The Washington critic., 1890-05-14
Annrnr SIDNEY JOHNSTON.
a Visit TO the ora House In which He
Had His Headquarters in 1851.

Had His Headquarters In 1851.
Colonel Baxter Smith contributes the
following recital of recent interesting
reminder of the early days of the war,
which is an entertaining pen picture of
the eminent Confederate:
Having been called to Bowling Green.
Ky, professionally. few days ago, |
was Invited TO dinner by Judge Du-
laney, with whom had business. Upon
reaching his residence, upon one of the
principal streets of the city, the sur
roundiDgs seemed quite familiar to me.
i paused q moment and looked around,
and as did so recognized the house
in which General Albert Sidney John
ston had his headquarters during his
occupancy of Bowling Green and that
| part of Kentucky, from September,
| 1861, till the middle Of February, 1862.
l had not seen the house since shortly
before General Johnston's evacuation,
but 1t looked as natural as when ] last
saw II, time having dealt gently with 1t.
1T is an unpretending, old fashioned
brick structure. one story, with base
ment, the upper story being reached by
stone steps, In the basement General
| Johnston had his headquarters, and IL
was from there that orders were issued
of the most momentous character relat-
| ing to the movement of troops in his
department. The room was plain and
| plainly furnished when he occupied 1t.
II was my fortune to have good deal
Of business with General Johnston
while stationed there. He was grand
| man-gTand in appearance, grand in
l n n al EAa
| necessary for military chieftain. Mr.,
Davis is said to have regarded him as
the greatest of his generals. But, great
| as he was, there was no man more ap-
| proachable.
| after had finished my business with
him, asked General Johnston about
his Utah expedition, and he conversed
freely about 1t. Knowing that he was
then In the cavalry service, and being
in that service myself, ventured to
ask him what branch of the service he
| preferred. He replied, the cavalry. He
then spoke about the great efficiency of
that arm of the service, if properly
drilled and handled, laying great stress
on the drilling.
Being young officer, without mill.
tary education or experience, and, as he
seemed to take an interest in me, l
asked him if he would not put his sug-
gestions in writing in the form of a
letter addressed to me, in order that ]
might have the benefit of them in a
permanent form. This he readily con-
sented to do, and wrote them with his
own hand, which proved to be of great
service, and was real wade meeum to
me.
While at Judge Dulaney's he related
to me very interesting incident in the
life of General Johnston that had
never heard before. q He said that he
had heard 1t from his father, who had
commanded a troop in the Black Hawk
war in the Northwest. Johnston was
then lieutenant, and was thrown with
his command in an encounter with the
Indians in field or prairie, in which
there was very high grass. The Indian;
were concealed, and; suddenly spring
ing from their ambush, drove back th,
white men.
When the latter rallied at o point ol
rendezvous, it was found that two oil
the party were missing, Swiss soldier
whose horse had gone back with the
troops, and Lieutenant Johnston. Tint
white troops returned to look for then
and found the Swiss. but could SO,
nothing of Johnston or his horse. A
this juncture, the Swiss suggested tha
he carried whistle in his pocket, anC
after going short distance, he blew 1t
making bird like noise. When thi
was done, Johnston, who was at dis
tance, raised his head above the tai
grass, discovered the troops and ioinel
them. When the Indians made thei
attack, they killed Johnston's horse
and he escaped by concealing himsel
in the grass, and eluding the wiley saw
ages, and his life was thus saved.