Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-28
Correspondence of the Raleigh Standard.
CAMP JONES, NEAR MANASSAS, Va,
AnnnCt on 1891

August 90, 1861. (
Mr.. EDITOR: Nothing has transpired worthy
of notice since | last wrote Every thing is
dull, save the slow army operations which are lodg
ed safely and wisely in the bosoms of Gems. Beau
regard and johnson, the two military giants of the
present age-and your readers are az well posted
with reference to future military operations
are.
VISIT TO HEADQUARTERS.
The other day visited Headquarters on business
and had good view of Gen. Joseph E. Johnson
of the greatest military ntellectS of this or any
other age. had seen him while in line of battle at
Winchester, he rode the field and surveyed
the different points and placed his in order of
battle. And that arrangement of his at Winchester
so exact and skilful, that had Patterson come
down upon us, he would have been cut TO pieces and
johnson would have wreathed his brow with i'm
mortal honors. But to the point your readers will
doubtless be glad to know what kind of looking
man he is Headquarters is at a stone house. one
mile from Manassa, and surrounded by a beautiful
groye-as you enter, you are arrested by no senti
ne but present yourself at to the famous room
by turning to the right large table stands on
the right and left hard sides of the room under the
, windows. At the ight hand window sat Gen. Jo-
-seph E. johnson, intently engaged in business; and
any one could read from the deep thOughtfuness
seated on his brew, that he. is revolving mighty
projects in his gigantic mind, and that he feels
, fully the weIghty responsibility resting on his
one capable of discharging them. In stature of
the medium SIZE the forehead high, and inclined to
. be bald, indicating Enthusiastically mammoth intel
ect and giant mind The gray hair that decorates
his head, nicely adjusted, as to render him hand
| some but by no means foppsh. His whiskers also
slightly gray upon his high check bones, NOUS
tache, beautiful Ia mode Parisian and heavy i'm
perial, are all the decoration upon a face which
| beams with martial fire; but so interminged with
gentleness, tenderness, urbanity, and mldness of
manners, that you can scarcely believe he is the man
| to lead the heavy columns to the death dealing
= charge. gentle smile is ever playing over the
| features of his fine face, while planning
| paiSn. The eye-that index Of the man-can not
be described Large, lustrous, beamng, it enchants
| you, while you behold it. Rather inclined to be
sluggish, but at the least twinkle 1t sparkles with
| the martial fame that distinguished Murat. When
! absorbed by thought, he plays insenSibly With his
little steel spectacles and You behold his whole ca
lures, engaged in the conceptions of his mighty
| plans and you are struck with the resemblance of
Napoleon. In fact, consider him Napoeonic in
military matters, and while YOU stand in mute won
der and establishment as by that flashing eye, you
discern the lightning workings of his giant intellect
That eye, on the battlefield, reminds of Homcr's
expression, and from his eye-balls flashed the Iiv-
! ing fire" On the battlefield he surveys the ma
neuvres of the embattled hosts with the GOODNESS of
an iceberg, and then with all the fire and impetuosi-
ty that ever glowed in the breasts of Ney and Mu-
charge, and where he leads victory perches.
His dress, like every thing around him, was sim
i pie; plain black frock coat buttoned up, with an
overcoat Of coarse grey material reaching down to
his knees, where it is met by his boot-lcgs which
extend to his knees, holding within their spacious
room the blue pants which almost hidden by
his other clothing In conversation, he is very
kind, agreeable and affable, and but few men have
l ever seen who can render SO perfectly easy
and agreeable. But while engaged in ordinary con-
versation you plainly perceive that his mind is
resting all the time upon those other weghty mat
tiers with which his mind is continually Crap
pling.
Gen. johnson is no ordinary man. Mark the
prediction, that his name will become household
word, and laurels shall entwine around his brow
that time shall never wither-but those laurels
shall grow green with the revolving cycles of time
Purely Napoleonic in the brilliancy and quickness
| OF his military movements he combines the pleas
ing, sedate, calm, considerate quality of William of
Orange-whie the qualities of his noble heart
which has the heart and affections Of every
who has seen him, allies him in the veneration and
love of his soldiers to the immortal Washington.
His part IN the great battle of Sunday 2lst has
immortalized him; and he might with propriety
exclaim,
| Exegi mouumentum acre perennus,
| Rega stu pyrmidium altius'
Should your correspondent be able to find any
particulars with reference to his life he will lie sure
to give them to the light that the young men OF
our country may be moved by bis example to do
brave deeds.
| MAJ. RHETT,
The Acting Adjutant General is one of the finest
and most alfable men with whom it has ever been
my pleasure to associate. Diligent as the bee he
discharges his duties with electric rapdity 1t
seems to be pleasure to him to serve you, and
renders every one easy who visits Headquarters on
business. And may be permitted to state, that
your correspondent is under lasting obligations to
him for his aid so kindly given in sending the body
of the lamented Fisher to his native State. Every
assistance that was needed was promptly and most
cheerfnlly given. May some son of the Old North
State have it in his power to return the kindness
shown to the body of her gallant son. amid the hustle
and confusion of the night after the battle.
BRIG. GEN. WHITING.