The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-01
JOE AND TECUMsEH.
THEIR BOOKS COMPARED.

THEIR BOOKS COMPARED.
uRvrRw OF GENERAL JOE JoHNsToN's WORK
NorA MEMOIR BUT DEFENsE-HIs LITEk-
AkY TREATMENT OF THE FEDERALs.
The discussion brought out by Sherman's
book has drawn attention to the somewhat
similar work OF his principal opponent, and
a writer in the Philadelphia Times thus re-
views il: Every reader of Sherman's me-
moirs will remember the respect with which
be ALWAYS speaks of General Joe" Johnston
and his FREQUENT reference to his narrative.
We we're led as no doubt many others Will
be. TO take up Johnston's book, ana IL may
not. even at this late day after us pup
lication be without interest thus to suggest
soma of its prominent pecullarlties. II
deals much more in detail with tactlcal
operations and less with strategic move
ulelts than does Sherman's. Then, TOO,
IL ia in no sense aut0bi0graphlc, tnat Is IL
gives no account OF John=on's career before
the war, other than sort OF exculpatory
statement of the facts relating 10 MS resigna-
ton as ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF Tue
United States, in April or 1851 Inc pulk
and burden of the book IS a lustlncation OF
Johnston's operations, as agalnse 'Io s naion
treatment which he received from JEFFERSON
DAVIS and other high civil functlonarles OF
the government of the COnfederacy. he
extended his criticism, too,t to HOOD. VINO
relieved him from command, ana, as John-
ston contends threw away all the fruits OF
long preparation for successful defense OF
Atlanta, only 10 take the field against over
xVhelming odds and in the face OF great and
increasing army under sherman, WHO
led il straight throught 20 the sea VICTOR
iously. Even sharper and more canssic Is
General Johnstons crushing review OF ten
eral Pemberton's indetensible defense OF
Vicksburg, and there seems to nave peen
paper war after the close OF the rebellion, In
which all who were prominent IN It's service
seem to have taken part. General bragg
too, comes 10 Tor Johnson's sharp reprenen
sion, and especially for acting as JEFF Davis's
agent in interfering with Johnston's COM
mand. and In making bis operations I'M
successful and then having bim renewed.
From May TO November, 1867, johnston was
unable to take the field by reason OF severe
wounds received during the campaign on
the peninsula against Mcclellan, but 1t Is
very clear that he had quite as much
TROUBLE WITH THE CIVILIANS
in Richmond as he had with the enemy in
his front. His criticism of the operations
of the Union forces Is, as always, fair and
respectful TO the bravery of the men and
zssl of the officers, but he disputes their
numbers, and apparently disparages the
truthfulness of their reports. He speaks of
Summers extravagt statements; he disputes
HeintzeIman's claim tor victory at Seven
Pines, ne implies that it was his (Johnston's)
victory, and that to 1t was due McClel-
lands withdrawal from his movement
against Richmond, and the transfer of the
scene of war TO Northern Virginia. Much
OF Johnston's narrative OF the campaigns
against Grant and Sherman is
devoted TO a sort of defensive warfare
against JEFF Davis. and his bitter
ness is all expended on the interference OF
in the field. Re gives long letters from
Seldom, secretary OF war, and from Davis
himself in December OF 1853, OF which he
speaks with undisguised contempt. His ac-
count of the mismanagement OF the stan ce-
partments, of the commissary, quarter
master, ordinance and recruiting depart
msnts, shows that there, as we'll as in the
North, dishonesty and inefficiency crippled
many military operations, and that love OF
power kept III civilian hands much power
and authority that properly belonged to the
generals in the field. Nor did this state of
affairs improve much during the progress of
the war, for in It's very last days
General Johnston shows that vast provisions
were accumulated to the hands OF
the army that was sweeping over the coun-
try from the North under Grant and from
the South under Sherman. Indeed, his last
fling at Davis is a bitter reproach and sneer
for the effort made by the fugitive president
to secure large sum of money and strong
escort Johnston distributed the money
them home with q strong recommendation
to take to peaceful pursuits and keep out o.
the hands OF Southern pohtitlons. de
learned his dread of those who came from
the North only after later experience.
With the single exception of a fling in a
foot note az the Freedman's Bureau and It's
officers Johnston speaks always with respect
OF The soldiers and officers of the Northern
army, and OF their
BRAVERY, FAIR DEALING AND KINDNESS.
His reproaches are all the stronger for being
devoted to his own fellow soldiers, Hood
and Bragg and Pemberton, but above all 10
Davis and his admirers in Richmond. Re-
lieved from command in July 1854. he sums
up his operations during the brilliant cam
psign which Sherman fought in his march
20 the sea, and Johnston defends his plans
and his execution of them in great detail
and y it'll bitter complaint of the harsh treat
ment melted out TO HIM. From the close of
the war to the eve OF publication OF his mar
ratiye he was gathering material for
his defense, and letters from nearly
all the generals who had served I'M
der him, notably, Hardee and Stewart,
as well from Gen. Hooker, who hao
served in the army opposed to him, are
given as part of his story, not really adding
any new facts to it, but only strengthening
his views OF his own case. OF course, this
reduces the narrative to purely personal
matter, and in that respect deprives 1t OF
that which is the great merit of Shermsn's
Memoir, the impersonal character of his re-
cord of the great operations in which he was
the leader. 1t was lot until late in the
spring of 1865 that Johnston was summoned
from his :nglorious life to the command of
the troops concentrated to drive back
Sherman. The story of that cam
paign is a short one but it is well
worth comparing with Sherman's narrative
of the same events, although, of course, the re
are broad differences as to facts, figures and
opinions of the same actions, as seen from
the two sides. In very brief chapter Gen.