Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-28
Correspondence of the Raleigh Standard.
CAMP JONES, NEAR MANAssA, Va,
August 90. 1861,


August 90 1861.
Mr. EDITOR: Nothing has TRANSFERRED worthy
of notice since l 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 as well posted
with reference to future military operations as we
are.
VISIT TO HEADQUARTERS.
The other day l visited Headquarters on business
and had a good view of Gen. Joseph E. Johnson
one of the greatest military inteects of this or any
other age had seen him while in line of battle at
Winchester as he rode the field, and surveyed
the different points and placed his men in order Of
battle. And that arrangement Of hisat Winchester
was so exact and skiful, that had Patterson come
down upon U.s. 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 a looking
man he is. Headquarters is at stone house, one
mile from Manassa, and surrounded by beautiful
grove-aS you enter, you are arrested by no scnti-
ne but present yourself at once to the famous ROOM
by turning to the right. A large table stands on
the right and left hard sides of the under the
windows. AT the right hand window sat Gen. Jo-
.seph E. johnson, inteny engaged in business; and
any one could read from the deep thoushtfulncss
seated on his brow. that he is revolving .mighty
projects in his gigantic mind and that he feels
!, fully the welghty responsibility resting his
shoulders and those mighty responsibilities rest up
one capable of discharging them. In stature of
the medium size the forehead high, and inclined to
be bald, indicating unmistakably mammoth intel
lect and giant mind The gray hair that decorates
his head, nicely adjusted, so as to render him hand
some. but by no meacs foppish. His whiskers also
slightly gray upon his high cheek bones, NOUS
tache, beautiful la mode Partisan, and heavy i'm
| peral, are all the decoration upon face which
| beams with martial fire but so intermngled with
gentleness tenderness, urbanity, and mildness of
manners, that you scarcely believe he is the
to lead the heavy columns to the death dealing
, charge gentle smile is ever playing over the
features Of his fine face, while planning cam
paiSn. The eye-that index of the man-can not
be described Large, lustrous, beaming, it enchants
you while you behold it. Rather inclined to be
sluggish, but at the least twinkle, it sparkles with
the martial fame that distinguished Murat. When
absorbed by thought, he plays insensiby With his
little steel spectaces, and you behold his whole fea-
lures, engaged in the conceptions of his mighty
plans, ard 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 astonishment, as by that flashing eye, you
discern the lightning workings of his giant intellect
That eye on the battlefield, reminds me of Homer's
expression, and from his eye-balls flashed the v-
ing fire." On the battlefield he surveys the ma.
nosuvres 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 MI.
rat, he filings himself at the head of the dashing
charge, and where he leads victory perches.
His dress, like every thing around him, was SIM
pie; plain black frock coat buttoned up, with an
overcoat of coarse grey material reaching down te
his knees, where it is met by his boot-lcgs which
extend to his knees, holding within their spacious
room the blue pants which arc almost hidden by
his other clothing In conversation, he is very
kind agreeable and affable and but few men have
I ever seen who can render one SO perfectly easy
and agreeable. But while engaged in ordinary con
versation you can plainly perceive that his mind il
resting all the time upon those other weighty mat
ters with which his mind is continually crap
ping
Gen. johnson is no ordinary man. Mark tn
prediction, that his name will become household
word, and laurels shall entwine around his brow
that time shall never wither-but those laurel
ehall grow green with the revolving cycles of time
Purely Napoleonic in the brilliancy and aucknes
OF his military movements, he combines the pleas
ing, sedate, calm coHsiderate quality of :lliam o
Orange-while the qualities of his noble heart
which has on the heart and affections of every on
who has seen him, allies him in the veneration ant
love of his soldiers to the immortal Washington.
His part IN the great battle of Sunday Dist, ha
immortalized him and he might with prophet,
exclaim, L.. 9.
"Exegi monumentum acre perennius,
Regain stu pyrimidium atus.''
Should your correspondent be able to find an
particulars with reference to his e he will be sur
to give them to the light that the young men
our country may be moved by his example to d
brave deeds.
MAI RHETT,
The Acting Adjutant General is one of the fines
and most affable men with whom it has ever bee
my pleasure to associate. Diligent as the bee, b
discharges his duties with electric rapidly.
seems to be pleasure to him to serve you, an
renders every one easy who visits Headquarters,
business And may be permitted to state, tina
your correspondent is under lasting obligations
him for his aid, SO kindly given, in sending the bod
Of the lamented Fisher to his native State Ever
assistance that was needed was promptly and mos
cheerfully given. May some son of the Old Mort
State have it in his power to return the kindnes
shown to the body Of her gallant son. amid the bust
and confusion of the night after the battle.
, BRIG GEN. WHITING
, y tsn,oc war rnrroc pondon& has h.d ~