The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-06
A CHAPTER OF HISTORY.
Interesting Interview with General Grant
The Relative Power of the North and
South.

Herald recently had an interview with
General Grant in Paris on the conduct
of the war between the States, and called
attention to a publication id the South
american Revieao from the pen of General
Richard Taylor, in effect that General
Grant fought the campaign in Virgins
against his own judgment, and in doing
so had thrown away the lives of hun.
dred thousand men. The correspondent
also called Grants attention to an article
in the atlantic Monthty written by the
late Gideon Welles, in which Grant is
arraigned, upon the authority of General
Taylor, for having insulted Lincoln's
memory by attempting to throw the
blame for the Wilderness and other cam.
paigns upon Lincoln, which it was. his
own fault. The result of this interview
was an interesting conversation with
General Grant, from which we make the
following extracts:
MR.. wELLEs AND GENERAL TAYLOR.
$50 far as Mr.. Welles is concerned"
said the General, "he is dead, and any
resentment one might feel at his extraor-
dinary misstatements would now be out
of place. 1t is unfortunate for Mr..
Welles' fame that he should have spent
his last years in striving to belittlle the
very administration in which he held a
prominent place. But the real reason is
that Mr.. Welles never was Republican.
He blundered into Lincoln's Cabinet.
He remained as quiet as mouse so long
as he held a high Office under the Re-
publicans and drew large salary. AS
soon as Mr.. johnson made his advances
towards the Democrats he became loud
and earnest supporter of his administers
tion. From that time to the end of his
life, Mr.. Welles was in perfect sympathy
with the men who tried to break down
the government, and it is only natural
that he should belittle and defame those
who did their best to save the govern
ment, men who, whether they did much
or little, did all in their power. Mr..
Welles was never so sincere in anything
in his life as in his Democracy, and
nothing that he has written against my
self or others for what we tried to do in
the war would cause me the least sur
prise or vexation. My only sorrow is
that gentleman who had been Secre-
tary of the Navy during the rebellion
should devote his powers to defame men
who did all they could to suppress the
rebellion. I cannot conceive a more
painful and humiliating position. AS to
General Taylor's assault on Mr.. Lincoln,
1 am not surprised. General Taylor
fought on the other side, drew pay on
the other side and writes on the other
side. Taylor, unlike Welles, is loyal to
his cause, and if he can destroy the repu-
tation of Mr.. Lincoln, and those who
served Mr.. Lincoln, why, of course, he
has right to do 80. That's what the
Southern Confsderacy tried to do for
many years. So far as Taylor and are
concerned, we are friends, and have
maintained the best relations. I am
quite sure he would not do me any un-
Kindness, as I would not do him. Tay-
lor is one Of the most agreeable of men,
who talks well and talks a great deal,
and, like men of that kind, often gets his
facts blended with fiction. Imean by
that that if Taylor said about me posi-
tive untruth as he does in this article, it
would be a misfortune on his part or an
inadvertence-not any wilful error. he
would speak in all seriousness without
knowing any better"
TAYLoR's NARRATIVE A PURE FICTION,
"Then," said your corresondent, "this
article is not altogether true?"
"I have no doubt" said the General
"there are some true things in the arti.
Gle; but the part which refers to me is
wholly false, utterly false, without 8
shadow of foundation. General Taylor
says that in a conference between Presi.
dent Lincoln, Secretary Stanton and my
sells, in 1864, the approaching campaign
in Virginia was discussed. No such con-
ference was ever held, and no such cam
paign was ever discussed. Gen. Taylo.
says that I insisted upon advancing my
whole army against Richmond by the
James River. [ never said word to the
President or Secretary of War, or any
one else in authority, as to how 1 would
advance. General Taylor reports Mr.
Lincoln as saying that the government
required the interposition of an army be.
tween Lee and Washington. Mr.. Lin.
coin never said word resembling this,
or anything at all on the subject. Gen
Taylor reports me as saying that any
change of route from my own by the
James to another would cost 100000
men. This is pure fiction, as, indeed
the whole story is pure fiction. Gen
Taylor says that the story comes TO hin
well authenticated, and he has no doubt
of his correctness. There are only three
persons who could authenticate such 9
story-Mr. Lincoln, Mr.. Stanton and
myself. Lincoln and Stanton are dead
and I say the whole story is fabrica
ton, and whoever vouched for it to Gen
Taylor vouched for a fiction. I feel il
due to the memory of these great men
apart from any sentiment of self-vindica
tion, to make this denial as emphatic
and clear as possible"
GRANTS INTERVIEW WITH LINCOLN
AND STANTON.
This denial of General Grant led to al
interesting resume on his part. 81 re
member" he said, Every well my first in
terview with Stanton. You know I die
not come to Washington until l came il
relation to an order to assume command
of the armies. l had once been there al
young man, but otherwise it was my
first trip. l found Stanton cordial anc
willing to do anything, SO we suppressed
the rebellion. Nothing could have beer
more earnest and hearty than his treat
ment of me. Now says he, General
1 do not want to know your plans. Tel
me what you need to carry them out
That is all I care to know. And wher
you 90 to see Mr.. Lincoln you will d.
well to observe the same discretion. Mr.
Lincoln may not want to know any more
of your plans than J. do, but l can under
stand how you might naturally seek thu
confidence of the President. Now Mr.
Lincoln is of a gentle and tender nature
apt to conide in many people, and wha
you tell him about military movement
he may tell to the next Senator will
whom he has an intimate conversation.