Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-07-28
"Reminiscences Of GeneraI Albert
sidney JOhusOu,

ucation, furnishes the following 10
tho Jackson Mlsslsaippian;
III wero collected by the South 20
award tho palm ofmcrit TO tho most
worthy of all tho illustrious dead
who compose "the noblo army of
martyrs" who died in defence ofour
constitutional liberty, ! would lay
the sacred symbol Of peerless excel
lspcs vpef the tomb Of Albert sgd
ncy Johnston. II he were living,
and in arms, with Stoncwall Jack
ron, and Robert Il. Leo, Joseph Il.
Johnston and Bcauregard ready to
take the field again, and had to APP
point one of these illustrious heroes
the gcnoralissimo OF our army. l
would not hesitate moment TO give
him the command Of the whole, with
q f0cliDg Of confidence that each ono
of them would obey his orders viii
lingly, and that no master of the art
Of war could improve tho orders
that no would give. In all the vir-
tues which constitute the true pa
triot and chivalrous hero, these idols
of tho Southern States W re endow-
I'd by nature with equal measure;
and whether It be attributable TO
blood or education; orboth, although
differing widely in personal appear
ance, they will DO exhibited tofi,ture
ages by history as much alike in
character. OF all his living COM
pccrs, among our country's defend
ers, Gen. A. Sidney Johnston rcsem-
bled most 10 disposition, and all his
marked characteristics; his name
sake, Gen. Joseph Egglcston John
ston. They were not ut all related
by blood; but two men never were
moro alike in everything except
personal appearance. Gen. Joseph
e. Johnston is we'll formed, but un-
der the medium size. His head is
unusually large; and to painter, it
seems a littlo out Of proportion,
when compared with his body
Gen. A. Sidney Johnston was a very
largo man, not corpulent, but we'll
proportioned; and weighed at least
200 pounds. He would havo been
observed among thousand good
looking men, as ono formed to COM
lnand others. He was
"The lofty port, the distant mien,
Which Seems to shun the sight, yet awes If
seen, rIff
The solemn aspect, and the high born eye,
That checks low mirth, yet lacks not court
esy."
The eyes Of our living hero, ! be-
lisvc, arc dark hazel. Those of him
who fell at Shiloh, while lighting
his hosts to victory, were like those
Of Napoleon and Washington clear
gray. They were deeply set and
tho heavy shadows OF the projecting
brows gave them dark blue shade.
Both possessed tho same tempera-
ment; full of fire, but so smothered
by perfect self control, that few Of
their most intimate friends have cv-
er witnessed its flashing under any
circumstances. But none could doubt
that enough of it was embodied to
make its posscssor formidable as g.
sleeping lion, or silent volcano. A
wife, child, or servant or intimate
associate IN private life, might be
with Gen. Sidney johnson tor life
time without ever discovering tho
slightest manifestation of i'll temper.
1t has heen said that mo man APP
pears great to his valet" This say.
ing, which might have been true
when applied to Charles XII, Fred.
erick the Great, or the Duke of
Marlborough, was not SO in regard
to him. He was the same great man
in pirate and public; and it was his
unselfish generous amiability, his
strict regard to truth and justice,
his warm and sympathetic friend
ship, his tender regard for the rights
and sensibilities Of others, and the
self control which governed his
words and actions, which made his
companions love him. His profound
learning, his strong common sense,
and the quickncss, clearness, and the
originality OF his thoughts upon all
subjects excited their respect and
admiration.
l will leave to the historian the
task of assigning to him his just po-
sition among men as a public SER
want; and as a general, / shall speak
ofhim only as saw bim in private
life;and mention a few circumstances
which will perhaps illustrate his
character.
Soon after the Mexican war,
largo number of the officers Of tho
United States army who had DIS
tinguished themselves, and received
promotion for their gallantry during
that struggle, were assembled in
Austin, where Gen. Johnston was
then stationed. The citizens gave
those heroes splendid ball. But
when the company met, Gen. John.
ston was absent, and his presence
was considered almost indcspcnsa-
Bile on such an occasion. The com.
mittce Of arrangements were much
mortified when it was ascertained
that inissuing tickets OF invitation
to the officers Of the army, they had
forgotten to send one to Gen. John
ston. They were greatly embar-
raised to know how to apologize to
him for their neglect. The truth
was, that be had lived among them
SO long, and there was so little of
the 'pomp and circumstance" of tho
officer about,him, that he was re-
garded by them as a plain citizen,
and.as one of themselves; but they
did not know how they would be