Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-19
FssE oovfap-aArg CONGRESSES.


Congress on the 9Th inst, most Of which da
was occupied IN the consideration Of resolution
concerning the battle Of Shiloh. and the death
Gen. A. S JOHNSTON. in the House, Mr.. WI
cox, of Texas, by unanimous consent, ofsTe
the following joint resolutions:
Rcs0lre3, That Congress have learned, wit
feelings of deep joy aLi Eraltada to the OWN
Ruler cf ia ions, the news az the recent gIoIiou
victory ct our arms IL Tennessee.
ResOlcai, That the dash of General Aibel
Sidney Johnston, the commander of our force,
while leading his troops to victor caunot bu
temper our eEults,0n with a shade of sa1ues
1T the loss Of 50 able, skllliul and gallant a
odicer.
ResaIrea. That, in respect TO the memory q
General JohusJou-lae Senate c'ncurrUg-Cou
gress lie now adjourn until II O'Clock to morrow
Speeches in support OF the resolutions wer
delivered by MessTs. FOoTE, Of Tennessee, Mr
SMITH. Of Virginia, bIr. MOORE, of Kentucky
and Nj. Wilcox. of Texas, when the join
resolutions were unanimously agreed to.
While waiting the action of the Senate, Mr.
BARksDALE, of Mississippi, for the purpose Q
making public q private letter from Gen JOHN
SION to President DAvIs-whieh had beer
placed to his hands by the executive for tina
purpose-made the following remarks by way
of introduction
It was not my purpose to submit any re
marks to this House ON the resolutions Offered
BY the gentleman from Texas, in testimony o
he gratitude Of Congress for the g~allautry dis
| played in the valley of the Tennessee BY th,
Confederate forces, aud Of respect for the mem.
DRY of the great and good man who was chic.
IN command, and who is reported to have fallen
while leading his column to victory.
The highest duty which q people owe 10 those
who give their lives to their cause, is to protect,
uuimpaired, their good name, and transmit il
without blemish to su -ceeding generations.
Sir, if the melancholy tjdjngs which but this
moment have reached us be true, Gen. Johnston
now reposss in his bloody grave, deaf alike to
the voice of ceusure and the shout of applause.
He fell where a true soldier most loves 20 fall.
he fell at the post Of duty, an Incarnation OF
martial valor and sublime heroism. His figure
shines radiant amid the cloud and tempest and
storm Of the battlefield. He fell at a critical
moment in his couutry's struggle, and at a
period when the tongue of calUmny had been
busy with his name But though dead he
peaks il his own vildicslinn from the field or
which he fell and has viudicated his title to the
respect, admiration. confidence and gratitude 0,
his couutrynen.
I hold IN my hand an unofficial letter, pro6a-
bly, the last written by the lsmeuted deceased
TO the Chief Executive Of the Confederscv. 10
whom he had long baen united by the ties Of
friendship. and with when he bad enlisted st an
early day under the flag of a government which,
tngether, they abandoned when it became the
symbol Of a monstrous degpatism This letter
has been given me to be used as I might think
proper for The vindicatl0n of recent acts OF Gen.
Johnston, not fully understood By the public
I viii. therefore, by the indulgence of the House,
resd this letter, that they may see the facts in
the light by which his courSe was shaped. pre-
vious and subsequent to the fall Of D1nelSOn
These facts triumpbantly vindiesta his fame as a
true patriot and an able and skiIlful military
leader. This letter, written under most trying
circumstances, shows that no trace of passion
was visible in the awful serenity of the pure.
brave. and undaUuted spirit in which il origin
ated. Il is n simple recital If facts In ]justica-
ZION Of his actions, before which the csIumuias
Of the Ignorant or th- wicked win Gee like mist
before the brew Of day. He has left a noble
example of magnsuimity in the midst Of unjust
complaint, and Of courage and foTtiUde amid
disaster His fame rises brighter from the severe
ordeal through which he has passed, and his
name viii live green and fresh forever in the
NfHfiS tI 3 LftlrLAl hrbkllb. MI GptGNtl4 4 We'll
close by reading the letter to which 1 have re-
fe-red
UNOFFICIAL LITTER GF GENERAL A. s, John
SION Tt PRESIDENT DAVIS.
DECATUR, ALABAMA, March is, 1862.
MYDEsR GENERAL: I received the dispatch
rs from richmond with your private letter, by
WickIile three days since hut the pres
of affairs and She nee sssity of getting nay
across the Tennessee, prevented mt
from sending you an earlier reply
/ anticipated all that you have told me As TO
the ensure which the fall of Fort DonelsoH
drew upon me. and the attacks % which yOu
be subjected, but it was impossible for me
to gather he facts for detailed repeTt, or 20 spare
time which was required to eXtrcste the remain
der Of my troops and save The large accumula-
ton Of stores aud provisions after that dlsAeaIt-
aniug disaster.
Transmitted tie reports Of Generals Floyd
and Pillow without examining or Analysing the
scarcely with time 10 read them.
When about 20 assume command of this de-
partmeut, the government charged me with the
duty Of deciding the question Of occupying
Bowling Green, Ky, WGlch involved not only
but political consideration. At the time
Of my arrival st Nashville. the action Of the
Legis ature Of Kentucky had put su end to the
after by sauctiOning the f rmati0n Of companies
-n~-uaeiag Tennessee, by assuming the cause OF
the goverumeatat Washington, and by abandon-
ing the neutrality it proiessed, and ia conse-
quence of their action the occupation Of Bowl
ing Green became necessary as an act of self
defense, at least IN the first step.
About the middle Of September General Buck
1er advanced with a small f0rce Of about 1000
men, which was increased by the 18th October
10 1900, aud though accssSious Of force were
received, il continued at about the same strength
laiil the end Of November, maasle- and other
diseases keeping down tue effective force. The
aueIay's force rhBu E4s reported 20 the War
Department $4,000, and an advance was impOs-
5ible.
Believing it to Le Of tie. greatest moment to
the campaign, as the deaTth of cotton
bring strength from abroad and discour-
the North, aud to gain time to strengthen
myself by new troops from Tennessee and other
I~maguiied my forces to the enemy, but
made known my true strength to the department
aud the Governors OF StasrS. The aid given was
small. At length when Gen. Beauregard came
1ut in February, he expressed his surprise at the
5mallness Of my 'orce, and was impressed with
~ &c.,