Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-05-29
GEN. A. S. JOHNSTON.
INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE
CONFEDERATE LEADERS, DEATH.
RecoiIections Of an Ex-Confederate Stan
Omcer-The Last Charge at Shiloh
The Commander MOrtally
Observation-Disclosures Scene.


l had been the bearer of several orders
turing the day, and in the intervals had not
much to do but witness the scenes hourly
shifting before me One Of the principal
duties of staff officer is to bear orders and
rally troops; but our troops were SO eager to
strike the enemy on that day that my time
was not much occupied in That way; conse-
quently | was, with slight intervals, by the
side Of Gen. Johnston during the morning
up to the time Of the charge Feeling lit
tie neglected | said to him: you keep all
of your staff on the wing flying to and fro
on their horses, why do you retain me by
your side. | want more to do"
He replied: "You will have plenty of
work to do yet"
In les than forty minutes a messenger
came dashing up TO him and said that
Breckinri Ige was sorely pressed and wanted
help. He turned at once and said to me:
~Your chance has come. Go as fast as you
can and tell Gen Bowen to move up and
prepare for action" Preston, | think, had
received an order just before 10 select the
ground.
Gen. Bowen's brigade wa, held as re-
serve soon found them partly under
cover, where they had been awaiting orders
all the morning. So soon as delivered the
never forget the quick glance of delight that
illuminated his face and all the officers and
men of the brigade, which was one of the
best drilled Of the whole army. As they
moved forward our path was strewed with
the dead and wounded. Breckenridge had
suffered a repulse Shells We're bursting,
cannon Looming, and volley after volley Of
artillery and infantry We're all laundering
at the same time. Cen Johnston came
dashing up almost before Bowen's troops
had been aligned, AMI stopped his horse on
the crest of the hill that Preston hal
selected. Governor Harris and myself were
the only members of his staff at that moment
by his side. Gen. Breckinridge came riding
up under great excitement and said: Gen
eral, / have a regiment of Tenesseeans who
refuse to fight l have been doing my
utmost to rally them and get them in.
Gen. Johnston did not answer him, but
turned suddenly to Governor Harris, saying
Did you hear that, governor:" and repeated
Breckinridge's words to him. Harris
gailOpei forward after saying: Il will see
what / can do Breckenridge followed, but
returned in few moments and said again:
Cen Johnston, / cannot get lay men to
make the charge" To which LIE replied
Then | will help you
1t was then Gen. Johnston bowed to him
and rode instantly into Bowen's lines. not
many PAGES of, and motioned with his RICH
hand for an opening to be made | followed
him, and stopped by the side of Bowen, in
position Immediately behind his bri saie
TIE general then turned To thu left and
rode up and down the line, returning near
the spot where he entered it Here he halted
and salutei. On one Of his fingers hung a
bright lineup. which had been handed
him by Preston during the morning, and
which had served kim for drinking water
Us We crossed the ravines l was within
twenty PAGES of him, and according to my
recollection these We're his words: Men of
Texas AMI Arkansas, the enemy is stubb ,rn
| want you now to show Gen. Beauregard
AM Gen. Bragg what You can do with your
bayonets AMI your toothpicks. l will lead
You Forwaril7 Til. men went in with {
yell.
Turning around to see i all the men were
advancing in the fire. | saw about 100 fine
looking troops crouchinS along the line of q
fence, and, riding up t. them, found that
they We're a part of the regiment that Gov
ernor Harris had attempted to rally and
could not put them into the fight To them
! appealed, but to no purpose.
AL these Incidents happ .nei /, | am sure.
within thirty minute'. Putting par to my
horse ! gallopel few yards and was NE,
ty Preston, who told me he haG ju placed
Hutledge IN position near til. rivite, and his
battery WAS delivering a swe.pin, fire
through the disorIered and retreating ranks
of the enemy.
lie asked me: "How is the battle going
ON, ard where is johnston Just then Col
Theodore Oiiara approached Us with sad
face, and said: Il fear Gen. Johnston Is
mortally wounded. Where can | get a sur
geon:' We hgrrielly rode in the direction
IF the cres: OF the hill ON which the charge
WAS ma lc \ few moments brought US 10
where our chief was lying III reclining
position, supported in the arms of Governor
Harris \ mimic hall had torn of part o.
tie sole of his boot, from which the blood wa,
o1zing. H. was deaihly pale, though hi
eyes were open. but without luster.
Preston lifted him in his arm. oSene
rapidly his clothing, but could fini no
wounds ON his body. He tEel ex-
claimed with great emotion, an
leu liv called out: "Johnstol, do-s-
you know me,' No response followed. and
Preston cried, Give me some whisky.
Maj Wickiam handed me a canteen,
which be had picked up on the battlefield
and being also On my knees AMI nearer his
head, | Iourei u few table popnfulS down
his throl, but he could not swallow, AMI 1t
flowed over his chin .aw that there was
no h p, IN putting my hand to his side an
naunc Il 10 Pre- ton that his heart had ceased
TO beat.
Preston straiyhtened up, and. casting his
eyes to the heavens, cried out in the most
thrilling tones of anguish | ever heard:
My Coll my God! Hayden, is il so.7 i
moment after. recovering his self-command,
he drew out his notebook of the battle and
read to those of the staff, who were stand.
Ing around. this dispatch. which he asi,e
Governor Harris u bear instantly to Gen.
Beauregari The words were in substance
as follows:
~RAyIH!:. = 81 o'clock.-Gen Johnston has
lust fallen. muriatly wounded, after a victo-
.iou, attack on the left of the enemy. Ii
now devolves on You To complete the
victory
Preston, turning tn Us. SAID: Il will go
forward AMI procure an ambulsncs. You,
gentlemen. will carry the body rapidly as
you can 70 the rear Rifled cannon, were
tearing the limbs above our heals and the
minnie balls were whistlins dreaifGlly about
our ears \ Blanket was pulled from sad
die near by, and We laid the generals body
upon it, AMI before we lifted the body
jerked my sash from my waist and covered
his face shielding it from the rays os the
sun.
We took the body to the very spot tia; We
had left in the morning some two miles in
the rear over ground which had been stub
boruly contested. The spot where Johnston
fell wa near tho utmost bombay II which
the Couseierates drove the FEDERAL army
that day