The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-03
GEN. JOSEPH +. JOHNSTON
ANSWERS JEFFERSON DAYIS'S
RECENT STATEMENTS,
And Points Out the Mistakes Made
by the Ex.President as TO
the Surrender.

at .TaGted much attention there. That
the ex.President OF the Confederacy
has renewed his criticism upon Gen.
Joseph +. Johnston's course in the
final surrender causes much surprise.
Among the old officers OF both armies
the conclusion has long been that the
General had the best Of the contro-
versy. The opinions OF Mr.. Davis
Cabinet, Just republished, all 90 to
strengthen Gen. Johnston's position.
And now the publication OF Mr.. Davis
private letters for the first time shows
conclusiyely that he, at the time Of
the flight from Richmond, regarded
''the cause" as lost. Yet, in the face
OF his own testimony and that OF his
Cabinet recall ed TO his attention, Mr..
Davis olce more assails Gen. John
ston's action and condemns the sur
render. The interview with Mr.. Davis
was laid before Gen. Johnston to-day.
At first the General glanced over 1t
rapidly, and then he proceeded more
slowly TO anslyze the assertions Of the
ex.Pfesident in 30 far as they reflected
upon him. Gen. Johnston did this
dispassionately. His interest in the
truth OF history, rather than any feel
ing that he needed vindication,
prompted him in what he had to say.
A TBEAcHRRoUs MEMORY.
Before he went through the intsr-
view calling attention in detail to the
palpable mittAkes which Mr.. Davis
had made, Gen. Johnston remarked:
"Mr. Davis speaks as II he had for
gotten some OF the events OF the close
OF the war, or trusted TO the forgetful-
ness OF others and their failure TO
make the proper connection of those
events. We must take what he says
in this interview condemnatory OF the
surrender as applying TO the time sub
sequent to the convention between
Gen. Sherman and myself, and after
the terms of that convention had heen
disapproved by the Federal authori-
ties. Up 10 that time the negotiations
for peace had been undertaken with
the fall knowledge and approval of
Mr.. Davis and his Cabinet. The
opinions from the members OF the
Cabinet show the feeling Was unani-
nous, or nearly so, among Mr.. Davis's
counselors, that it was useless to con-
tinue hostilities, and that the most ad
visable course was 10 make terme
Mr.. Benjamin alone thought that
something might be done, and he
took tina, stand because he was fearful
OF saying anything to displease Mr..
Davis"
Gen. Johnston here read from the
Davis interview, commencing Just
after the ex-President had spoken OF
Lee's surrender as justified;
1.-THE surrender OF johnston was a
different affair. Johnston's line OF TO.
treat, az chosen by himself through
South Carolina, was open, and had
supplies placed upon 1t at various
points. He bad large force, of which
over $4,000 were paroled at Green's
boro, s, o."
A GLAZING MIssTATRMKNT.
Laying down the paper, the General
commented:
That Is au absolute lie about the
strength OF my army. When ] went
to Greensboro to meet Mr.. Davis and
his Cabinet to consult on the course Ia
be pursued, | reported my available
force TO be lS,600 infantry and about
1000 cavalry. The cavalry was
Wheeler's command. After an armis.
tice was entered into, my force melted
away. The men knew what was going
on. They considered the wat virtually
over, and they departed for their
homes. can't say just how many
went, for during the truce / was not
out riding among the troops as much
as had been, but should say at least
half Of the infantry left and the cavalry
also.
"Instead of having an army OF SO,
900 az the time Mr.. Davis speaks OF, -
continued Gen. Johnton, 81 prob
ably had not one-third OF that num-
Der. Mr.. Davis says:
ale had large force, OF which over
$4,000 were paroled at Greensboro.
"The inference is that my force was
much larger than $4,000, when the
truth is IL was not nos more than one
third that strength. Doubtless, there
were $4,000 men paroled at Green's
b0ro, but that number included many
North Caroliniaus who had been out
OF services for long time and who
Hooked in to take advantage OF the
terms of parole. 1t included many
from the Confederate hospitals in
North Carolina. 1t included many of
Lees troops. You remember that
when Lee was about to surrender,
nearly half of his army left without
waiting for the formalities and started
southwark. They, too, took advan-
tags Of the parole at Greensboro"
Gen. Johnston at this point took up
the paper containing the opinions
from Mr.. Davis's Cabinet upon the
uselessness Of further hostilities.
"Here," he said, sis the letter OF Gen.
Breokinridge, the Secretary OF War,
advising Mr.. Davis that terms be
made. 1t is dated the 23d OF April.
Let US see what Gen. Breckenridge
says.
"Five days ago the effective force
in infantry and artillery OF Gen. John
ston's army was but 1870 men, and
II continues TO diminish.
"And yet" commented the General,
"Mr. Davis, speaking row OF the sit
ustion on the 25th, two days later
than Gen. BreckinriIge's letter, says:
"'He (Johnson) had large force,
of which over $4,000 were paroled at
Greensboro. We had other forces in
the field, and we certainly we're in a
position to make serious resistance. >"
THE EX.rREsiDENT's INCONSISTENCY.
Gen. Johnston stopped few mo-
ments as II 20 letthe full force OF this
contradiction OF Mr.. Davis by the
records be appreciated, and then con-
tinued: "The truth is, Mr.. Davis con-
scented TO terminate the war because
he was convinced that ne had no
means to carry it on. This was ut
Greensboro, on the 18th of April,
when the conclusion was reached to
try to make terms with Gen. Sherman.
IL wns fully understood then that we
were not in condition to make Sc
rious resistance The two family
letters Of Mr.. Davis of April 5th aud
April $50, which the Globe Democrat
published a few days ago, show that
Mr.. Davis did not then entertain the
opinions about the ability to continue
the war which he now entertains, as
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