Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-03-18
HOOD AND JOE JOHNSTON

Ben. Hill in recent address to the PEG :
pie of Georgia discussed the whole history
of the South and particularly that part of
It relating to the late war. He discusses
the removal Of Gen. Joe. Johnston from
the command of the army in Georgia, and
contradicts the general impression that
Jeff. Davis was responsible for it. On this
point he says:
You have all heard it said that Mr.. Da-
Wis was moved by personal hostility to
Johnston in making this removal.
This is net only not true, but is ex-
ceedingly false. do know much on
the subject of this removal. 1 was the
bearer of messages from General Johnston
TO the President, and was in Richmond,
and sometimes present at the discussions
On the subject. never saw as much agony
N Mr.. Davis face, as actually distorted it,
when the possible necessity for this re-
moval was first suggested 10 him. i never
heard eulogy pronounced upon General
Johnston by his best friends equal to that
which heard from Mr.. Davis during
these discussions. 1 know he consulted
with General Lee fully, earnestly, and
anxiously before this, perhaps, unfortu-
nate removal.
1t is rather late in the day to question
the policy of that removal, 1t was unques-
tionably one ofthe greatest mistakes of the
war. Gen. Johnston's retreat from Buzz
zard's ROost to Atlanta, was one of the
most skilfully conducted movements
of the kind ever recorded. We speak
from personal knowledge when we
say that in the opinion of Gen. Sherman
and his army and corps commanders, Gen.
Johnston was regarded as q prudent, able
General, who was doing, with the forces at
his disposal, better service for the South
than any other General then in the field.
He was pressed with superior numbers
from the opening of the campaign, and on
at least three different occasions, when his
army was considered in a most critical sit.
uation, with complete humiliation over
hanging it, he withdrew it from its peril
Gus positions without tho loss of even q
wagon-wheel.
We lately read an article in a New Or
leans paper, criticisiDg Johnston's cam
paign, and endeavoring to show that Hood
was better General, as his bold assault
on McPherson's army on the East of At
anita on the 22nd of July demonstrated.
Thislatter battle, the writer claimed, prom
sed at one time during its progress to an
Inmate oueTInaIiS army ana drive the
Union troops to the Ohio. When it is con-
sidered that Hood really engaged but
one-third of Sherman's army, and that he
was unable to do more than seriously en-
danger the safety of that part of it, the
oasis for the claim referred to is at once
shaken.
The best test of the usefulness of Gen.
Johnston is in the opinion entertained of
nim by those who daily opposed him in
the great campaign then progressing. The
writer carried to Gen. Sherman n
newspaper from Atlanta contain
ing Hoods order, assuming command
Of the army. 1t was the first official in
formation Gen. Sherman had of the
change and the feeling OF surprise and
satisfaction he manifested showed very
clearly how he regarded it. 1t is now
rather late to discuss such question, for
it seems to us the series of blunders follow
ing Hood from the day he assumed COM
lnand proves that he was not in any re.
spect the equal of his predecessor and that
his appointment was great mistake.