Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-03
GOla. Albert sidney John.tOn.
From tie New orleans D.lta.


In the course of few weeks our citiz.,s yz;If
have the pleasure Of welcoming in their midst this
able and distinguished General who Is now toilin0
over the great deserts llanos that lie between
tnis country and New Mexico. Il Is expected that
Cen Johnston win play prominent anil ir,no-tant
part IN the present war. President Davis is known
70 entertain very high opinion OF Gen Johnsfonis
mAtagy qualifications; his confidence in that efieer
IS u Iaet peculiar 1t might be said almost unbound
cd Ihia much being promised, it is hardly neees-
! sary 20 say that We take it for granted that opy
readers vii accept with pleasure 4 shorf aecon1s
| CT General JOhnstons trip from Los Anqelos In
California, to Mesills, in Arzonia as detailed b5
/ gentleman who accompanied him = -
The party constituting Gen. Jobuston's ese,-+ -.
| organ lied from among the mountaineers and f,,-
tiersraen Of California. by Capt Alouzo Ridley 10
whose energy and bOldness are we indebted for tba
presence and services Of one Of the ablest generals
of the age. The movements Of both the General
and Capt Ridley were so narrowly watched ty the
Black Republican army officers stationed at Los
Angolos, that II became necessary that the orgaai
zitlon and meeting Of the company should be as Sc
eret as possible Every pTetext was resOrted to IN
order to obtain authority upon which to undertake
an arrest The Governor Of the State yyas anplisd
TO for an order to dissrm the party and thus force
the gallant men who surrounded the General 70
give over their purpose or commit an overt ace
Of treason. A Unt,d States grand iurv was suu1-
moned from among the ranks of the Blacks, and
every efOrt made to ndict Ridley for treason: four
companies of United States troops were ordered 10
los Angeles, and it seemed as madness 10 under
Aks a departure. However, cur men were not to
oe dsunted. Like the Tempars, whe1 meraeed by
Richard the lioLhearts' hey made front agairs the
WhOie power OF the State prOclauing their iuteu-
uoR to depart in peace if unasailed.
On the ZOih Of June last, the party left Los An
geios and on the 50th Of the same month commeuc
ed ITS journey across the great Colorado desert At
fort una the federal force of two eOEnEanies Of
infantry, Withfour pieces Of artillery Indicated
% uesire % MAKE an arrangement similar to tie one
proposed oy certain cock TO horse, to wit: that
II tne morse would not tread on him. he the cock
would not tread On the horse. Il vas sgreed to
ana no hostility ensued although Ridley and bis
men ie4t an itching 70 Apply the torch 10 the fed
eral foft The journey 10 Tuscan was without IN
t-rest, except the suffering endured By both men
and animals The temperature during the daV va
RES from 100 70 10 degrees in the shade and is not
less than hundred degrees st night. Strong blasts
OF not air frequently sweep over the plains during
the day and night parching and drying M the poor
Wre'ch who may be so unfortunate as to feel them.
couple this with the fact that there is but one point
at which good water can be obtained within dis
tsnce OF four hundred miles, and you have a very
slight picture Of the route.
AtTuscon the party was again menaced by four
companies of Federal troops that were destroying
the government property in the vicinity preparatO>
ry TO leaving. These latter combined with the
APaches, made the march Fathsr exchug to Mesilla.
Cen Johnston arrived at Messils and found that
JOL Jack Baylor hal removed the last obstruction
10 free progress in AriZln1-the elcVen companies
Of FedeFals at Fort Fillmore.
Notwithstanding the hardships Of the trip. many
good jokes were originated one of which at the ex<
Dense Of the general himself is too good to remain
While eBcamPed near Tusesn the gen
sral was visited by a Texas emigrant; conversa~
lon ensued, in which the emigraat undertook to
ieserlbe certain road in Texas with which he was
lot half SO familiar he would have had it appear
md, as It happened, the general was particularly
acquainted with il The description of road and
ountry progressed and an error occurred, where
lPOn the general proceeded 10 correct il. The en-
grant demurred, the general insisted, adding that
e himself had Travelled over the route fifty times.
nd knew every rut it. "Ahl" said the emigrant,
q pleasant. suggestive manner, "stage driving l
resume.' The general has had no kn0 Wedge or
piniOn of roads in Texas since then.