Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-05-13
GENERAL J. JOHNSTON pErTriGREw.

al
very much. to live for. Had he survived the oluo.
war he went forth to subdue4 his future ,ay S
him refulpent with the richest PROMISE NO oue
the limits of the Confedeacy, Of his age Possesseu
greater store of knowledge. His iaooIs kne" nv
limits: the fruits thereof were without measure 1
He had ransackcd not only the sources o' n"u vss
ledge contained in the modern languages; no Was
not only familiar With all that makes the accom-
plishment of q scholar in it's widest accePtauoh'
but into the more hidden arcana he had penetrasee,
and brought to light the hidden wealth which genius
only, when united 10 patient industry can sacceea
in possessing. Nor Vas his the mere acquisiuono =,
curious knowledge; TIE enjoyment Of that menu,
wealth which fails to benefit his race however Muo,'
it sdorns its owner. His talents were INDUSTRIOUS,
ly employed in the application Of what nc asa
gained to the practical uses Of life and inc gooa
his race.
His desire for the acquisition of knowledge was
exhibited in every department where II couiG 70
found. The studies which often repe, seemeo w
him, because they involved mental exercise. 70 20
invested with fascination which was Hreslsuoe'
His success in mastering the languages, was ex.
changed for the control he acquired of the most
difficult branches of mathematics and mechanics;
and these would he relieved by that fervid enthu
siasm, with which his soul was lighted; ana OF
which he has left so interesting specimen In his
portraiture of Spain and the Spaniards.
He was jurist of remarkable ability. Quick IN
his apprehension courteous in his style; cogent IN
his argument; close in his deductions; ne OUT re-
quired the concentration of his powers to that lea
Gus mistress, the law, to have reached the highest
distinctions it can confer.
He loved his family, his friends. his studies. But
more than all he loved liberty. lie was passionate
in his admiration of the blessing Of constitutional
freedom. He sympathized in every struggle Tor
freedom; but he felt that TO love liberty was an
empty mackery, unless that love was exhibited in
the sacrifice which its acquisition requires With
him. to be free, was to be prepared for and to en-
gage in the struggle it ever demands. 10 arms,
therefore, be gave much of his attention. His SYM
pathy for those who would peril all in such strug
gle, were not confined to localities. And when under
the lead of Sardinia Italy rose for deliversnce he
forsoek ease and comfort friends and family, and
crossed the ocean to offer his services in that memo
rabe struggle. lie arrived at its termination too
late to assist in the battles but not too late to re-
ceive the recognition Of his offer from Count Cavour
and to know that but for the peace OF Villa Franco,
he would have received the appointment he
sought
His ever active mind led him thence to SPAIN
To his book should reference be made for the scru
tinizing gaze with which, as traveller, he wan
dered through that interesting land The charms
of Spanish romance had the greatest attraction for
him. who nursed as his guide in life, spirit Of
more than Castilian honor.
In passing through France where journeying
homeward he spent some time, he perfected himself
in many of the accomplishments Of the soldier. 1t
was not sufficient for him to know how anything
should be done; he was only satisfied when he
knew that he could do it himself And it was here
that he acquired that practical knowledge Of the
drill in different arms, which enabled him in his
brief military career to be useful 20 those whom
he commanded
When the State of South Carolina seeded, and
he citizens were summoned to arms, he was called
to the command Of the rifle regiment of this city.
1t vas his lot to seize upon Castle Pinckey in this
harbor and restore to the possession Of the State
His services were arduous end nnrc,nitting Al
Sullivans Island, Morris Island, and other places,
where his command was from time to time placed,
he united his soldiers to him BY the strong ties
which are produced by the sympathy of the officer
with the soldier and the confidence of the soldier
in the officer. His bed was as hard as that OF the
poorest man who obeyed him-his fare as coarse a.
that which any soldier bad. And if the attention
of friends heedful of his comforts, would send him
supplies for his use, the hospital or some Other
mode in which all could share its good, was the dis
position he would make Of the kindness intended
for himself
When general war was no longer to be avoided
! he sought the most active service. His regimen
vas more than ready to follow hNa. But 1t wat
not deemed prudent to withdraw it from service In
this vicinity, and his reqsest was not granted.
But the expectation of future activity could no,
compensate with him for present inactivity. Before
us now lies in his own handwriting sketch Of the
modes Of defence hc considered necessary for the
safety of the city. Aud great would have been the
benefit, if any position could have been secured fol
him, by which his active service could have beer
here employed
| Unable to resist the attraction which the mos
active Service ever presented to him, he resigned
his command of the Rifle Regiment, and became
private in the Washington Light Infantry Volun
tsels.
But his merits were widely known North. Car
DINA was sending her sons into the field and with
out his knowledge or solicitation, and without tn
acquaintance of those who composed it. he VA
elected Colonel Of one Of the regiments Of that State
with 1t he went into service in Virginia, and hi
regiment soon gave evidence Of the ability Of tn
officer who commanded it
II was not, however, merely as the Colonel Of
regiment OF infantry that his usefulness was felt
Ills aollltles as an engineer, his skill as a. o sode
were acknowledged, andexhibitedin the aid heafori
ed in the location and completion of the battcrie
which, for time, constituted the blockade Of tn
Potomac
Tie was deeply. sensitively alive to all that col
cerned the honor Of South Carolina. When the di
aster at Port Royal gave for time free rein
|
ing could be more touching than his manly lette
80 earnest 10 bis inquiries 10 know the truth sati
he'd that what he heard could not be the truth,
II was supposed by some in the State that h
presence here would be Of great use IN the prepar
ton for the emergencies which were then beir
rapidly developed. Application to that effect vi
made but the reply was that he was In positit
100 important to admit of his change.
After this the President offered him the commI
sion Of Brigadier Geaerai He declined it. M
reasons were such as might be supposed to inf
enee his conduct. Hisreg;mcnt he said he belicv
was attached to him, and he to it: it had given hi
its command, without his solicitations, and he cou
: not leave 1t: Besides this, he said he had ney
been under fret was yet to be seen how he VOL,
behave Tacre were others who. had been freouer
~ tried, and such places should be given to tho
: who bad been proved worthy Of them.
; Subsequently, to this, the offer vas again press
upon him. He felt it his duty no longer to decljn