Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-29

attack upon Altoona furnished the first two
nnes OF the popular air OF Hold the Fort 1t
| Is stated that when the attack was known
sherman 3 word 70 the commander ut Altoona
/ was Hold the fort, for am comingsn
why didn't Hood make an attempt upon
some other point after failing at Altoona?''
| ~fhat do not know. 1t is claimed that his
failures at Altoona showed that the morale and
spirit OF his forces had not sufficiently i'm
proved after the serious reverses through
which they had passed TO make another sue
/ ceSsful attempt. Therefore Beauregard and
| himself planned the campaign into Tennessee
/ with the expectation that Sherman would fol-
4 low them, and that this would get him out of
| his entrenched position, and would also in
crease the spirit Of his troops and their oppor-
tunities for success. Sherman did not perform
familiar history"
81 see that General Johnston thinks that Mr..
Davis was responsible for Hoods action
/ That is a most unjust accusation. have
/ given you the facts in considerable detail to
| show exactly what part President Davis played
in that whole TRANSACTION after General John
ston was removed. The difficulty with General
Johnston is that he is suspicious self-willed
sors sg Johnston an removed hsH him with aa
regret. He regarded Johnston as a good Gen.
eral and one of the best fighters in the army,
| II he would only fight. He often said that il
fault to find with his plans or their execution
| Johnston is very unjust TO Davis
For what reason?"
1 Z
dispute about the difference in rank between
| himself andGeneral Lee which took place early
in the war. The bitterest fight ever saw in
an executive session of the Confederate Senate
was introduced by General Johnston's friends
over this question of rank between himself
and General Lee. General Lee had no part or
lot ia the controversy. He was the most un
selfish man ever knew. He would have come
TO Richmond and been night policeman if
the good of the Confederacy had required.
Technically, suppose, General Johnston
would have ranked Lee and been entitled to
the command under the law to encourage res
ignations from the United States army, but the
majority of the Senate thought that Lee should
rank Johnston Notwithstanding that, and it
was SO decided after this terribly bitter fight
provoked by Mr.. Johnston's friends. I"
DO you know anything about the differences
OF Lee and Davis as to the surrender of the
Yes, sir. have read with a great deal of
amusement much of the stuff that has been
printed. In January, 1865, the two Houses of
the Confederate Congress created joint COM
mittee to inquire as to the condition OF the
army and the means for continuing the war.
l was on the committee on the part of the
Senate. The committee held secret sessions
and examined almost aynr- ur9MfneuE n4aH a
the Coafederacy from Jeff Davis down
when General Lee wAs upon tho ST nd
examined him myself and Ia great detail
When asked about his hclaing Richmond,
he said that ne could do So until General Grant
could get the men and the time 20 push around
upon his tanks so ae 70 threaten his c1mmuni
&
forces were constantly increasing, and that he
had unlimited supplies Of men and munitions, 4
both OF which General Leo .4S.sd. lie SAID
chat his army was being constantly weakened
by desertionS and other causes. 81
After General Lee had explained the sitna-
tion about Richmond, l put the question di-
rectly to him:
.'.Will the fall of Richmond end the war?
''The old hero raised himself in his chair.and,
with great deal OF feeling, said,
By no means; by no means In military
point of view would be stronger after than
before such an event, because it would enable
me to make my own plan Of campaign and bat
tie. From moral and political point of view
the abandonment or loss of Richmond would
be serious calamity, but when it has fallen |
believe can prolong the war for two years
upon Virginia soil. Ever since the conflict be-
gan have been obliged to permit the enemy
TO make my plans for me, because obliged to
defend the capital When Richmond falls
shall be able to make them for myself.
mo, Gen. Lee never thought of surrendering
until he found that he could not get his army
out and was obliged to-
Was Davis angry at Lees surFender?''
Not that know Of. i have talked with Mr..
Davis, fully and freely, once only since the
war. Not more than two years ago / spent a
whole day with him, and Inever heard him say
an unkind word or utter disparagement of
Gen. Lee in my life. / believe the relations be-
tween himself and Gen. Lee were not only har ]
monious but cordial to the last F.A. 3.