Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1880-10-13
From the e. F. Daily alobc.l

From the z. +. Daily diope.l
Rep.-Did General Johnston
have any knowledge of any inten-
tion of the Secessionists to take
California out of the Union?
Mrs. J.-He did not, and no one
would have dared to have APP
preached him with such q purpose.
Ny husband was in great distress
Of mind all the time. He loved his
State, Texas, and was greatly
grleved by the secession talk anu
the news from the South. We often
conversed about the matter togeth.
Or. He would walk the floor for
hours, and prayed that his country
would be spared the horrors OF civil
war. He was sensitive of his honor,
and the possibility Of having to
light his own native Texans was to
him q horrible nightmare. Over
and over again he expressed his
steadfast purpose to do his whole
duty TO the United States go long
a. he was an officer.
THE DESIGNATION A SECRET.
Rep.-But he resigned from the
army?
Mrs. J.-Yes. but not until bis
resignation was accepted aud for
some time afterwards had he made
up his mind that he ought to take
up arms with his own people. 1t
was not until Texas seeded that he
felt that the crisis had come. Then
he came to me and said that he did
not see how he could remain in the
service any longer. I encouraged
him to resign. lam . Southern
woman, and you know that women
feel more bitter than men. told
him it was best for him to side with
our own people in the coming
conflict. 1t was then he sat down
and wrote his resignation. But he
WAS greatly troubled. He knew
that there was great disaffecti0n
here among the Southern people,
and he had been told that he might
have trouble. He meant to turn
over his trust to the Government as
he had received It. He thought it
best to conceal from all his friends
the fact Of his resignation, SO that
his successor would relieve him be-
fore any trouble would arise. He
did not wish to weaken
THE MORAL HOLD
He had over the soldiers or promote
disaffectiou or revolutionary
spirit. His Acknowledgement, Maj
or Mackall, my self and my brother,
DR.. Griffin, were the only persons
that knew oft. He (Major Mack.
ALL had to know it, because he was
Acknowledgement and it had to be
forwarded through him, aud he was
placed under strict injunction Of
secrecy. II was sent by pony ex'
press.
Rep. do understand that thu
resignation was forwarded bsfur,
Gen. Sumner arrived?
Mrs. J.-Yes. He resigned or
April 10th, aud Gen. Sumner ar
rived hereop April 25th. The Wa
Department had not received hi.
resignation at the time Gen. Sum
ner was sent out.
Rep.-How is the removal o
arms from Benicia to Alcatraz ex
planned?
Mrs. 1.-THE arms were removed
by my husbands orders from Be
nicia to klcatraz for safe keeping
He did it at the suggestion of JOIN
g. Downey. then Governor of til,
State. The Governor called OF
Gen. Johnston and said to him
that several citizens had told him
that there were $4,000
STAND OF ARMS AT BENIcIA
That might, in those disturbed
times, fall into hands that would
use them against the Government.
My husband replied TO him, in the
most impressive manner: "Gov-
ernOr, have spent the greater part
OF my life in the service Of my
country, and while l hold her
commission [ shall serve her hon
estly and faithfully, and not car.
fridge or percussion.cap shall pass
to an enemy while l am here as the
representative. There is no man
in the Uuion more sorely afflicted
than / am at the occurrences nov
taking place. l do not know vet
what position Texas may take.
have long been identified with Tex
as. her interests and public men,
and her action may control my fu-
ture public destiny, but In any
event J. shall give due notice and
turn over intact my department to
my successor" Governor Downey
will bear me out that this was his
language. The arms were removed
simply as q precautiOn. They
were at least safe at Alcatraz.
Rep.-Did any other Union man
represent to your husband that
there was danger of an uprising?
WOULD NOT BETRAY HIS TRUST.
Mrs. J.-Yes; think 1t was Col.
onel Stevenson, though I will not
be sure about the name, who had
All Interview with him on the sub.
ject. He told General Johnston
that the attempt would be made.
My husband replied that they
would not dare to do 1t while he
was In command. Still he was
very anxious, and once he re-.
marked to me: "Eliza, I would
rather place you and the children
In Alcatraz and blow you up than
betrsy my trust" He GOULD not
endure the thought that he should
be suspected himself.
THE ARRIVAL. OF SUMNER.
Rep. do you remember partic-
ulxrly the incidents connected with
the arrival of General Sumner?
Mrs. 1--WE expected that some
officer would start to relieve Gen.
eral Johnston as soon as his reslp-
nation was received. All those
stories about General Sumner get
ting off the steamer in q row.boat
ana landing at Alcatraz Island,
and demanding instant possession,
are utterly false. Soon after the
steamer arrived, General Sumner
went to his hotel. One of our staff
officers came into Gen. Johnston's
ONCE at the army headquarters,
whore the Brooklyn Hotel now
stands, and said: "General Sum.
ner has arrived My husband
rose from his desk and aaid. HThan