Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-04-14

Inc highest duty which a people owe TO
'hose who give their lives to their canse is to
protect unimpaired their good name and
tions. sea
cir I the melancholy tidings which but
Inns moment reached us be true. General
vonais,oh now reposes in a bloody grave
ueal a1se TO the voice of censure and the
snout q applause: He fell where a true sol
u'er loves to fall-he fell at the post of duty
: iaeafhation OF martial valour and sub
.nn7 asF"is'n. IFS fglre shines radiant amid
tlc ea0Aa and ter pest and storm of the hat.
tie field. lie fell ut "a critical moment in the
history OF his c0untry's struggle. and at a
period when the tongup Of ralumny had been
ousy with his name. But though dead. be
speaks in his own vindication ON the field
on winch he fell, and has vindicated his title
70 the respect and admiration, confidence and
gratitude Of his countryinen.
4 hold in my hands an unofficial letter
P~robabfy the last written by the lamented
deceas9d-to the Chief Executive of the Con.
ieSeraey, to whom he had long been united
oy the ties. Of friendship. and with whom
ne nad enlisted at an early day under the
nag 81 q government which together thew
abandoned when 1t became the symbol of a
maastrous despotism. This letter has been
given me to be used as | may think proper
fer tue yindication of recent acts of General
johnson not fully understood by the public,
l will therefore, by the indulgence Of the
House, read this letter, that they may see the
facts IN the light by which his course was
shaped previous and subsequent to the fall of
Donelson. These facts t~riumphantly vindi-
cate his fame as a true patriot and an able
and skIllful military leader. This letter was
written under most trying circumstances,
SHOWS That no trace OF passion was visible in
tne awful serenity of the pure, brave, un-
daunted spirit ia which it originated. He
has left q noble example of magnanimity
In the midst of unjust complaint, and of cour-
age and Of fortitude and disaster. His fame
rises brighter from the severe ordeal through
; which he has. passed, and his name will live
: green and fresh forever in the hearts of a
!, grateful people.
7 Mr.. Speaker, | will close by reading the
y letter to which | have referred.
. LETTER OF GENERAL A. S. JOHNSTON TO PREsI.
DENT DAVIS.
y DECATUR, Ala, March 18th, 1862.
i. ny Dear General:
: / received the dispatches from Richmond
with your private letter by Captain Wicklifft
three days since but the pressure of affairs
IS and the necessity of getting my command
across the Tennessee, prevented me from
le sending you an earlier reply.
ct ! anticipated all that you have told me as
e. to the. censure which the fall of Fort Donel
ID son drew upon me, and the attacks to which
tn you might be subjected, but it was impossi-
We BILE for me to gather the facts for a detailed
report, or to spare time which was required
i to e~xtricate the remainder of my troops, anC
al cava thn luara aooIpn alotinn Of ctorac q ~
+ provisions after that dIsheartening disaster
lie / transmitted the reports Of Generals Floyc
as and Pillow without examining or Analysing
Il the 6ssts,ana~ scarcely withtime to readthem
Sc When about to assume command of thi:
We Department, the government charged nj
OF with he duty of deciding the question o
lr occupying Bowling Green, Kentucky, which
ry involved not only military but political con
sideration. At the time of my arrival a
ed Nashville, the action of the Legislature o
Kentucky had put an end to the latter By
to sanctioning the formation of companies me
Mt nacing Tennessee, by assuming the cause o
ty the Government at Washington, and b,
'rt abandoning tire neutrality protested, and ii
he consequence Of their action the occupation
to Of Bowling Green became necessary as al
act of self-defence, ~at.least in the first step
About the middle of September Genera
In Buckner advanced with a small force of abou
4 900 men, which was increased by the 15t
N. October to IL, 900 and though accessions G
r our force were received, it continued at abou
ert the same strength until the end Of Novem
lis Der, measles and other housekeeping dow
'm the effective force. The enemy's force the
ng was reported to the War Department &c, 00(
and an advance was impossible.
II x 4 *
iu Believing it to be Of the greatest momer
III to protract the campaign as the dearth of co
ton might bring strength. from abroad an
Oh discourage the North, and to gain time
9u' strengthen myself by new troops from Te
nessee and other States, | magnified my to1
Gu ces to the enemy, but made known my trl
-, strength to the department and the Govern
Gu ors of States. The aid given was small.
=. At length when General Beauregard cam
nls out in February, he expressed his surpris
10 at the smallness of my force, and was iu
~ pressed with the danger of my position.
= admitted what was so manifest, and laid be
Jay fore him my views for the future, in whic
nc, be entirely concurred, and sent me a mem
~ randum of our conference, a copy OF whit
OF | send to you. I determined to fight
no Nashville at Donelson, and gave the be
lbs part of my army to do it, retaining on
fourteen thousand men to cover my fror
ac- and giving sixten thousand to defend Done
son.
TO The forces at Donelson is stated in Gem
OBJ Il D;l1ovr,s ranort at much locc and I do n
sal doubt the correctness of his statement,
the the forces at Bowling Green, which | su
elf, noSad 70 he f~onrteen tbonsand effective me
ing 1the medical report showing only little oy
des five hundred sick in the hospital), was {
miniShed more than five thousand by tho
who were unable to stand the fatigue oil