The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-06-22
GEN. JOHNST0N'S YINDICA.
TION.

His Reply to the Charges Made
in Jefferson Davis's Book
Why he did not March on
Washington After the First
Bull Hun, or Attack Sherman
in East Tennessee, Etc.
Gen. Jos. Johnston, who has be
come a permanentresident of Wash
ington city, was found at his home
Saturday by a correspondent of the
New York Sun, and was asked
whether he cared to say anything
with regard to the charges made by
Jefferson Davis respecting his con
duct in the civil war Gen. Johns
ton said that he had not seen the
charges, excepting as he had read
some newspaper extracts purport-
inc to be portions Of Mr.. Davis S
book. He had also seen the pub
lished report Of Gen. Sherman s
speech in Hartford If these ex-
tracts were all that Jefferson Davis
said in his book respecting him
Gen. Johnston said he did not think
that there would be any necessity
for hlm to make any reply,
$50 far as Mr.. Davis's criticism OF
my military record is concerned,
said Gen. Johnston, "these charges
are nothing new. l understood in
1868 that the life OF Jefferson Davis
was being prepared, and that
the author had submitted the manu-
script to Mr.. Davis while he was
living in Canada. Being satisfied
therefore, that this hook had passed
under Mr. Davis's eye, and finding
in it certain reflections and com
plants against me, made answer
in a work which was published in
1878. So tar as ] have seon, the
extracts purporting to be taken
from Mr.. Dayis's own book, now
published, have contained little Oh
nothing that did dot appear in his
life to 1868. If on further examina-
ton | find that Mr., Davis in his
book has made any charges which
reflect upon my character as q sol
dier or citizen, | shall then make
such reply as the charges seem tc
warrant" "
Gen. Johnston at first thought
that this general statement would
cover all that he cared to say al
present. While he seemed entirely
composed it. was evident that the
republication of these chages had at
least stirred up some unpleasant
reeolIections, and when it was sug-
gested to him that although the
charges were published, as he said
IN 1868, and answered by him in
1873, the fact that they were again
published by Jefferson Davis himself
might make it well for Gen. John
ston to make a more explicit state
ment than a mere reference to his
book of 1873. He assented.to that
view.
Gone charge, in brief, Gen. John
ston, seems to be. that you did not
improve the opportunity offered by
the battle of Bull Run to take the
city of Washington"
II know that charge has been
made, replied Gen. Johnston. "It
was made soon after the battle
Many of the Southern newspapers
took up the cry, and said
should have gone into Washington
The simple fact of the matter was
this--that it was an absolute alb
surdity to attempt to take an army
into Washingtonafrom the Virginia
side To have done so it would
have been necessary to have crossed
the Potomac river, which is mile
wide, and we certainly had no facili.
ties for doing that. Besides, oul
army was in a somewhat disorgan-
lied state after the battle. Many o.
the men believed that, that ended
the war They thought with
that little skirmish the United States
army was permanently beaten
They scattered off, went to their
homes, and the army could not have
been taken, Immediately after the
battle, to the shores of the Potomac
Just as the battle of Bull Run was
ended Mr.. Davis arrived on the
field from Richmond He rode on
a special car, and with him was 8
brother of mine. He came. upon
the.feld / should say half an houl
after tho musketry firing had cased
and rode in front Of the men who
were there, and they cheered him
Afterward he went to the head
quarters OF Gen. Beauregard, and
we three-B -Beauregard, Davis and
myself spent the night together un.
til one o'clock in the morning: oul
conversation having reference tC
military operations. During thal