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

At every wlnUOW III pNSSluR ny
He looked a moment, and seemed to see
A pair OF eyes like the morning sky.
NORA PERRY.
-
GENERAL JOSEPH Il. JOHNSON.
An English View Of the Confederate
Leader.
From the London Saturday Review
August 2s.l
The fame OF General Lee has so com.
pletely oveashadowed that of all the
other military chiefs of the confederacy
that probably few of the European
public now remember that there was a
commander of the army charged with
the protection of the southern capital
before the great soldier who has linked
I his name in undying glory with the
defense of Richmond. And yet Cen
eral Joseph JOhnsOn-for, of course, 1t
is Of him we speak-gave evidence of
abilities that entille him to no mean
reputation as strategist. On the field
of Bull Run he was the senior officer,
and as he was the first chosen to beat
back northern invasion, 80, in the last
decisive struggle, when Sherman had
scattered the army of Georgia and was
beginning his famous march to the sea,
it was to johnson again that the con-
federate government turned as the
only bu lwark of the Carolinas. A his
tory from his own pen, or, as he more
modestly styles it himself, a narrative,
of the military operations directed by
this eminent soldier in the greatest of
modern civil wars, cannot but be highly
interesting to the military student.
In brief introduction of less than
three lines it is unpretendingly offered
as IA contribution of materials for the
use of the future historian of the war.
1t is written in the tone and spirit We
should expect from one who had borne
himself SO steadily against tremendous
odds. There is no vain bOasting of the
superiority of the southern soldiers,
and no disparagement of northern
courage. On the contrary, the general
goes out of his way on more than one
occasion to bear testimony to the gal
lantry of the foe. And when writing
in self defense-for the book is essen
TALLY a defense of the general against
the structures passed upon him-he
never forgets the dignity that becomes
his character and antecedents. At the
same time the fact that the work is an
apologize, qualification of his military
operations, somewhat detracts fromthe
value; while the omission to supply
maps very seriously impairs its useful
ness. 1t is impossible for reader to
follow intelligently the details of
battle, and of the movements which
preceded it, without a plan of the field
before him. And we would urge upon
the publishers of the "Narrative,"
when preparing for second edition,
to supply this strange omission. Like
his more famous chief, General Joseph
johnson was q Virginian, and like
him. too, he held commission in the
United States army at the outbreak of
the war. General Johnson devotes
brief space to justify his resignation of
his commission, and his passing over
to take service with the cOnfederacy. |
Undoubtedly it is very grave step on |
the part of u soldier to range himself
on the side of an insurrectiOn, and one |
which is rightly judged oD the most
rigorous principles. But the cases of |
Generals johnson and Lee are entirely |
different from such desertion as that
of the unfortunate Colonel Rossel, or,
indeed, from that of any officer In the |
army. The result of the |
civil war has decided now that state |
has not the right to withdraw from the |
Union. But when secession took place |
that was not the received doctrine.
This Is not the place to enter into the |
argument, and, indeed, |
it Is sufficient to remark that the whole
south repudiated the doctrine in the
m ost practical manner possible, while
in the north the democratic party at
least openly maintained that the south
was acting within its right. II, then,
johnson and Lee erred, they
erred in common with the vast ma
jority Of Americans In holding that
state had the right to secede, and that
to his state q citizen owed his first al
legiance. As long as Virginia remain
ed in the union both officers retained
their commissions and did their duty.
AS soon as Virginia seeded both re-
signed their commissions and hastened
to place their services at the disposal Of
their state. General Joseph Johnson
had been the senior In rank in the
United States army. At the time of
his resignation he was quartermaster
general, with the commission of O
brigadier general, whereas Lee was
only lieutenant colonel. But on John
sons arrival In Richmond he found
that Lee had been appointed COM
of the army of the
state, with the rank of major general.
johnson was at once given the same
rank, and entrusted with the training
Of the state levies. On the accession
Of Virginia to the confederacy, how
ever, Genernl Johnson entered the con-
service, and received from
President Davis the command Of Har-
per,s Ferry, while General Beauregard
was appointed to the confederate COM
mand at Manassas, Lee still remaining
In the service of Virginia. The first
serious attack was made by the federal
army under General Mcdowell against
Manassas. Johnston at once hurried
TO the relief of Beauregard with por-
ton Of his army, leaving the remain
der TO hurry after him as quickly as 1t
could. He arrived In time to consult
with Beauregard, and agree TO the plan
by the latter. But before the
plan could be carried out, the federal
general attacked, and Bull Run was
the result. This great victory secured
Virginia from invasion for the remain
der ofthe year. Mcclellan was appoint
ed to the command of the northern ar
my, and he devoted the autumn and
winter 10 the work of properly organ
King and disciplining IL. Early In the
spring he moved his forces
by water to Fortress Monroe, and
thence advanced up the peninsula 70
invest Richmond. General Johnston
the direction Of the operations
against him. Johnston
urged upon President Davis to
fall back upon Richmond, collect there
the whole military force Of the confed-
eracy, allow Mcclellan 10 approach the
city, and then, when he was st dis
tanoe from his base, fall upon him, and
Infiict such q blow a. would decide the
war at once In favor Of the south.
A ee1beil ef va vss held, st vhich