Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-08
oVxERAL JOE JoHNsToN's BOOK.

General Joe Johnston's narrative OF
his military operations, published by u.
Appleton 4 Co., has been eagerly ex-
Dected in the North as well as the South
for many months. 1t has at length been
;ssued, and will have large sale doubt
less in every section of the country.
We have seen many extended notices OF
the work, mostly of highly favorable
character, but have not yet had the
Measure of seeing the book or reading
the uubhshers' proof-sheetsi so we can
only Judge Of its merits by what has
appeared in other papers. We have
always admired General Johnston
genius, and do still, having ever regard
ed him as but little if at ell below Gen.
Lee in the qualities that adorn the
character Of truly great soldier. The
neonle of the South love him, and he
enioys the highest respect in the North
ard in Europe. One Of the papers,
however. which criticises his book rather
adversely is the New York Sun, which
Judges. after reading it with great care,
that il will be received with exceeding
disappointment. Without prejudice to
the book or the distinguished author,
we NAV refer to some of the points made
by the Sun. 1t sets out by abiding to
the fact that General Johnston was the
only general officer of the old army who
resigned to take q part for the South,
Lee, Beauregard, Bragg, Hardee and
Others having held no higher grade
than Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel in
the old service. He was highest ia
rank, and therefore assigned to the com
uaud of the troops at and around Har-
per's Ferry, regarded by Mr.. Davis, on
account of its proximity to the North
and strategic advantages, as the most
important command at his disposal.
Yet General Johnston proposed its evac-
nation az soon as he took command.
His reasons in military sense may
have been sound enough, but such a
movement at that stage of the game
could not have been very encouraging
to the Confederacy. He abandoned the
place before il was seriously threatened,
and transported his command by rail to
Manassas Junction, where he assisted
Beauregard to gain the first great VIC
tory at Bull Run. 1t is yet matter OF
dispute, with the odds in favor OF John
ston. whether he made this move OF his
own voition or under positive orders
from President Davis and his Secretary
of War. Johnston's name became very
prominent at once, and hewas advanced
to the command of the army. The Sun
thinks Johnston erred greatly in his
failure to advance against the defeated
army of Mcdowell. he is greatly
blamed for not assuming the offensive
to complete his success, which might
have resulted in the capture OF Wash
ington. The chances, says this military
critic, we're ninety-nine to hundred in
his favor. 1t is not to be wondered at
that Davis, a military man himself,
should have been disheartened by
Johnston's lack Of aggressive temper
nd good generalship, and should have
sought to have superseded lin by an
officer of superior rank. Johnston
finally selected new position behind
the Rappahsnnoek, to which be re.
treated from his strong position at Ma
nassas Junction, leaving considerable
stores behind, all in opposition to the
wishes of Mr. Davis. The danger in his
front was not great, as the army was
commanded by Mcclellan, who seldom
took the aggressive, except by slow ap-
proaehss. The stores abandoned, I
seems had been sent forward contrary
to the wishes Of General Johnston, an'
thus we see the want Of harmony tina
prevailed among our great Confederat
leaders, while the people gladly lai'
down their lives aud fortunes for the los
cause; hence, it came about that Davi
advanced Lee and Sidney Johnston I,
commands higher than held by 10
Johnston, and hence many dissension
and disasters to the Confederaey wbic
the people could not understand. Thei
disagfeemeuts, says the critic, we're cor
tinuous, and they form the theme upol
wbich this narrative is strung. Th
more they are studied the more they wi
damage the reputation Of General JOhr
stOn, though Il is not probable that the
viii much benefit that Of Mr.. Davis.
strongly is the narrative colored by Il
interests, passions and heartburninRs
che author, that we are constrained
say that, for his sake, it should NV
have been Published. His fame Won
have been clearer had it been left e.
tirply to his eneniss. Shortly after u