Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-06
aIaian and Ameriean.
Tbe vfcIzsburg and Atlanta Campaigns
letter from Professor EIVeu.

--hatAAGE AE0AA LTEOAN1NoE ENteAh.
The following letterfrOn Professor EwE1L
appeared in the Richmond Enquirer and
Sentinel
WILLIAMSBURG, June 25th, 1865-T0 tic
Editors Of the Enquirer and lSelii1s Gen
TI-EalEN; IN the Enquirer and ScHiiRl Of the
ed, the following Is published as al extract
from Dr. CRAvzS's diary:
PE5rBERroN made splendid defense Of
Nicksburg, aud might have been relieved, II
the officer commanding the army sent to re-
lieve him General JoHysT0s) had not failed
70 obey the positive orders 10 attack General
GRANT, which Mr.. SEDDEE, then Secretary
Of War, had sent If the same officer, who
vas upheld in command by the aati-admin-
istratiOn party, had vigorously attacked
SHERMAN at Atlanta, when directed, the
fortunes of war would have been changed,
and SHERMAN hurled back TO Nashville,
over sterile and wasted country, his retreat
little less disastrous than NAPOLEON's from
Moscow. He did not do so, and was relieved
General Hoop, true and spirited soldier
taking his place-but the opportunity was
then gone; and 70 this delay more than 10
any other cause the Southern people will at
tribute their overthrow whenever history
comes to be truly written"
In the statement this extract contains, that
Gen. j. +. JOHNSTON failed 10 obey "posi-
tive orders or directions to attack General
GRANT at Nicksburg in 1863 or General
SHERMAN al Atlanta, in 1864, there is mis-
take, caused, 10 doubt by DR.. CRAVEN hav-
ing misappreheE5ed his distinguished pa
tent, with whom, in his misiortunes, know
no one sympathizes more truly than General
JOHNSTON. ] venture 10 make this correc-
lion, in justice TO a war-WOrn veteran who
freely shed his blood in defence ofthe South
ern cause, and who is too good a soldier to
Wilfully disregard an order of his military
superior. The only approach 10 an order TO
attack General GRANT in 1863, was given in
telegram from the Secretary of War, and
this was modified and virtually revoked by
second telegraphic communication received
the same day. The gentlemen who was at
the time Secretary Of War Of the Confederate
States had too much wisdom and practical
sense 10 give a positive order 70 General
JoHaamoN to attack with his army Of about
twent7-three thousand men General GRANTS
army, numbering some eighty thousand,
covered in position ofgreat natural strength
by the unfordable Big Black river and by
Formidable lines Of intrenchments defended
at all points by powerful artillery.
IN ike manner no such orders were given
during the Atlanta campaign, and the disas-
ters that befel the Army Of Tennessee after
General JOHNSTON was relieved clearly
demonstrated shat they ought not TO have
been lHyen. Ny position on General JoHN-
sroN''I staff, and my relations to him, caused
all his correspondence with the authorities
in Rii,hmond, by mail, by telegraph or by
messengers, from January, 1868, to June,
1864, al which time he was relieved, to pass
through my hands. Any assertion / have
herein made / am fully prepared TO prove.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
BENJAMIN S. EWELI-