The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-12-19

Lee was present, and, mainly by Lees
advice, as Johnston states, the plan Of
the latter was set aside. Under these
circumstances General Johnston de-
termined TO delay the advance Of the
enemy by every means In his power,
without, however, bringing on q gem
eral engagement too soon. Accord
ingly he occupied In force a defensive
line constructed by General Magruder,
which stretched from Yorktown to
Warwick Court House The line was
too long, and besides admitted of being
turned, but the federal general sat
down before 1t, and erected siege bat
terles. When they were ready, the
confederates retired. At Williamsburg
Longstreets and Hill's division, to al
low time for the removal Of the bag
gage and ammunition, engaged por-
ton of the federal army, and inflicted
loss twice as great rs these divisions
suffered themselves, and then the
army once more fell back slowly to the
neighborhood of Richmond.
McClellan's forces In their advance
were divided into two parts by the
ChickahOminy. Johnston took advant-
age of thu separation to direct twenty
three out Of his twenty-seven divisions
against the Federal left wing, consist
ing Of two corps, or about two-fifths of
the entire federal force. The battle of
Seven Pines, which ensued, was unde-
cisive, as night fell before the confed-
crates could prove the advantage they
gained, and General Johston having
received q severe wound, was never
able to resume the contest. A few
days later General Lee was appointed
to his command. Before Johnston
had completely recovered, he was or
dered to the west to superintend opera
tions in Mississippi aud Tennessee, but
want of means compelled him to look
on helplessly while General Grant re-
duced Vicksburg and PembertOn's
army.
The disasters experienced by General
Bragg next summoned him to the COM
mand of the army of Tennessee. In a
campaign of seventy days, opposed to
an army under. Sherman more than
twice as numerous, Johnston boasts,
and the boast is corroborated by two of
his his corps com mmanders, that con-
stantly fighting partial engagements,
and skirmishing day after day, he nev-
er lost All action, though he abandon
ed much territory, and handed over |
the army to his successor improved in
morale and effectiveness. He adds that |
he had brought the enemy to the neigh
borhood of the position where he had
intended to make final stand, where
they would not be able to avail them
selves of their superiority of numbers,
where, il defeated, they would be far
from their base, and where, If he him
self Uttered u reverse, he had a strong
position to fall back upon. However,
The government was dissatisfied be-
cause he retired persistently before
Sherman, and he was removed from
the command. He retired into private
life, whence he did not again emerge
until the army of the Tennessee had
been shattered to pieces under Hood,
and Sherman had penetrated to the
heart Of the confederacy. Then he
was once again summoned into the
ield, but it was only to have the mel
sncholy honor of being the last south
srn general who surrendered an army
% the conqueror.
narrative of Military Operations
directed during the late War between
he States. BY Joseph E. Johnston,
General G. S. A. New York: Apple
on & Co. London Trubner & Co.