The Camden daily journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-07-07
Gen. Jospell e. Johnston.

lGET2SEcr.
writing from the front, pays tho following Just
tribute to the commanding General ofthe army
of Tennessee:
Gen. Johnston is more than match for
Sherman. Look at his military career ever
since tho war commenced how he held York
town, with less than $4,000 mcn against over
$4,000 Yankees under Mcclellan and Wien
he did retreat look how he turned on his pur-
suers at Williamsburg, gaining a decided victo-
rv with greatly inferior numbers. But for his
unt1'nclv accident ut Seven Pines, what Il signal
and glorious victory he would have Gained
there. With only Il handful oi men ut Jackson
nc could not be expected to do anything, when
nc had no transportation, and the enemy were
four times bis number. At Dalton he offered
battle, and did everything in his power to bring
ON an engagement, although the cucmy were
very nearly twice his number; had he succeeded
IN inducing Sherman to attack him, every one
knows who was ut Dalton that we would have
annihilalcd their whole army lie onIv cyacu-
atcd the town after the whole Of their army
had abandoned or,r trout, and were thrcalcnin~
our communication NTH our rear At Rc,acn
We offered them battle, and succeeded in briinr-
ing on Il par,, engagement Who could wit
hess the intrepid c"olnoSs with which our men
charged the enemy, and doubt that we would
be successful One brigade (CIaytcns Ala
ban';.) charged over twenty thousand Yankees
in Il Grtiicd position, iuilic,iny great damage
to tic enemy anI sustaining Il. severe loss them
selves, and only retired when positive orders
wee received to t, back
.''cncral Johnston is the bravcst aud most
cool man when under fire that ever saw.
lie Is almost reckless with his own life, but
Is exceedingly careful with the lives Of his men.
| .,Wc ,,,,l,t
on one "i our batteries little to the right of the
little town OF lscsaca. They were firing with
great fury and precision throwing sand slv
high, and had already killed several soldiers at
the guns Of the battery, when Gen. Johnston
rode up. lie diSmountcd, gave his horse in
charge OF his orderly, and coolIv mounted the
parapct Of the battery, 80 as to observe the
firing OF the enemy. They could plainly acc
INN, for they were not very far Distant: 'lhtr
firing was very accurate. General Johnston
ll;.d not been on the parapct ever five minutes;
wl'cH shell buried itself in the ground within
live PAGES OF him, throwing dust all over his
clothes. This did not seem to move him ut all:
nc ana not notice it, but stood calmly looking
at the firing Of the enemy until it slackencd
For over an hour the shells were falling and
bursting all around him. 1t is unfortunate
that he should be so reckless with his life, for
IT he should bc killed or wounded, 1t would
have most dcmoralizing effect upon his
troops, who fairly idolizc him. General Bragg
had the respect of his troops-I speak of the
| prlvatcs-and they had every confidence in
him, but General Johnston is loved by them
he undergoes the same hardships as the pri.
vatcs-d6cs not even have tent to sleep in
! have seen him sleeping on the ground under
tree, with only one blanket under him.
Think of that, you hume soldiers, Joc John.
ston, the commander-in-c chief of one of you1
largest armies-one, on whom to great OK.
tent, depends the fate of the Contedcracy-
sleeping on the ground Oh, ye street corner
Generals, who are censuring him for falling
back so far, what say you to this act of true
"ob]eness? Does this satisfy you Or must the
man who so freely poured out his blood at
Seven Pines, be doomed to the same unpleas-
ant criticisms as it pleased you to bcstow or
his ''llustrlons nan1csakc, Albert Sidney John
| ston.
The following is list of the officers of tho
Alabama on tic 2lst of March