The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-04-07


before he could gather the reins of direction
darkness fell an d stopped the pursuit. Dur
ing the night Buell. reached the northern
bank of the river and crossed his troops.
Wallace, with fresh division from below
got up. Together they advanced IN the
morning, found the Confederates noting in
tho plunder of captured camps, and drove
them back with loss. Bat all this was as
nothing compared with the calamity of
Johnston's death. Educated at West
Point, JohDston remained in the United
States Army for eight years, and acquired
thorough knowledge of the details of mill.
tary duty. Resigning to aid the cause of
the infant Republic of Texas, he became her
djutaDt general, senior brigadier and Sec
retary at Wsr. In the war with Mexico he
raised regiment of Texans to join Cen
eral Zachary Taylor, and was greatly dis,
tinguished in the fighting around snd
capture of Monterey. General Taylor,
with whom the early years of his service
had been passed, declared him to be the
best soldier he had ever commanded.
More than once i have heard General
Zachary Taylor express this opinion. Two
cavalry regiments were added to the
United States Army in 1854, and to the
colonelcy of one of these Johnston was
appointed. subsequently, brigadier by
brevet, he commanded the expedition
against the Mormons in Utah. Thus he
brought to the Southern cause civil and
military experience far surpassing that of
any other leader. Born in Kentucky, de-
scended from an honorable colonial race,
connected by marriage with influential
families in the West, where bis ife-had
been passed, he was peculiarly fitted to
command 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 dignifed and
conrtecns, with the simplicity of a child.
and he at once inspired the respect and
gained the confidence OF cultivated gentle
men and rugged frontiersmen. Besides,
he had passed through the furnace of igno-
rant newspapers, hotter than that of the
Bsbylonian tyrant. Commanding some
raw, unequipped forces at Bowling Green,
Kentucky, the accustomed American ex-
aggersting represented him as at the head
of vast army, prepared and eager for
conquest. Before time was given MIN to
organize aud train his men, the absurdly
constructed workn ON his left flank were
captured. At Fort Doaelson, on the Cum
berland, we're certain political generals,
wko, with self abnegation worthy of
PlCtarch's heroes, were anxious to get
away and leave the glory and renown of
defense to others. Johnston was in no
sense rescOneible for the construction of
these forts nor the assignment to their
command of these eelfdenyiDg warriors,
but his line of Communication was uncov-
retire to the southern bank Of the Tennes-
see river. From the enlightensrs of public
opinion a howl of wrath came forth.
Johnston, who had jast been Alexander,
Hsnoibal, Caesar, Napoleon, was now
miserable daesard aud traitor, unfit to
command corporate guard. President
Davis sought to console him, aud the
nchlest lines ever penned by man were
written by Johnston in reply. They even
wrupg tears of repentance from the pschy-
derms wEo had attacked him, and will be
a text and consolation to future command
eIs who eerve country tolerant of an igno-
rant and liceptious press. AS pure gold he
came forth from the furnace, above tie
reach of slandsr, the foremost man of ell
the South, and Lad it been possible for one
heart, one mind, and one arm to save her
cause, she lost them when Albert Sidney
Johnston fell ON the field of Shiloh. AS
soon after the war ES Sn9 w9s perWittsd1
the commonwealth of Texas removed his
remains from New Orleans, to inter them
in o land he had long and faithfully served.
I was honored by q requeat to accompany
tue coffin from the cemetery to tue steamer,
and as gszed upon it there arose the feel
ing of the Thehsn who, after the downfall
of the glory aud Independence of his
country, stood by the tomb of Epaminon-
das.
KILLED BY PUFF OF TOBACCO SMOKE.
On Sunday afternoon, while John Con-
nelly, of Brooklyn, wac playing with his
little son, aged IA months, who wac in his
b. rNts,y ,fnN1- Wlw1FF Fr.E kOka0