Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-05-22
GEN. JOE JOHNSTON.
His Peculiar Powers of Observation and
Other Characteristics

Tor ~ LOUIS ktapuDilcan
Here are a few anecdotes Of Gen. joe
Johnston, illus rative of his peculiar powers
of observation AMI other characteristics of
mind which have not appeared in print:
After Stunning command of tine army of
tie Tenresee, at Dalton, n grand review
was orlers1 4nd Gen. Johnston. superbly
mounted on n magnificent thoroughbred
bay. came sweeping down orr line. followed
by the usual cavaca Ia of general AMI staff
officers He would halt moment IN front
of the colorS OF each regiment, face t. the
line ant raise his cap with martial grace
never excellel In passing our regiment
his quick eve caught the gallant bearin, of
our boy colonel. john Z. Murray. then
about 81 year, of age. who hal been
cadet at West Point f3r two wears, and wa
notably III tincuis rel for wat the boys
calle1 "-allus salute AZ er TIL parade
Gen. johnston sought cur briSadier. Govan.
and inquired the name OF ms young colonel
OF the "-rand martial salute;r and after
hearing OF his proud achievements as the
tie boy hero of the briy ide, he invited him
u hi heaiquarter AMI entsrtainsi him for
a week Tie colonel ussi t. say that "he
PICKED up more solid chunks of ION
that week than ne h "a ever done in his fs be
X
closed with tine can a IN IN the last ba tie
around Atlanta, where he foremost ii ,ht-
ing fell" with bIllat-hole tIr1u.h hi,
commission of briga lier general in his
hreast-pocket
During this Georgia campaign Zen
jackson W uld often inspect the Ia tily.
CONSTRUCTED lins OF rihe-pit'. AMI in riiilg
d WI the line at full Sp,e he wJul some
E.l. nj boz, |, ...ys<~ n
his stlf. AM with f'w rapid m ItionS OF
his hanl OF Ter an any reversed n the line
advanced or retirel in c nformity vita the
contour Of the grouni in front; and on one
Il the @ occasions the writer. who was
longing IN the ground with his comrades
some thirty pace in the rear made a wly r
that he could attract the generals attention
by a salute Upon arising AMI facing
toward the general a he rushed by, looking
in the opposite direction. the writer
modestly raise hi, -coonskinS." When II,
generals whits hat shot up in the air IT
graceful rec 'gnition. the boys all remarked
that the ~oli man could see IS well in the
rear as he could in front"
In passing through Jackson. Miss. TO take
command of the army. large crowd OF
citizens and furlougEei soldiers insisted OF
his presenting himself ON the platform Of the
car AMI making them e speech. He said
IF all the able-bodied men see before ut
were in line at the front there would be N,
occasion for a retreat Of the army
When he was relieved If command at At
lanta his soldiers literally she'd tears of hope
less sorrow. and when Gen Hooi'> par
OF swinging around to Gen Shermin's rear
was fully detailed TO him by staff officer
and his opinion asked TO the wisdom O.
the plan, lie replied with sadness in the pro
pheiic words, TOO brilliant
In social conversation with his staff. one
of them asked him how many timsi he hal
been wounded. Eight times The staff re
marksi that he was the most unfortunate
general in this respect he had ever known
No. SIR" said he, the most fortunate
Tor it wa. only by the mercy OF God va,
not killed unon either occasion