Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-11
A TALK WITH JEFF DA us.
Opinions He Is Said to Have Expressed
About Grant, sherman. Lincoln and
Others.

-~--N-
indianapolis Journal.
Mr.. William Taylor, of the law firm of
Peelle & Taylor, returned yesterday from
New Orleans. While ON the trip he visit
ed Jefferson Davis at his home, near
BeauvOir, Miss, a small station on the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad, mid
way between Mobile and New Orleans.
Mr.. Taylor describes the home of the Con-
federate leader as typical Old-time plan
tatiOn mansion, one story in height, with
spacious halls and an imposing pOrtico.
The house lies in view of the Gulf, and is
surrounded by thick grove OfOrange and
magnolia trees. Mr.. Taylor says that he
was received cordially by Mr.. Davis, and,
after they had been talking a few mo-
ments, Mrs. Davis and her daughter, a
handsome young lady, appeared in the
room, accompanied by young Chicago
lawyer. Mr.. Davis insisted that he should
remain in the house over night. During
the evening the conversation 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 Mr.. Taylor.
81 cannot give you the Southern esti-
mate" Mr.. Davis replied. 81 can give
you my own estimate"
"What do you think of GrantT' was
asked.
Grant" he said, 'was largely a crea-
ture of circumstances. L remember that
the first time l met Grant was when he
was stationed on the Pacific Coast as a
Lieutenant. 1 was then Secretary of
War. He was charged with drunkenness
and neglect of duty. 1 gave him his
choice between standing trial and resign
ing. He resigned. | knew that he would.
Gen. Grant was a great military COM
mander. He was very tenacious. Vie
fought a battle as a matter of bu siness.
Men were mere cOgs in the wheel. All
| the men and means he wanted were placed
/ at his command, ana he had every adVan-
tage. He would have been discharged
| from the Army of the Potomac if it had
not been that too many changes had al
ready taken place in the army
! "What is your estimate of Gen. Sher-
man?' was asked.
"Sherman," Mr.. Davis said, swas
/ looked upon in the South as Alaric was
/ by the Romans. He was their 'scourge of
God He was cruel, yet he vas great
strategist."
"Yes,D interrupted Miss Davis, she was
an inhuman monster. What he did not
use he destroyed"
SHERMAN hesitated," Mr.. Davis con-
tinued, ''fOr long time between joining
! the Confederate army and the Union
army. We were uncertain which he
would do. He finally joined the Union
army, thinking, / suppose, that more
could be- gained by it,
"My idea," remarked Mr.. Davis, lis
that Meade was the most skillful General
in the Federrl army. Gen. Lee once said
to me that he could understand the move
ments 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"
Mr.. Taylor-How did you regard Nc
CleIlan?
"Well, sir, Mcclellan was the best
trained soldier in the war. While Secre-
tary of War | sent him on three important
missions-One to Europe, to study mill
tary methods. He returned with a better
knowledge of military discipline and
methods than was possessed by any man
in his country"
Richmond if he had pushed on across the
Chickamauga?
"Well," Mr.. Davis answered, Laughing.
81 once knew farmer who said that i
his foresight had been rs good as his hind
sight, ne might have made a fortune on
cotton. Something of the same kind was
probably the fault with Mcclellan. If he
had known the weakness of the COnfed-
crates, 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?
81 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 overwhelming numbers will be a
marvel in war annals -
"Mr. Lincoln was a vulgar JOKER" Mir.
Davis said, "but withal he was a 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 great loss to u.s." He was
quiet and apparently in deep meditation
for several minutes, and tnen resumed:
Yes, 1t was great loss, for he was sue
ceeded by low, mean demagoeue-
Johnson-and demagogue is the worst
of men, Johnson was unschooled, but a
man of great native ability. He had no
convictions, and tried to please all. Lin
coin was man of great vigOr of mind,
although he was plain and rough. If Mr..
Lincoln had lived the South would have
had President that understood her con-
dition, and he would have been of more
benefit to her than any other man could
possibly have been. He was an honest
man. His death was a great misfortune
to the South"