Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1866-07-07
PrusERros, JOHNSTON, DAVIS, ArD rHE FALL
.gfT 9ai w. OF VICKsBuRG.

- r
rrzI In a~llusion to the language Of censure
,resorted to by surgeon Craven to have
been used by Jefferson Davis in one Of
his prison conversations the jackson
rMississipian says: a
It will be observed that Pemberton is
credited with a "splendid defence Of
iVicksburg, and might have been relieved.
if the officer commanding the army sent
to.relieve him Gen. Johnston) had not
failed to obey the positive orders to at
tack Gen. Grant, which MI. Seldom, then
secretary of war, had sent" It is Of
little moment, now, save for tile truth Of
history, and justice to an able soldier,
whether the above assertion is true or
otherwise, but we happen to know that
it is utterly without foundation It is
well known to the whole country that
Gen. Johnston was detained with the
army of Tennessee until the fatal folly
perpetrated by Pemberton in his attack
Of Grant'a forces At Port Gibson, with .
handful Of his men, when, had he con-
icentrated his forces, Grant would have
been overwhelmed, and Vicksburg saved.
1t is also we'll known that when
Johnstos arrived in Jackson be did not
have under his command 1900 organized
troops /; he was afterwards Joined by
Walker and Gregg's brigades, which
gave him about $500 men to fight Sher
man and McPherson's corps numbering
$4,000 men. It is absurd to
that Pembertonts defeat was the result
of disobedience of orders on the part If
Johnston. 1t is trn that Gen, Johnston
was ordered to Vicksburg before the
battle of Port Gibson, but it is also true
that on his arrival at Mobile. the order
was countermanded, and he returned to
the army Of Tennessee, to be again order
ed to Vicksburg just before Pemberton's
blunder at Port Gibson. How then was
1t possible for Johnston to attck Grant
with any hope Of success without Al tille-
'ry, with . few hundred men, and Grant
marching betAeen him and Pemberton's
forces? 1t have been just and true had
DR.. Craven said that the loss of the army
at Vicksburg was the result of Pember,
tons refusal to obey orders positively
given BY Gen. Johnston to fall back and
join him after the battles Of Port Gibson
and Bakers Creek, and that bis fine army
would have been saved, and the fortunes
of the Coufederacy might have. been tur-
ned. We ever regarded the fall Of Vicks-
burg as fatal to the Confederate cause ;
and no man is more to be blamed for
that catastrophe than. ex-Lieutenent Gen.
Pemberton, whose arrogance and incom-
potency prevented approach, and insured
defeat at the eliminating crisis, of the.
war. The indomitable pluck Of Penber-
tons men was the cause of the, prolong-
ed siege. All of that noble army might
have been saved at the Port Gibson af-
fair as P~emberton was ordered to tall
back and failed to do so. Pemberton three
times ~disobeyed, orders, and it is remark
able that Gen. johnson should be blamed
TOR not attacking Grant when Sherman
arrived before Johnston with $4,000 about
fifteen hours after Johnston's arrival.
The fact was stated to us by General
Johnston. in person. It is unpleasant even
70 recall memory Of past misfoftunes,
but justice to 4 distinguished public SER
want compels US to chronicle the facts
concerning the charges. II
~ formidable conspiracy WAS dis.
covered . few days since on board the
United States rocosvsu~ ch;n Uos-o.A