, 1864-03-31
Official Report Of Gen. J. e. Johnston.
The Richmond Dtspafch says:

4AE AsASaA4ouA 1c4adttH eA3Ss
The official report Of Gen. Joseph E. Johu-
though called for BY Congress on the: 1lth OF
Decembcr last, has only made its appearance
in print within the past few days In reterr-
Ing to 1t at present 1t Is not for us to attempt
to account for the delay in It's publication
Many Of the facts embraced in this report
have already been given to the public in the
synopsis Of the correspondence between
Gen Johnston and the Government authort-
ties in Richmond. Passing over these, we
come to the dispatches between Gen. John
ston and Neut. Gen. Pemberton, with refer
erce to the operations around Vicksbusg.
On the oth Of alay. Gen. Johnston, then at
Tnllahoma, received dispatch from the Sec
rotary Of War, directing him to proceed at
once to Mississippi and take chief command
Of the forces there.
On the 18th Of the same month, he received
dispatch from Gen Pembcrton, dated Vfcks-
burg, hay Y, asking for re-inforcements, as
the enemy, in large force, was moving from
the Mississippi, south Of the Big Black, ap.-
parently in the direction OF Edwards Depot,
and expressing the belief that that point
would be the battle field If he could forward
sufficient force, leaving enough to secure the
SAFETY GG th. Sr vlehhseq!g: I!e1h r. ro,,s+
Gen. Pembcrton, notifying him OF his arrival
at jackson, Informing him Of the Occupation
Of Clinton by portion Of Grlnt's army. and
urged the Importance Of re-establishing c3m-
mnnications, ordering him to come up, If
practicable, on Sherman's rear ut once, add
ing, ITO beat such detachment would be
Of immense value. The troops here could
cooperate All the strength you can quickly
assemble should be brought. Time is all I'M
po5tantn
Subsequently, Gen. Johnston ordered Gen.
Pcmberton to eyacuate Vicksburg, and to
take the road leading to Clinton, This order
ne 33Erpr1r4R1 1r,o 1rAi f,{o
Gen. Johnston says;
Convinced Of the impossibi1ity of collect
ing sufficient force to break the Investment
OF Efcksbnrg, should it be completed-ap-
preciating the difficulty OF e1trlcat1ng tie
garrison, and convinced that .Vicksburg and
the repeated passage OF armed vessels and
transports, ordered the evacuation Of both
places: Gen. Gardner did not receive this
order before the Investment Of Port Hudson,
il at all Gen. Ptlnberton set aside this Or
der, under the advise OF a council Of war;
md though he had IN Yieksburg 5000 fresh
troops, not dcn0salized by defeat, decided
that it "was impossible to Withdraw the ar
my from this position, with such morale and
material as to be Of further service to the
Confectionery" but ttto hold Vicksburg rs
long Us possible, with the firm hope that the
Government may yet be able to assist me IN
keeping this obstruction to the encmy's free
t+AP"6aA+VAl ~ kAC a44SaAo4ltH4 flEh6-
burg was greatly Imperlled when my instruc-
tfons from 1nllahona. to concentrate, were
neglected. It was lost when my orders OF
the 13th and 18th Of May we're d'soheyed, To
this 1oes were added the labor, prisations and
certain captures Of q gallant army, when my
orders for It's evacuation were set aside.
In this report have been compelled to en-
ter into many details and to nuke some m.
ima1versions upon the conduct of Gen. Penn
berton. The one was no pleasant task-the
other most painful duty; both have been
forced upon me by the official report of Gen.
Pembetton, made to the War Department in
stcad Of me, to whom it Was due
Gen. Pemberton, by direct assertion and by
implication, puts upon me the responsibility
Of the movement which led bis army to de-
feat at Bakers Creek and Big Black Bridge
defeats which produced the loss Of Vicks6urg
Al Its army.
This statement has been circulated by the
press, in more or less detail, and with more
or less marks Of an Official character, Until
my silence would be almost an acknowledge
ment Of the Justice Of the charge
Afroper regard for the good opinion Of
ny Government has compelled me, therefore,
to throw aside that delicacy which would
gladly have observed toward brother officer
suffering much undeseryed obloquy, and to
show that in his short campaign Gen. Penn
6erton made not 2 single movement in obe-
dience to my orders, and regarded none Of
my instructions, aud finally, did not embrace
the only opportunity to save his army-that
given by my order to abandon Vicksburg.