The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-04-05

republic of Texas, he became her adj
jutant general, senior brigadier and
secretary of war. In the war with Mex
leo he raised a regiment of Texans to
Join General Zachary Taylor, and was
greatly distinguished in the fighting
around and the capture of Monterey.
General Taylor, with whom the early
years of his service had been passed, de-
clared him to be the best soldier he had
ever commanded. More than once l
have heard General Zachary Taylor
express his opinion. Two cavalry reg
iments were added to the United States
army IN 1854, and to the colonelcy of one
of these Johnston was appointed. Sub
sequently a brigadier by brevet, he COM
manded the expedition against the Nor
mons in Utah. Thus he brought to the
southern cause a civil and military ex-
perience far surprising that of any other
leader. Born in Kentucky, descended
from an honorable colonial race, con-
nected by marriage with influential fam
lilies in the west, where his life had been
passed, he was peculiarly fitted to COM
mand western armies. With him at the
helm there would have been no Vicks-
burg, no Missionary Ridge, no Atlanta.
His character was lofty and pure his
presence and demeanor digni6ed and
courteous, with the simplicity of a child,
and he at once inspired the respect and
gained the confidence of cultivated gem
tlemen and rugged frontiersmen. Be
sides, he had passed through the furnace
OF ignorant newspapers, hotter than that
of the BabylOnian tyrant. Commanding
some raw, unequipped forces at Bowling
Green, Kentucky, the accustomed Amer
IL L. -.
the head of a vast army, prepared and
eager for conquest. Before time was
given him to organize and train his men,
the absurdly " constructed works on his
left flank were captured. At Fort Donel-
son on the Cumberland river, were GER
tain political generals who, with q self
abnegation worthy of Plutarch's heroes,
were anxious to get away and leave the
glory and renown of defense to Others
/ Johnston was in no sense responsible for
/ the construction of these forts nor the
! assignment to their command of these
/ selEdenyiDg warriors, but his line of
communication was uncovered by their
4 fall, and he Was compelled to retire to
the southern bank of the Tennessee
river. From the enlighteneTs of public
opinion a howl of wrath came forth.
Johnston, who had just been Alexander,
Hannibal, Cesar, Napoleon, was now a
miserable bastard and traitor, unfit to
command a corporaPs guard. President
Davis sought to console him, and the
noblest lines ever peRned by man were
written by Johnston in reply. They even
wrung tears of repentance from the
pachyderms who had attacked him, and
will be a text and consolation to future
commanders who serve a country tOler
ant of an ignorant and licentiOus press
As pure as gold he came forth from the
furnace, above the reach of SANDER, the
foremost man of all south, and had j
been possible for one heart, one mind
and one arm TO save her cause she los
them when Albert Sidney Johnston fel
on the field Of Shiloh. As soon after III,
war as she was permitted the common
wealth of Texas removed his remain
from New Orleans, TO inter them in
land he bad long and faithfully served
! was honored by request to accOmpan.
the coffin from the cemetery to tn
steamer, and as / gazed upon it Their
arose the feeling OF the Ghebsn W.
after the downfall of the glory and indie
pendence of this country, stood by tn
tomb of EpaminOndas.- From South
eru Historical papers