Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-12-02
JOE JOHNSON.
Talks to aNewspaperCo Correspondent
About JEFF Davis Book and the
Atlanta Campaign.

terday. The old soldier has brc
ken since / saw him last, bu
the aging is not perceptable a
long as his face is in repose. Il
drifting into conversation / ven
turcd to express the. hope tha
Mr.. Davis, in his Forthcoming
history, would be impartial, ant
as far as possible, impersonal
"Mr. Davis is not capable o
writing an impartial history, ,anC
such a thing need not be expect.
led. He will be as arbitrary
and arrogant in that work as il
all else that he has ever under.
taken"
Gen. johnson then informed
me that Mr.. Davis had exhibi-
ted an unfI1endliness 10 him ear
ly in the war, in fact, shortly af
ter the battle of Manassas. His
enmity was first displayed in
the deliberate displacement of
Gen. johnson from his Confed-
crate generals-Johnson Coop
er, Lee, A. S. johnson and
Beauregard-he reversing his
and Albert Sidney Johnson's
places. / asked what causes
Mr.. Davis could have had for
any unfriendliness to him. He
replied that this particular ac-
tion was induced partly by his
strong friendship forAlbert Sid
ney johnson, but said it was
partly due to Mr.. Davis intol-
erancc OK criticism or sugges-
ton. He said that just after
the battle Of Manassas he sug-
gested a change In the commits
sary arrangements, designating
Winchester as the base of sup
plies. This suggestion was sent
to the President by Col. Lee.
The reply was Col. Lees sus-
pension from office.
Abiding to the difference be-
tween President Davis and Gov.
Brown, he said that arose from
the opinion of Gov. Brown tha,
the conscript laws were in yio-
lation of policy and the Consti-
tution-an opinion all unpreju-
diced men must share.
"Do you think Gov. Brown
was patriotic?" [ asked.
81 know that he did more for
the Contederacy than all the
other Southern Governors COM
bincd," replied Gen. johnson.
When l alluded to the fact
that the general sentiment of
the country condemned his re-
moval at Atlanta as unwise and
fatal, he told modestly and quiz
city of a circumstance that had
come to bis knowlcdge-Gen.
McCook, l believe, being given
as authority. The removal was
given to Sherman while he was
ut dinner with his staff. He
pushed himself back from the
table excitelly and exclaimed:
swell! up to this time the fight
ing has all been done as john
son pleased, now it will be done
Is | pleased"
Gen.Johnson espoused warm
y the cause of Gen. Longstrcet |
N the Gettysburg matter. j
lave now in my possession a
etter from Gen. johnson to
zen. Longstrect declaring that
lis account Of the battle OF |
gettysburg, published in the
Philadelphia Times, was the first
and satisfactory ac-
count oil that battle ever writ
en-.
aThe truth is" said Gen.
Johnson, "there was no thought
II bringing any responsibility of
he battle of Gettysburg OH
4ongstreet's tardiness or neg
ect until long after Gen. Lees
leath. In his lifetime such q
;harge could not have stood a
lay without Gen. Lees contra
Iiction, in my opinion. Iknow
ii through the war Lee looked
o Longstreet as his maiE reli-
nee. 1t was said that he re-
led on him more thoroughly !.
han on anyone, not even excep-
ing jackson.
"When was this charge that ]
he loss of the battle was due to ]
madew K
'Long after Lees death by Z
'endleton, his Chief of Artille-
y, who was on a lccturing tour. 4
The charge was first made in a {
ecturc, in Mississippi" (
The above correctly gives the 1
'oints of interest in Gen. John 4
on's conversation that ] feel |
justified in printing. / cannot |
lose this withoutexpressi the Z
ope that Mr.. Davis may rise {
boye the level on which Gen. b
'ohnson places him, and give !
s history that will have no I
ersonal object or animus, but {
TilI be a lofty, impartial, COM q
rehensive vindication of the /
outhern cause. 1t does look i
5 if we were entitled to such a