Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-04-08
GEN. JOSEPH e. JOHNSTON.
His Differences Of Opinion with Ex-
President Davis Carefully and Con-
cisely Reviewed By Colonel
George r. PhelaB.
An Able Defense Of Mr.. Davis, and Sc
we're Criticism of Gen. JOhnstOn's
Military Career and Ability
During the War.

: the public. 1t had been announced Ion
! ago that this book would reflect upo
the course of the Confederate admins
tratiOn in the conduct of the war. an
the southern people were prepared {
I listen with attention and decide wit
justice upon any statement made bv tn
distinguished author. 1t is therefor
with establishment at the fact, as wei
as regret for the motive, that we havt
seen this violent, bitter and personal at
TACK upon the President, Mr.. Davis
And 1t is proper that each one of IL
should express a candid and respectful
condemnation of such course.
In the first place, even admitting all
General Johnston has stated to be an
accurate statement of all the facts, as
well those the general did not, and could
not know, as those he had oppOrtupi.
ties of knowing, there is no propriety in
thus using them as an instrument o.
personal attack. The generals own re.
collectlons OF the principles which pre-.
vailed when he was an honored mem.
Der OF the proud-spirited, ehivalrous
cold army" should have taught him
the dignified rebuke administered bv q
correct statement of facts without com.
ment; or should advancing age have
brought to his mind the memory of still
younger days, he might have remem.
bered the brave West Point motto.
"Don't strike him when he's down. u
and spared his kick to the deerepid form
Of our broken chief But as this uues-
/ ton has now passed beyond his control.
and become the purchased property OF
| the publishers who have bought his
book, we have now to consider it only
/ as it appears in the book. And not
| having the official documents to which
be has and has not referred, nor his time
| and large acquaintance to draw upon
| by letter, we may claim to be at least
! fair when we discuss his letter upon its
own statements, and lynch him in the
blaze of his own arson.
Two questions arise at once upon this
book: First, are they true? second. are
the deductions correct?
In the first place General Johnston
charges Mr.. Davis with the authorship
OF an unsent message, presenting the
general to the Confederate congress as a
military failure. And for reasons stated
satisfactory to himself he considers that
MIR. Davis, not having the courage him
self, has loaded a blunderbuss, and hired
q man to pull the trigger after he is
dead. For the purpose, therefore, of OBJ
tanning his favOrite position, he has as
sumed himself to be attacked, in order
to show how well he can defend himself.
And having arranged his antagonists
attack in comfortable manner, he nro-
ceeds to whack away scientifically unon
its utter destruction. We might leave
the general to the fierce conflict, our re-
gard for his safety being allayed by con-
fidence in the artist; but for believing
that in point of fact the generals con-
scientious susp, ,cions are correct and
that perhaps Mr.. Davis, in com.
mon with a large proportion of
the people of the south, did consider
him as an utter and absolute military
failure. This, however, cannot excuse
ms Wanton attack, on purely SUPPOSE
tlous grounds, upon Mr.. Davis. Preyi-
GUS threats are no justification for as
sault, unless connected with some pres
ent demonstration, even in the ViIest
criminal and the general appears, from
his own statement as to his grounds for
attack, to have availed himself of nri-
Vate rumor to make out a public wrong
at the hands of Mr.. Davis-a wrong
which, If contemplated, had been aban2
doned-and uncOnnected with apy other
evidence of future danger than his own
fears.
But supposing these charges to have
been made by any one-What are the
generals answers thereto?
The grdUdnIe1l of the charges. 10, fofo
is that General Johnston was faiJure
as general. This is the substance of
the whole matter. And will the gem
eral himself assert that he aodS not9
Universal opinion has long since SET
tied that success is the only practical
OF merit. The rule is without
an exception in military affairs. Sue
cess is not the result of accident, but of
the exertion of talent and enerov |
toward the attainment of a given |
end. And no matter how great the en- !
ergy and talent displayed or professed. |
failure shows indisputably that thew |
were not sufficient for the purpose.
In military affairs the means of execu-
ton are the lives of thousands, the Dron- |
erty, honor, and liberties of nations
And the man who sacrifices these in tbe |
endeavor to attain more than he CON 1
achieve, is not only failure, but Grim |
lnal. Such are the chances of ambition
Its rewards are too great and too temnt.
ing to human desire, not to demand fba
check of punishment equally great. The
great Albert Sidney Johnston sealed his
acknowledgment of this with his life
Bonaparte made it his rule of promo
lion, and General Joseph E. Johnston
1enles 1t by book. General Johnston
~ MS own showing, during
ne late war, was eontinuaJIy
a command of large almies
At various times he commandad
very army in the Confederaey east of
he Mississippi, he has fought many
'attles, and has maneuvered over avory
ection OF the theater of war. and fbe !
act remains that ia no single instance
las he ever won either a campaipn or
'attle. Under direct orders, he saws he
.dvahced to Beauregard's relief at Ma
lassas, ana as soon thereafter as he as
umed control Of the army he retreated.
lie advanced, he says, under direct or
ers, to Yorktown, and again retreated
o Richmond. Once away from the di-
ect control and orders of the war de-
artment, in Mississippi and Georgia,
no ne at once retreated. Let the gener-
| explain these facts to the country:
nd while thousands of desOlate homes
eep the passover in sorrow for TIE vic
inns OF his failures, let him not break
pom the gloom with his querulous
omplaint against "the administration.
lie was fallure-an utter failure; and
e stands now as the only general in
he Confederate service who never won
battle.
The first charge in his "sgnopsis,, is
hat he abandoned Harper's Ferry with
1uch valuable DldchineTy," and that he
ID not go to Manassas until he was inn
eratively ordered from Richmond.
To the first, he alleges that even
0ood lor gunstocksn was brought away
rom rom Harper's Ferry. and that no valn-
Ole machinery was left there. This will
e news 10 many of the Army of Vir-
mia who helped to burn the plaeeand
'eStToy the machinery and stores. AID
le says himself that the permission Il,
Vacnate was anticipated. He saws his
pinion OF Its intrinsic strenpthI was
oTmed tUo days after he took com
nanl, ana that when he left it was not ,
ortned, unless mounting two heavv
laval guns made it so. Whose fauIt Svos
hdtY be forgets, in his anxiety to d.
eat the particulars of the charges in the .
synopsis" to protect his fame as q
eneral.
Again: He says the President WAC
for his not arriving in time
( Manassas, because he did NOT sand
he general the news from Richmond? ,
'hus supporting the entire charge that
e went to Manassas under orders, and ,
for a plan of campaign upon
le directions of the war de- !
artment. He, ss a general, should [
ave sent intelligence to the capital in s
cad of supinely waiting to receive it. S
q this case, IS far as forward move