The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-04

sbbn's PLAN III was Cen BeHtIfHghrd's, and
Il 50, there cup be- no further controversy 10
the battle Of Shiloh was fought and wpn-and
Il prosecuted to Its conclusion would have In
volyed such momentOtls results as have been
set forth by the sagaClous chief We hove
ferrous conception Of fighting 50 terrific q bat
tie involving an inevitable loss OF thousands
Of valuable lives, to capture and remove to
The rear the ''stores and munitions Of that well
supplied army, never entered ~ the brhlll OF u,
In numerous letters, which have been collected
III Gen. Preston Johnston's book. addressed
TO President Davis, TO Gen. Robert II, Lee,
and to other high officials In the Confederate
government. and by them all highly ap-
sixth Of April, 1862, and which was according
to the authorities before cited prevented from
consumation by The withdrawal Of the nrmy
by order Of Cen Beaursgard
would have made it history, but the com
tnanding general said 'Retire." OH the
power Of general ln-chlef It YVES all over.
The bloody field was to mean nothing
for all time but d slain hero, and
day Of purposeless slaughter, with broken
bands Of desperate men, nangng and slav-
lng to no visible end. The great forest trail
was sinking into darkness, stained. trampled
end echqng with gf9a Hut the had vea9ry
their horses In the Tennessee river but when
he fell, who spoke this word, the prediction
had lost its meaning
This disputation need 60 no further. The
facts ore too patent to afford nn opening for
arguments Indeed, without these there was
that In the history and character Of Albert
Sidney Johnston, which should have repelIetl
or silenced the intlmatiUn that be would have
appropriated, rs his own, the plan of another
the highest grade In the old army who
Joined The Confederate side, the colonel Of the
regiment of which Robt e. Lee was the
Lieutenant Colonel who was the only officer
In the Confederate army who had ever COM
lnanded al army or brigade, who was
innnder OF troops he had ever commanded,
who had been ut the head Of the Texan army
whilstit was q republic-the idea that O man
Of the record, the experience, the large brain,
the, great military pride and cool Judgment
and self-pose Of Johnston, should be incnpa-
bic of Goneelving and executing the simple
direct and NapoleOniG plan upon which the
battle Of Shiloh was fought, Is worse
than "puerile" AS practical and educated
soldier, it Is not improbable that Johnston
like Gen. Taylor and others Of our most sue
cessful military chieftalns, preferred the
bayonet the infantry charge. the onset to the
spade and intrenChments, and had little con.
fi1ence In or wish for able retreats and
elaborate StfateElCHl mOVeIm6ntS, nUtf6nGned
positions and artillery duels. Like Gen. Lee
and jackson. he believed that the offensive
tho quick and vigorous assault upon the
enemy. whenever he could be reached with
anything like effectiveness and equality, was
the only sure strategy to win tho Confederate
fight. II was this strategy he illustrated nj
Shiloh, anl Justified the commentator Of
jefferson Davis as the ideal Of perfect com.
mander, Large In view, discreet In council
silent as to bis, own plans. observant and
ponderhtive Of the enemy, sudden and i'm
petuous in action. but Of u nerve and balance
Of Judgment which no heat Of danger on com
plexity Of manWuyre could upset or bewllder
4 Il that Napoleon said Of Desaix and Kleber
save the slovenly habits IF one Of them
might be combined and truthfully said d
Albert Sydney Johnston"
That such commentator Of u Confederate
chieftain who fell In our cause, who, as {
cadet from louisiana had In his whole liff
brought so much Of honor to the State II
whose name his first commission ram shoult
awaken any other sentiments than those O
cordial sympathy, approval and grateful mp
probation ana pride in the bosoms Of all Lou
isiauiaDs, may well surprise oil iust~mipdet
men. sIFDEK.