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

fight the enemy and never went into action without
feeling sure they would win Shiloh broke the pres
tge OF the Southern Conisderacy SO tar a. our West
ern army was concerned sherman was the hero oil
Shiloh. He really commanded two divisions-his own
and McCisrpand' sand proved himself 10 be con-
summate soldier Nothing could be inner than
his work At Shiloh, and yet shiloh Was oslit-
tled BY our Northern people so that many poo
pie look at IL a. . defeat The same may % SAID
Of Fort Donelson. People think that Donelson was
captured by pouring men into II TO ono, or some
such odds The truth Is our army, new army, IN
vested a fortified place and compelled surrender Of
force much larger than our own. largo number
OF the rebels escaped under Floyd and Pillow, but AZ
il was l took moro prisoners than had mon under
my command for the Rrst two days OF my invest
nsnt. After tho investment We were reinforced, so
that at the surrender there were $4,000 Union troops
about 900 OF which were sent back TO guard the
road whore the steamers lay with our supplies.
There were %, 900 effective men in Donelson al The
beginning oil the siege. OF course there was risk
In attacking Donelson as did, but" said the General
knew some Of them IN Mexico. knowledge OF that
kind goes far toward determining movement ike
this"
THE ATTACK FORT DoyELsoN.
"suppose Longstrset or JACKSON had been in CON-
mands" said your correspondent.
al Longstreet or Jackson" said the General, 'or
even II Buckner had been in command would have
made different campaign. In the beginning we all
did things rashy than later just as Jackson did
in bis earlier campaigns. The Mexican war made the
officers OF the old regular armies moro or less ac-
quanted, aud whom we knew the name Of the general
opposing knew enough about him 10 make our
plans accordingly. What determined my attack on
Donslsonn said the General, '.was much the know-
huxr fitcc In No r
thing else. But as the war progressed and each side
kept improving It's army these experiments were not
possible Then 1t became hard, earnest war, and
neither side could depend upon any chance with the
other. Neither side dared 10 MAKE mistake. II was
steady. hard pounding, and the result could only bs
ruin the defeated party That was peculiarly In
our war that not fighting for peace, but to
destroy cur adversary That made It hard for both
sides, and especially Tor the South"
PRESIDENT JoHNs0Ss RxsoLUTIoN TO ARxBsT LEE
Your correspondent recalled a rumor current at
the time about the Intention OF johnson to arrest
Lee EYES," said the General, ..Mr. johnson had
made up his mind 10 arrest Lee and the leading
Southern officers II was in the beginning OF his ad-
ministra.ion when ho was making speeches saying
he had resolved TO make oil odious. He was
addressing delegations the subject and offering re-
wards for Jen Davis and Others Upon Lees arrest
he had decided. ! protested again and again. II
would up IN Cabinet. and the only Minister who
supported my views openly was Seward always
said that the parole OF Lee protected him ss long as
he observed 1t. On one occasion Mr.. johnson spoke
OF Leo and wanted to know why any military COM
mander had right 10 protect arch traitor from the
laws was angry ut this, and spoke earnestly and
plainly to the President said that General II was
none OF my business what he or Congress did with
General Lee or his othor com manders. He might do
tvil rvhl nf
sr,y and so on. That did not como IN my province.
But general commanding troops has certain respon-
siblties and duties and power. which are supreme.
He must deal with the enemy In front OF him As TO
destroy him He may either kill him. capture him or
parole him. His engagements are sacred SO fur as they
load to the destruction Of the foe. made certain
terms with Lee-the best and only terms II had
told MIN and his army thar their liberty would BIO in
vaded that they would be open 10 arrest.
trial and execution for treason, Lee would
never have surrendered, ana We should have
lost many lives in destroying him. Now my
Of surrender were according to military law. to
the instructions Of Mr.. Lincoln and Mr. Stanton. and
so long IS Lee observing his parole would never
consent to his arrest. Mr.. Seward nodded approval.
l remember feeling very strongly on tho subject
The matter was allowed to die should have
signed the command OF the army rather than nave
carried any directing me to arrest Ice Of
any Of his commanders who obeyed tho laws BY the
way, one reason why Mosby became such friend o.
mine was because as General gave him safe con
duct allow him to practise law and earn q living
Our officers in Virginia used 10 arrest leading Cousd
| crates whenever they moved out OF their homes
| Mrs. Mosby went to Mr. Johnson and asked that Del
husband might be allowed to earn bis living Bu
| the President was in furious mood, and told hs
treason must be made odious, ana SO on. She cam,
4 49, Ill.,.
to pass and rcpsss freely. had no recollection o
this until Mosby called II TO my attention By the
way, Mosby deserves great credit Tor his SACRIFICES In
the cause Of the Union. He Is honest brave, con
scentious man, and has suffered severely for daring
to vote as be pleased among people who hailed hin
as q hero and In whose behalf he risKed his iiie"
STONE, MCDOWELL AND BUELL.
We were talking OF the various CON mauders in oul
and how surprising were the changes Of forum,
IN the way OF reputation and so on. 'Thers wore
| few men, :" said the General "whsn the war brok.
| out to whom We who had been 10 the army locke,
| for success and high rank-among then Rosserans
Buckner, Mcclellan, Stone, Mcdowell. Buell. / fel
sure that each Of these men would gain the highest
| commands. Rosecraas WAS a great disappointmsn
| to US alto me especially stones Away
| a mystery, and l think . great wrong was com
| mitted
|
| him as very good, very able aud perfectly Ioya
man, but who mas had three or TOUR severe and
surprising reverses Of fortune. Alter the arrest o
| Stone aud his treatment his military In
| our war was destroyed. l believe II Ston
| had had a chance he would have made BIZ
mark. In the WAT Mcdowell was also the victim o
what suppose We should cali III luck. You will ~
| member people called hun = drunkard and traitor
Well he never drank drop Of liquor IN mis- life. an,
a more loyalma never lived. have the greatest 70
| spect for McDowells accomplishments and character
aud was glad 10 make him MAJOR general The coun
| Try owed him that, II only ~ an stonemsnt for u
| injustice toward him. But Mcdowell never was VIVA,
| you would call popular man. He was never 10 3,
the army nor at West Point Yet could never un
dersland IT, for no ono could know Mcdowell wisAou
liking hm.s HIS career Of tho surprising th ing
| IN tho war. 50 is Bueirs Buell. does not like me-
am afraid. but nave always borne my testimony T.
hrs pcrfect loya and his ability Buell. Is n ma