Daily Republican., 1884-05-10
TALK with JEFF Davis.

Ioyo6s DEimhllhk Will tohio' W hAo'
TALK with JeH Davis.
The indianapolis journal In a rccen
issue says: Mr.. William l.. Taylor, @
the law firm of Peelle & Taylor, re
turned yesterday from New Orleans
While on the trip he visited Jefferson
Davis, at his home, near Beauvoir
Miss, a small station on the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, midway be
tween Mobile and New Orleans. MI
Taylor describes the home Of the Con
federate leader as typical old-tim
plantation mansion, one story In height
with spacious halls and an imposing
portico. The house lies in view Of tn
Gulf, and 1t is surrounded by a thicl
grove or orange and magnolia trees.
| Mr.. Taylor says that he was received
cordially by Mr.. Davis, and, after they
had been talking few moments, Mrs
Davis and her daughter, a handsome
young lady, appeared in the room, ac
CON mpnnied by q young Chicago law
yer. Mr.. Davis insisted that he shoult
remain in the house over night. Dur
ing the evening tho conversation turn
ed upon the war, and Mr.. Davis talket
freely upon all subjects that wer'
brought up.
What is the Southern estimate OF
the Federal Generals ?" inquired Mr.
Taylor.
81 cannot give you the Southern ca.
timate," Mr.. Davis replied. l cal
giveyou my own estimate"
What do you think Of Grant 2?
was asked.
"Grant," he said, twas largely 9
creature of circumstances. l remem
Der that the first time met Grant wat
when he was stationed on the Pacific
coast ~ q Lieutenant. l was then
Secretary of War. He was charged
with drunkenness and neglect of duty.
l gave him bis choice between standing
trial and resigning. He resigned.
knew that he would.
General Grant was n great military
commander. He was very tenacious.
He fought battle as a matter OF busi-
ness. Men were mere cogs III the
wheel. All the men and means he
wanted were placed at his command,
and he had every advantage. He
would have been discharged from the
Army OF the Potomac II it had not been
that too many changes had already
taken place in the army"
What is your estimate of Gen. Sher-
mani" was asked.
Sherman" Mr.. Davis said, twas
looked upon in the South as Alaric was
by the Romans. He was their scourge
OF God He was cruel, yet he was a
great strategist."
Yes," interrupted Miss Davis, he
was an inhuman monster. What he
did not use he destroyed"
"Sherman hesitated," Mr.. Davis
continued, "for long time between
joining the Confederate army and the
Union army, thinking, l suppose, that
more could be gained by IT,"
"My idsa." remarked Mr.. Davis,
" Is that Meade was the most skilful
General in the Federal army. General
Lee once said to me that he could un-
derstand the movements of all the Cen
erals in the Federal army easier than
those of General Meade. Those above
Meade never allowed him to display
his full power. He was hampered and
kept down through jealousy"
Mr.Taylor-How did you regard Nc
Clellan
well, sir, Mcclellan was the best
trained soldier in the war. While Sec.
retary of War sent him on three i'm
portant missiOns-one to Europe, to
study IN ilitary methods. He returned
with a better knowledge of military
dicipline and methods than was pos.
sessed by any man in the country"
Mr.. Taylor-Could he have entered
Richmond if he had pushed on across
the Chlckamauga
Wel;," Mr.. Davis answered, laugh
ing" once knew farmer who said
that If his foresight had been as
good as his hind sight 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 bis army across the river,
think he could have entered Richmond.
We thought he would, and l believe
Sen. Lee thought so too"
Mr.. Taylor-Who do you regard
IL the greatest of the Confederate Gene
.als?
81 consider Gen. Sidney johnson as
The greatest General produced on either
,ide by the late war. General Lee
stands next in my estimation, and as
we move away from the war his des
oerate struggles against overwhelming
numbers will be marvel in war an
,als.
"Mr. Lincoln was vulgar joker,
Mr.. Davis said, "but withal he was a
,reat man.
He was wise and WAS honest. He
ould have been Of great good to the
south if he had lived, but his untimely |
leath was great loss to u.s." He was
|uiet and apparently In deep medita-
ion for several, minutes and then re-
uined:
"Yes, it was great loss, for he was
by low, mean dsmagOgueI
-Johnson-and a demagogue is the
worst Of men.
"Johnson was unschooled, but a
nan Of great native ability. He had
10 convictions, and tried 10 please all.
Lincoln was man of great vigor of
mind, although he was plain and
ough. If Mr.. Lincoln had lived, the
south would have had a President that
understood her condition, and he would
lave been of more benefit to her than
my other man could possibly have
'een. He was an honest man. His
|eath was u great misfortune to the
south"