Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-05-22
Mlistellaueuns &eadiug.
A TALK WITH JEFF. DAVIS.

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A TALK WITH JEFF. DAVIS.
The indianapolis Qnd.) Journal states
that Mr.. VIM. l.. Taylor, prominent law
yer of that city, recently visited Mr.. Jefer-
son Davis at his home, near Beauvoir, Miss,
small station on the Louisville & Nash
Vile Railroad midway between Mobile and
New Orleans. Mr.. Taylor describes the
home of the Confederate leader as typical
old-time plantation mansion, one story in
height, with spacious halls andan imposing
portico. The house lies in view of the
Gulf, and is surrounded by thick grove Of
orange and magnolia trees. Mr.. Taylor
saws that he was Received cordially by Mr.
Davis, and, after they had been talking for
few moments, Mrs. Davis and her daugh-
ter, a handsome young lady, appeared in
the room, accompanied by a young Chicago
lawyer. Mr.. Davis insisted that he should
remain in the house over night. During the
evening the conversation turned upon the
the war, and Mr.. Davis talked freely upon
all subjects that were brought up.
"What is the Southern estimate of the
Federal Generals ?" inquired Mr.. Taylor.
81 cannot give you the Southern esti-
mate," Mr.: Davis replied. 81 can give you
my own estimate"
S'What do you think of Grant?" was
asked.
"Grant," he said, "was largely creature
of circumstances. 1 remember that the
first time l met Grant was when he was
stationed on the Pacific Coast as a lieUten-
ant. I was then Secretary Of War. He was
charged with drunkenness and neglect of
duty. I gave him his choice between stand
ing trial and resigning. He resigned. [
knew that he would. Gen. Grant was a
great military commander. He was very
tenacious. He fought battle as a matter
of business. Men were mere cogs in the
wheel. All the men and means he wanted
were placed at his command, and he had
every advantage. He would have been dis
charged from the Army of the Potomac if
it had not been that too many changes had
already taken place in the army"
"What is your estimate of Gen. Sher-
man 2" was asked.
"Sherman," Mr.. Davis said, twas looked
upon in the South as Alaric was by the Ro-
mans. He was their 'scourge Of Cod He
was cruel, yet he was a great strategist."
"Yes," interrupted Miss Davis, she was
an inhuman monster. What he did not use
he destroyed"
fisherman hesitated," Mr.. Davis contin-
ued, "for long time between joining the
Confederate army and the Union army.
finally joined the Union army, thinking, |
suppose, that more could be gained by it."
"My idea," remarked Mr.. Davis, "is that
Meade was the most skillful general in the
Federal army. Gen. Lee once said to me
that he could understand the movements of
all the generals in the Federal army easier
than those of Gen. Meade. Those above
Meade never allowed him to display his full
power. He was hampered and kept down
through jealousy
Clellan ?'
"Well, sir, Mcclellan was the best trained
I sent him on three important missions
one to Europe, to study military methods
He returned with better knowledge of
military discipline and methods than was
possessed by any man in his country"
Mr.. Taylor.-"COuld he have entered
Richmond if he had pushed on across the
Chicahominy ?''
"Well," Mr.. Davis answered, laughing
II once knew farmer who said that If his
foresight had been as good as his hindsight
he might have made fortune on cotton
Something of the same kind was probably
the fault with Mcclellan. If he had known
the weakness of the Confederates, and had
thrown his army across the river, l think
he could have entered Richmond. We
thought he would, and believe Gen. Lee
thought so, too."
"Mr. Taylor-"Who do you regard as
the greatest of the Confederate generals" ?"
II consider Gen. Sidney Johnson as the
greatest general produced on either side
by the late war. Gen. Lee stands next in
my estimation, and as we move away from
the war his desperate struggle against over
whelming numbers will be marvel in war
annals"
"Mr. Lincoln was vulgar JOKER" MIR.
Davis said, "but Withal he was great man.
He was wise and he was honest. He could
have been of great good to the South if he
had lived and his untimely death was a
great loss to u.s." He was quiet and ap-
parently in deep meditation for several min
utes, and resumed: eyes, it was great
loss, for he was succeeded by low, mean
magogue-Johnson-a demagogue is
the worst of men. johnson was unschool-
ed, but a man Of great native ability. He
had no convictions, and tried to please all.
Lincoln was a man Of great VigOr of mind,
although he was plain and rough. If MIR.
Lincoln had lived the South would have
had President that understood her condi-
ton, and he would have been of more bene-
fit to her than any other man could possibly
have been. He was an honest man. His
death was great misfortune to the South"
A HAPPY COUPLE.-A married and eX-
perienced friend tells us that man should
always be little bigger than his wife, and
little older, a little Drawer, and little