The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-04-21

JOHNSTON, LEE, Jacksonville fol-
lowing references taken from adj
vance sheets of Mr.. Davis book, to
three leading Confederate Generals,
do not, of course, comprise the sum-
mary of his judgment upon them,
but they are characteristic of the
men themselves:
When General Albert Sidney Johnston
reached Richmond he called upon me,
| and for several days at various intervals
we cenversed with the freedom and con-
hdence belonging TO the close friendship
which had existed between us for many
years. Consequent upon a remark made
by me he asked to what duty would as
sign him. and when answered to serve in
the West, he expressed his pleasure at
service in that section, but he inquired
how he was 90 raise his command, and for
the first time learned that he had been
nominated and confirmed as general in
the army of the COnfederacy.
The third, General Robert E. Lee, had
been commissioned by the State of Nlr-
ginia as Major-Generaf and commander of
her army. When that army was trans
ferred, alter the accession of Virginia TO
the Confederate States, he was nominated
to be Brigadier-General in the Confeder-
ate army, but was left, for obvious rea-
sons, in command of the forces in Virginia
After the seat of government was remov-
ed from Montgomery to Richmond the
course of events on the Southern Atlantic
coast induced me to direct General Lee to
repair thither. Before leaving he said
that while he was serving in Virginia he
had meyer thought it needfuI to inquire
about his rank, but now, when about to
go Into other states and meet officers with
hon lna hal Wnr.Nl .....w
nected, he would like to be informed upon
that point. Under recent laws authoriz-
ing appointments to higher grades than
that OF his first commission he had been
appointed full General: but so wholly
had his heart and mind been consecrated
to the public service that he had not re-
membered, If he ever knew, of his adj
vancement.
In November, 1861, reports became cur
rent that the enemy were concentrating
troops west of the Valley of the Shenan-
doah with view to descent upon it.
That vigilant, enterprising and patriotic
soldier, General Il. j. Jackson, whose
steadiness under fire at the battle of Ma
nassas had procured for him the sobriquet
of "Stonewall," was then on duty as dis
trlct commander of the Shenandoah Val
ley.
He was West Virginian, and, though
he had not acquired the fame which sub
sequently shed Iustre upon his name, he
possessed well deserved confidence
among the people of that region. Ever
watchful and daring in the discharge OF
any duty, he was intensely anxious to
guard his beloved mountains of Virginia.
This, stimulating his devotion to the gen.
eral welfare of the Confederacy, induced
him to desire to march against the enemy,
who had captured Romney. On the 20th
Of November, 1861, he wrote to the War
Department proposing an expedition to
Romney, in Western Virginia. 1t was de-
cided to adopt his proposition, Endorsed
by the commander of the department,
and, further to insure his success, though
not recommended in the Endorsement, his
old brigade, then in the army of the Po-
tomac, was selected as part of the COM
mand with which he was to make the
campaign.