The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-03-19
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston.
HIS SURGEON RELATES How He FELL
A VICTIM TO HIS HUMANITY.

HIS SURGEON RELATES How He FELL
VICTIM TO HIS HUMANITY.
I have received letter since the pub.
lication of my sketch of General Albert
Sidney Johnston that l think should
be published, as it contains what have
little doubt is n truthful narration of an
! incident connected with General John
stou's death, so full Of intrinsic interest,
so honorable to the deceased and so CAL
culated to cndear him to the people Of
the north, that it may be regarded as
an important contribution to the chroni-
cles of the great struggle. 1t has never
before been in print. 1t is in exact ac-
cord with General Johnston's character.
1t is full of pathcs for every true man
of the North:
In connection with this matter it may
not be amiss to say that Gov. Colquitt,
of G eoreia. told the writer to-day that
he heard Mr.. Davis say that, in his judg-
mcnt, General Johnston had no equal
among our Generals in his military &C.
MUS for conducting vast operations.
But to the interesting letter to- which l
have alluded. 1t is dated Columbus,
Gergia, and is as follows:
II was very much interested in your
article on Gen. Sidney Johnston, and it
seems to me that there was one circum-
stance connected with his death (if l
have been correctly informed) which
ought to be brought out. | viii state
it to you as it was told to me by the
late DR.. A. j. Foard. at that time the
Medical Director of the army. You
car easily verify it by sending this letter
to my friend, DR.. David W. Yandell.
Of Kentucky. who, 1 think, was then on
the Generals staff. while was in charge
at Corinth l will give you, as near as
| can, the words Of DR.. Foard. Said
DR.. F.:
"Gen. Johnston fell a victim to his
humanity. The Federals were in full
retreat, and the General riding to the
front, when he came across a squad Of
wounded Federal soldiers and officers.
Stopping, he kindly addressed them
and asked if any Of them were badly
wounded. Then turning to his staff.
no remarked:
"It nearly breaks my heart tn sec men
in that unifarm suffering" Doctor"
addressing his staff surgeon. (YandeTl.
l think do stop, and see if you can
do something for those poor fellows"
The Doctor stopped. The General.
riding on, was soon wounded. Gov.
Harris, seeing it, asked if he was not
hurt? Not much, said the General
riding on. Soon after, Gov. Harris saw
the blood pouring out of the top Of his
boot, and again asked him, when the
General said he felt faint, and was as
sisted from his horse.
"The popliteal artery vast cut Qhis
is an artery in the leg below the knre.)
and had his surgeon only been present
with him when it was first noticed, he
would lave been in no danger scarcely
of even losing his leg as no surgeon
would have permitted him to ride on
without an examination. So that you
see. if am correctly informed, General
Johnston fell victim to his own hu
manity to an enemy, and the fact ought
TO be prominently brought out in any
biography Of him. Yours truly,
CHARLES TERRY, NJ. D."
The incident is certaiuly beautiful
one. 1t has been known that lfa tour
niquct could have been Immediately
used to stop the flow of blood, General
Johnston's life could have been saved.
But this is the first time that the ab-
sence Of skill and instruments was due
to the Generals own tender humanity
to tie wounded foe, humanity the
more striking because it was exhibited
in all the terrible excitement of the bat-
tic.
Those who have read the sketch Of
Gen. Johnston, will probably read with
interest this important aud touching
incident that has been evoked.
l am, very truly,
l. W. AVERY.
Atlanta, Geo. Feb, 1878.