Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-06-17

twice Its size.
Johnston had 10000 infantry
and 1000 cavalry the 1st of
May. At the end of the seven.
ty-four days continuous fight
ing he turned over to his sue
cessor Al, 900 infantry and TO-
900 cavalry. Sherman's army
consisted at the start Of $4,000
men, including $4,000 cavalry,
or more than double Johnston's
army. This fact speaks elo-
quenly alike for the sturdy re-
sistance of Johnston as the he
roic intrepldity of Sherman.
1t is to be doubted if there
was ever in military annals a
more consummately conducted
campaign. 1t was game OF
chess between masters. 1t was
grapple of giants. 1t was a
ioust-at-arms of unexampled
skill between two warriors who
exhibited each the highest art OF
warfare. Both were wary, a
droit, sagacious strategists, and
both were bold, fiery fighters.
Johnston's policy was to pre-
serve his precious army at the
sacrifice of territory, draw Sher-
man away from his base of sup
plies, and give battle only where
he had the chance Of success,
and where defeat to Sherman
would be most disastrous.
The writer was with Johnston
during large portion of the re-
treat, commanding cavalry and
participating in the action until
wounded. He therefore knows
practically the management of
the campaign by Johnston. 1t
was a faultIess demonstration of
soldierly genius. The fighting
was continuous. JohnstOnfought
under shelter Of intrenchments,
preserving life to the utmost ex-
tent, administering all the pun
ishment possible, and when flank
ed leisurely falling back with
out the loss of gun or canteen,
or wheel spoke; his army intact,
deliberate and orderly as Oh pa
rade. There were no surprises,no
discomftures, no disorders. The
men were troubled at giving up
their homes to the enemy, but
their confidence in Johnston nev-
er abated.
AT Cassville Johnston deter
termined to give battle. 1t was
a very strong position for us
The men were burning to fight.
The writer remembers we'll the
afternoon of the 10Th of May
reading Johnston's ringing bat
tie order-a model of terse, fiery
rhetoric-to his brigade in the
falling twilight, in an old field
environed by solemn woods. The
men called for a speech, and, in
common with others, the writer
made a few words of appeal from
a stump. / have never seen mel
more earnest than ours were
And they would have fought
with determined courage. John
ston afterward travelled with the
/ writer in the fall of 1864, from
Macon to Charlotte, and saic
that the battle was renounced by
him at the urgent entreaty of
Generals Hood and Pork, two
of his corps commanders, who
said they could not hold their po
sitions; while Gen. Hardee, the
other corps commander, who haC
the weakest place in the line
declared his ability to maintain
his ground. 1t was the loss of
the campaign, and General John
ston said he so regarded it, ant
) had always regretted that he die
not give battle then. He appre
hended, however, that Hood anC
Polk would not fight with yea
if they did it in fear OF defeat
: so he yielded to them. The arm.
: was discouraged at not fighting
: this battle, but soon recovered
5 On the 18th of July, afte
Johnston and his army had cross
t ed the ChattahoOchee, and h
e was making vigorous prepara
5 tions for the determined defens
4 of Atlanta, he was sitting in hi
tent talking with General Mans
t field Lowell when package O
: letters were brought to him. ii
e opened a letter, read it, and the
r with quiet unconcernand a pleas
: ant smile handed it to Genera
: Lowell, saying, unconcernedly
i "What do you think of that?
2 1t was an order from the Wa
S Department relieving him o1
: command of the army, and al
i pointing General Hood in n
: place. Stunned at the orde
: General Lowell begged him t
: make no obedience to it until a
d effort could be made to get it n
+ versed. Johnston declined
d make any effort. General Lo'
) ell, however, got the corps con
d manders together, Generals Ha
It dee, Stewart and Hood, and the
J. petitioned the War Departmel
l. not to make the change, protes
l. inc against it, and deputizin