Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-02-19
gos Auorlss Atrald.
ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON.
A Review Of his Military Career by Col. l.
W. Avery, Of Georgia.
detroit Free Press.


luton, the writer can recall no
statelier figure than the subject of
this sketch, Gen. Sidney Johnston:
He was cast in the heroic mold OF
men. He was of the grand type OF
Gods creatures, physically, men-
tally and morally. His very APP
pearance carried the impress of a
strong, noble manhood, He was
very large, of symmetrical proper.
tioHs, commanding presence, and
with o dignity, benevolence and
intellectual power in his fine face
that attracted alike affection and
admiration, and inspired an idea of
force and intelligence. There was
also a grave, sweet, simple courtesy
ever present with him that, united
with his admitted greatness of in
tellect and lustre of distinction,
made him one of the most lovable,
as we'll as one of the most respected
of men.
Gen. Johnston came to the ser
vice of the South with a national
reputation. He was distinguished
soldier and diplomatist. He had
been intrusted with exalted and
delicate missions. He had filled
momentous public trusts. He had
been the performer of large and
important achievements in arms
and diplomacy. Besides the exc
cution of great public duties, his
career had been personally 80 full
of adventure and romance that II
was invested with O dazzling
glamor of poetic coloring.
In the memorable and ever pic
turesque episode of our national
history that ended in the annexa-
ton Of the princeIy empire of Tex
as to the Union, Johnston became
the central figure and the guiding
agency. Beginning his illustr.ols
service in the Texas war of inde-
pendence as a private, he rose to
command her army, succeeding
Gov. Houston, the noted hero, who,
envying the fame that Johnston
was winning, treated that rising
and spirited officer with a discour'
tesy that resulted in q duel between
the two fearless soldiers. Johnston
became the Texan Secretary oil
War, and in his high position he
organized and successfully conduct
ed an expedition that ended the In
dian hostilities. Gen. Johnston
made climax of his splendid con-
nection with this splendid bizarre
act of the Texan drama, throwing
the whole influence of his great
abilities and popularity in favor OF
the annexation of Texas TO the
United States until that great mea-
sure, so fraught with large results
to the Union, was contaminated.
In the Mexican war the part per-
formed by Gen. Johnston was bril-
liant. He rose in 1919 to the rank
of Colonel of cavalry, and so high
was the esteem in which he was
held by the Government that he
was uniformly selected for import
ant missions.
AS commander of the forces
sent in 1857 to bring the Mormon.
into proper subsection to Fedora
authority, he evinced in a striking
degree, his soldierly qualities. AL
ways doing we'll his duties, always
proving himself equal to any test
Of his capacities, entering constant
~ upon an charging sphere Of
command, the tragic year of 1861
the beginning of the most stipend
Gus war of the worlds history
found him the commanding Officer
of the extensive and important De.
partment of the Pacific.
Johnston resigned from the Unit
ed States army, and offering his
services to the South, was immedi-
ately made full General ant
given the command of the de-
partment consisting of Kentucky
This native State) and Tennessee
His career in the war, while 1T wa!
short-lived and melodramatic III iii
military misfortunes and UNI
successes, yet showed IN
shining degree the grand moral ma
ture, as well as the mastery posi-
bilities of generalship, of this az
complished officer. Coming t
the new service with his record 81
lustrous, the expectation of hi!
achievements was proportionately
large. Throwing the weight of his
acknowledged abilities and broat
fame into the hazardous ven
ture of Southern independence
the ardent temperament of TIN
gratified Southerner in that seeth
ing period of flaming excitemen
with grateful admiration eXagger
ated beyond possibility of realiza
ton, both the splendid powers o
the great soldier, and the jus
hope of any leaders, achiev
ment. With adequate resources t
do substantial things, Johnston, il
the unnatural reach of Southern
ardor, and hope in that feverish day
must have disappointed the unrea
sonable prospect expected of him
But, crippled as he was, with def
cheney of resources, redicuously
meagre, both in proportion to tn,
force he opposed, and the con stant
ly boosted and believed misrepre.
seutation of his strength, the mean.
of doing anything at all was out o
his power.
His entire armed force in hi
large and important department
did not reach 10000 effective men
while he was opposed by four time
as great all organization of wei
equipped troops. The Southern
people believed he had an army o
100000 soldiers, and so believing
first wondered, then sneered at
then unsparingly criticized his In
activity. He appealed to the Con
federate authorities for reinforce
ments, but vainly. He, with tina
prompt, ready fertility of resources
that belonged to him, called fol
State troops ample to have met the
crisis, but the Confederate Wal
Department refused to furnish
arms.
1t constitutes one of the most pa.
thetic and yet morally grand incl
dents of the war, the sublime atti
tude OF Sidney Johnston in thil
trying ordeal. He saw his lumin