The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-08-13


that opinion, because | knew and es'
teemed him. and because | felt as we al
did in the old army, where there was a
public opinion among the officers as 10
who would come out ahead. In many
cases, our public opinion was in error
Bragg had great reputation in the
South. Bragg was the most contentious
of men, and there was story in Mex
leo :hat he put himself in arrest. AL
bert Sidney Johnston might have risen
in fame, and we all had confidence in
his doing 50, but he died too soon, as
Stonewall Jackson died, to soon for us
to say what he would have done under
the later and altered conditions of the
war. The Southern army had many
good generals. Lee, Of course, was a
good soldier. and so was Lougstreet, but
do not know that there was any bet
ter than Joe Johnston. have had
nearly all Of the Southern Generals in
high command in front Of me, and
Johnston gave me more anxiety than
any of the others. | was never half so
anxious about Lee. By the way. | saw
in Joe Johnston's book that. when |
was asking Pemberton to surrender
Vicksburg, he was on his way to raise
the seigr. I was very sorry. Ifl had
known Johnston was coming, would
have told Pemberton to wait in Vicks-
burg until wanted him, awaited john
ston's advance, and given him battle.
He could never have beaten that Vicks-
bur. army, and thus I would have de-
stroyed two armies perhaps. Pember-
tons was already gone, and | was quite
sure of .lohnston's. / was sorry | did
MT know Johnstons. / was sorry L
did not know Johnston was coming un-
til it was too late. Take it all in all,
the South, in my opinion. had no bet
ter soldier than Joe Johnston-none,
at least, that gave NE more trouble.
NO COUNCILS OF WAR.
Some remark was made about coun-
ellis of war, and how far their dellbera-
rions affected an army's movements. 81
never held council of war in my life.
I never heard Of Sherman or Sheridan
doing So. Of course I heard all that
every one had to say. and in headquar-
ters there is an interesting and constant
stream of talk. But I always made up
! nv mind to act, and the first that even
; my staff knew of any movement was
when wrote 1t out in rough and gave
! it to be copied off"
GRANT THINKS POORLY OF PILLOW
FLOYD, &C.,
People think that Donelson was cap
tured BY pouring men into it ten to one
or some such odds. The truth is our
army-a new army-invested fortified
| place and compelled a surrender OF a
force much larger than our own. a
large number of tho rebels escaped un-
der Floyd and Pillow, but as it was l
took more prisoners than | had under
nv command for the first two days OF
my investment. After the investment
we were reinforced. so that at the
surrender there were 10000 Union
troops, about 1000 of which were
sent back to guard the road to where
the steamers lay with our supplies.
There were $4,000 effective men in
Donelson at the beginning OF the
siege. Of course there was risk in
attacking Donelson as did, but" said
the General, smiling. II knew some OF
them in Mexico. Knowledge Of that
kind goes far toward determining a
movement like this"
THE ATTACK ON FORT DoNELsoN.
"Suppose Longstreet or Jackson had
been in command ?" said your cores
pondent. =, =,
IF Longstrcet or Jackson" said the
General, cor even if Buckner had been
in command, would have made a diff
fercnt campaign. In the beginning we
all did things more rashly than later
lust as Jackson did in bis earlier cam
noipns. The Mexican war made the
officers of the old regular armies more
or less acquainted, and when we knew
enough about him to make our plans
,coord;nolv. What determined my at
tack On Donelson," said the General
..was as much the knowledge | had
gained of its commanders in Mexico al
ANYTHING else. But as the war progressed
ard each side kept improving It's army
these experiments were not possible
Then it became hard, earnest war anc
neither side could depend upon any
chance with the other. Neither sic'
dared to make mistake. 1t was steady
hard pounding, and the result could OF only
1e ruin to the defeated party Thai
was pcculiarity in our war that w
were not fighting for peace, but to de
s,roy our adversary That made 1t ST
hard for both sides, and especially fo
,hc South.-John RusscH lo""g's h'
,,oyt ~ Me Noc Ioak HraM Of rdrio@
Conversations.
The Darkey's Consolation.
No, LONG since a San Antonio darke,