The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-15
a Talk with jeff Davis.
Opinions he is sad to erproSS about Grant,
Sherman. Lincoln and others.


OpiHoOPS nc as Sdud 10 cypress 0OOut Ufoiu,
Sherman. Lincoln and others.
From the indianapolis Journal,
Mr.. William l.. Taylor, of the law
firm of Peelle & Taylor, returned re-
Gently 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 between Mobile and
New Orleans. Mr.. Taylor describes
the home of the Confederate leader as a
typical old-time plantation mansion,
one story in height, with spacious halls
and an imposing pOrticO. The house
lies in view of the Gulf, and is surTOUn-
ded by a thick grove of orange and mag
nolia trees. Mr.. Taylor says that he
was received cordially by Mr.. Davis,
and. after they had been talking a few
moments, Mrs. Davis and her daught-
er, handsome young lady, appeared in
the room, accompanied by young Chi
cago lawyer. Mr.. Davis insisted that
he should remain in the house over
night. During the evening the CONVEX
sation turned upon the war, and Mr..
Davis talked freely upon all subjects
that were brought up.
"What is the southern estimate of
the Federal Generals?' inquired Nh.
Taylor.
II cannot give you the southern esti-
mate" Mr.. Davis replied. Il can give
you my own estimate
''What do you think of Grant?'' was
asked.
Grant he said, was largely crea-
ture of circumstances. | remember
that the first time l met Grant was
when he was stationed on the Pacific
Coast as a Lieutenant. was then Sec
rotary of War. He was charged with
drunkenness and neglect of duty. l
gave him his choice between standing
trial and reSigning. He resigned. l
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 NE had every advantage.
He would have been discharged from
the Army of the Potomac If it had not
been that too many changes had already
taken place in the army"
s'What is your estimate of Gen. Sher-
MANI" was asked.
sherman Mr.. Davis said, twas
looked upon in the south as &laric was
bv the Romans. lie was their 'scOurge
of God He was cruel, yet he was a
great strategist."
Yes, " interrupted Mrs. Davis, he
was an inhuman monster. What he
did not use he destroyed
SHERMAN hesitated," Mr.. Davis COP
tinued, for long time between join
ing the Confederate Army and the I'm
ion army. We were uncertain which
he would do. lie finally joined the
Union army, thinking, suppose, that
more could he gained by it."
My idea, remarked Mr.. Davis, lis
that Meade was the most skillful Gen
eral in the Federal army. Gen. Lee
once said to me that he could under
stand the movements of all the Gener-
ais 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"
Mr.. Taylor-IOw did you regard Nc
Clellan?
well, sir, Mcclellan was the best
trained soldier in the war. While Sec
retary of War l sent him on three inn
portant missiOns-one to Europe to stu.
dy military methods. He returned with
a better knowledge of military disci-
pline and methods than was possessed
by any man in the country
Mr.. Tayler-coBld he have entered
Richmond if he had pushed Oh across
the Chickamauga?
''Well, Mr.. Davis answered, laughing,
Il once knew a farmer who said that if
his foresight had been as good as his
hindsight he might have made for
tune on cotton. Something of the same
kind was probably the fault with Nc
Clellan. If he had known the weakness
of the Confederates, and hh thrown
his army across the river, think he
could have entered Richmond. We
thought he would, and L believe Gen..
Lee thought so too"
Mr.. TaylOr-WhO do you regard as
the greatest of the Confederate Gener-
ais?
Il consider Gen. Sidney Johnson as
the greatest General produced on either
side by the late war. Gen. Lee stands
next in NV estimation. and as we move