Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-12
Breakfast and an Hour with Gen.
5 Johnston. JOS .9s.! glt.. ID

rose at daylight yesterday morning and
walked alone to the camp OF Gen. Johnston,
over mile west of the town. The camp is
located in a grove on a hill side, looking to-
ward the south, with small stream Of wa
ter coursing at its foot. In the rear of the
Generals and the Staff Officers tents, were
scattered the smaller tents OF the attaches
of headquarters, and their horses were
hitched at some distance; one or two wag-
ons were drawn up near the center of the
grounds, suggestive of an early move. Be-
fore l reached the ground, the sun had risen,
but only small portion of the officers had
got up Gen. Johnston had not risen. The
servants were preparing coffee and an early
breakfast, and seemed to work with alacrity
and cheerfulness. .. ..u3-e.T ..I.
While was waiting to see the General,
! the Adjutant General and several other
| officers rose, dressed, and sat down around
their camp-chest to breakfast. The aroma
of good coffee which hoated out on the fine
morning air reminded me that l had not
breakfasted; but being a stranger l could
scarcely expect to be Invited to partake.I
The officers seemed moody and silent, and
affairs moved mechanically. There was no
cheerful smile or mirth-proyoking jest SO
common around the camp-table.
"Well, gentlemen, wesurround this festive
board, Isuppose, for the last time," said one
of the officers. ss ID 1s5E rr- /
81 suppose So" was the hesitating reply
of another of the group. ..-. ..-..,-.
A short pause followed, during which
each gentleman helped himself to the ham
and warm biscuits and sweetened his coffee.
Another pause and few words. l could
not distinctly. hear. III. ..... .....
II suppose all the children born hereaf-
ter will have u. s. stamped upon them,p
dryly remarked the wag of the party.
"Yes," said another in the same vein;
"but if am not mistaken theIe'll be few
G. S. A., imprinted on their -" A
laugh greeted this queer suggestion, and
the moodiness of the circle gave place to
cheerful conversation, in which the officers
discussed their near separation, the routes
they would take, and speculated as to who
they would find at their homes, the situa-
tion of affairs, &c. There was little refer
ence to the great topic of the disbandment
of the army. They seemed and conversed
like persons who had lost all interest in war
topics, and whose minds were already rev
cling i'm the peaceful scenes of home, which
now possessed thousand new charms.
Afterward, making my business known,
and remarking that | wished to obtain the
impressions and views of the General
touching the future of the South and of the
! country-as one who had been so promin-
ent--would no doubt exercise controlling
influence hereafter.
"He will have no more influence than
any other man, said one of the staff; 'each
man in the South is capable of thinking for
himself, and will have his own opinions
Gen. Johnston's opinions on military sub
jects will be respected, but on other mat
tiers. no more than any other man."
"What is to be the direction of affairs
and the feeling in the South, now, is an in
teresting question" L said. I'D, -.
"That depends more upon what you. a
the North do, than anything else" replied
the A. A. G. .f.. r...
Two or threeother officers assented, will
emphasis, showing, not their opinion mere
ly, but suggesting something of anxiety, OF
! that subject. The conversation proceeded
| in frank but kindly manner, and was soon
enlivened by the participation in itofa gen
| tleman of high respectability at head
quarters, though not in uniform. He had
| been large planter near Helena, Ark, and
had been ruined by the war, and particu-
| larly by the 4th Iowa cavalry, who had
burned him out, and carted Oft his negroes
four times, they returning each time on ae-
count of their attachment to the place.--
The fourth time they separated families,
and he pictured In strong colOrs the misery
and suffering which followed. He had been
| Judge in his District, was Henry Clay
man, never cast secession vote, and was
driven into the war. He had been pris-
oner at Camp Chase, during which he COM
planned of hard usage-not being allowed
to purchase fruit, and mentioned other
| grievances, which he offset against Ander-
sonville. "And now you have fought for
| Il I, hot II
propose to do with 'em?" he asked, as If he
had put poser. ...
| "We have fought for the Union, and have
cot that, and the freed men will take care OF
themselves" /" replied. This gentleman now
engrossed the chief conversation, and the
remainder is not worth the space it would
occupy. On the subject of slavery, the ca
pacity of the negro for Improvement, and
other collateral topics, they all seemed
agreed. "Now you have freed 'em, we
want you to take 'em," was a remark twice
or thrice repeated. 'H H fa.J
replied, 'sThe South needed them more,
but if we take them as he wished us to
do, he would probably be the first man to
come after them again." '. -.
These staff officers were evidently gen.
| tlemen of the first families-not in the
offensive sense of the term-educated
proud, but taughtin the econventionalities o.
polite society, who would not intentionally
offend guest, however obnoxious his opin-
ions might be. '.L ti't 'TH -l..9 f-H
| Gen. Johnston received me with quiet
gentlemanly courtesy, and as he was moi
occupied, began to converse without appa.
rent constraint or reserve. He speaks In
. low tone of voice, slowly, and with that de-
| liberation which impresses you with the
Il Al A. ol tc
| is always the best word, and fully expresses
his idea. He is about so; say five feet nine
! inches high, with full silver and grey
beard and moustache, dark hazel eye, which
| flashes during animated conversation with
n peculiar expression. His complexion il
bronzed, but fresh and healthy, and the ex.
preston of his features benevolent, mixed
with firmness and great stolidity of char
acter. He has way of cutting OFT each
i word with marked precision. His fore
head is high and intellectual, and his figure
slight, with bust well and firmly knit. He
impresses every one as a "high-souled, be-
nevolent gentleman and soldier, which l.
the character ascribed to him by Mr.. W
w. Holden, of Raleigh. |
ssThe surrender of Lees army terminated
the war; he said, ''and nothing remained
for us but to make the best terms we could ;
This view he expressed to Mr.. Davis, wht
sent for him to meet him at Greensborough
shortly following that event. Gen. Sher
man, he said, was just moving out from
lGoldsboro. He urged Mr.. Davis to accep
the situation, and not attempt to proloni
the war, which must be hopeless, and coulS
only result In needlessly devastating tn,
country and wasting valuable lives which
i was crime. ~" 'Dp icnN -i8aTB
! These views he subsequently expressed
to the Governors of four States In the shap'
of the following telegram: u