, dated Monday last saying
that had written to the HERALD and sent copy OF
my note. As TO this matter l can say nothing, be-
cause am not at liberty to name my authority.
General Taylor ought to have consulted me before
publishing my note which written TO him in reply
TO letter he wrote to tho subject Of friendly
conversation we had two years ago.
NOTE FROM GENERAL JOHNSTON
General Johnston then gavo the HERALD ccrrespon-
dent the following communication in rcply TO the
matter published in the HERAIp:-
DEAR SiR-In regard 10 your question In relation TO
my note published IN General Iaylor's communica-
ton in the HERALD OF tho 9th inst. can only say
am not authorized by my informant can say moth
ing on tho subject Tor Tho press. .
Most respectfully yours, J. f. JOHNSTON.
In conclusion General Johnston said that OF course
he regarded General rayors true, aud no
wished he could join General Taylor In the pubca-
ton. lie said he did not know where his informant
was now, but he was an old acquaintance whom hc
know well IN former years.
GENERAL MCCLELLAN AND THE GBANT-TAYLon
coNTRovERsY-HE DECLINES TO cnITIcIsE
GRANT AND ms WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
A HERALD representative on Saturday visited G en-.
cral George B. Mcclellan, the old commander OF the
Army OF tho Potomac and now Governor oil Now Jer-
sey his elegant residence, located the brow Of
the Orange Mountain, facing eastward and command
ing which scarcely be equa'lcd In this part
OF Uuion Tho object OF the HERALD reporters visit
to the General TO obtain his views touching Gen.
cra Grants Wilderness campaign and tho contro-
versy started by General Dick Taylor
UNWILLING TO cRlTICIsE.
The moment tho object OF tho iptorvicw was
. preached General Mcclellan promptly said that he
could cay nothing Whatever on the subject beyond
tho that he had casually heard tho matter talked
about among friends some months before General
Tayior's article appeared. AS to tho right or the
wrong OF tho issue raised no could positively say
nothing. Indeed, be frank TO say that he knew
nothing abo ut tho matter except upon hcarsay and
from what he had read tho HERALD ana other jour-
nails
HERALD REPoRrER--What arc your Vows, GcneraI'
OF the Wlldcrncss campaign ana OF tho report tnat
100000 troops had beon deliberately sacrificed?
General MccLELLAs-I much pref TO continue the
silence have always maintained on questions OF this
character. Ny own views OF the water route are on
record In my report TO President Lincoln. Under no
circumstance would criticisc General Grant and his
Wilderness campaign. l have seen SO much wild
and foolish criticism OF movements ard nets
by those ignorant Of the governing facts-havo
seen (hcrc tho General became very omphatlcs as If
speaking from personal expericncc) SO much inJus-
tce done 10 men, to iher acts and to their motives
that have learned to be cautious about criticism
and TO 10 charitable In my conclusions. While
desire 10 DO distinctly understood us saying that
have pevcr waverod IN nv belief that tho overland
route the movement on Richmond was not tho
true and wise one, and that the water route
was, am tree to say that II is possible that had
l boen IN General Grants position, having his
lights and Information, might have douc exactly as
he did. The general In command IL tho only one who
having all the information, can properly dccidu what
js best to be done. Az Tor General Grani, he and
have always boon the riendlicst torms and under
no circumstance could DO induced TO crricise hts
military movements"
After a few minutcs pleasant conversation other
topics the ntcrvew closed ana tho reporter Withdrew