The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-28
LEE GIMP MEETS
And Takes Action Regarding General John
ston'- Death.


services in honor Of General Johnston reported
that it was nexpedient TO have these services
next Sunday and the further consideration OF
these services was postponed until the next
meeting
II was the general desire Of all 10 have a Ide-
mortal day IN honor OF General Johnston selected
that would be generally observed by al the peo-
PIE of he south. and Grand Commander VI
nam !. Smith viii communicate with an the
subordinate commanders in the state and have
general cO-Ol lcrafIOu. and the day selected Will
le of served throughout the entire SOnth.
he following resolutions were offered by
committee composed OF Colonel Archer Ander-
son. Messrs. James "; Pegram. Louis /. bos-
sluX. H. 4. Minor and Alex. W. Archer. and unan-
imously adopted by a rising vote:
a great soldier has passed from among US.
The death Of General Joseph Egglesion John
ston has nllcd every southern veterans heart
with sorrow. and we have met 20 give utterance
70 the deep and abiding feelings OF respect anu
yeneratlon which must ever be associated with
his hOnOrcd name.
His career will occupy a great space in the
military annals OF his country. IL illustrates
almost every species OF military excellence; ,
As youth he had stored his mind with all
the lessons 70 be drawn from the great cam
pairns OF history and the deductions OF military
science. This exact knowledge Was supplements
eG and adorned Dy general culture unusual IN
the training OF a soldier. But his love Of books
never impaired his eagerness for action. The
records OF the past kindled IN his own nature
passionate ardor TO emulate the great deeds OF
the heroes celebrated by poet ana historian lie
was essentially man OF action. and on the
very first occasion when he confronted a force
OF hostile Indians he slgnalized his fitness TO
Distinguished in the Florida war he showed
himself at each tep Of his career equal to every
call OF duty. No officer, save only Robert h..
Lee. emerged from the Mexican war with
more brilliant reputation for yigor, torecast,and
yalOr
But the war between the States furnished tho
arena on which he was 10 display the great
qualities OF head and heart. and soul. which
alone fit men for the command Of armies.
The secrecy and rapdlty Of his movement
from rattersOns front % Beauregards s support
secured victory AZ Manassas, During the next
eight months his bold countonance concealed his
paralyZing lnfcrOrity of numbers and resources,
and held IN lnglorious inactivity the grand
Quickly changing his line of operations TO
confront the Federal army IN e advance up m,
Peninsula. he now illustrated that distinguished
quality OF his genius which led him always, even
at the cost of d.s'rust and rcprOach. 10 sacrifice
everything subordinate and uuessentlai 10 DrlnS
about the substantial and necessary conditions
Of decisive military success. lie Withdrew ms
army skllfully from faulty position 70 bring
Mcclellan 60 battle at distance from ms base
whore, after the concentration OF all our re-
sources a Confederate victory might determine
the issue Of the campaign,
In the act 10 win the rich prize of his strategy
he was stricken down at the head OF his columns
~ Seven Pines, by two severe wounds always,
like Hannibal, the first 10 20 INTO battle ana the
last 20 come out
"But his campaign against sherman will fur
nish the impershable justification OF his fame.
The most brilliant military critic Of our time,
the English officer. Chesney, has declared that
IL places hm by the side OF Iurenne IN the roll
of the worlds great generals. Those VINO
followed Robert l.. Lee IN what was,
perhaps. the Rrsndest OF his campaigns, the
campaign OF 1864. Will understand the greatness
of JOhnstuns leadership when they consider
how nearly Lees campaign resembled ia method
and results Johnstons lighting march from Dal-
ton 20 Atlanta. But there was this striking dif-
ference: when Lee reached Richmond and Pc
tcrsburg. his adversary gained possession OF
better base and a shorter line Of communication
than he ever before possessed
When Johnston reached Atlanta MS army
was in as high state OF YgOr; cohesion and
military devotion rs Lees. and sherman was
dragging a lengthening chain OF weak and at
tenuated communications. Inc opportunity
long sought and prepared for a decisive stroke
was snatched from JOhnstons hand, as many
ihink, by the Executive mandate, which de;
!, ired the irmy II the Ionnes9ec Of it, liuioved
and trusted chief. The absolute devotion OF
that army 10 him established his possession Of
one Of the prime characteristics OF genoral-
the power 20 arouse enthusiasm IN ms I)uoWcfS.
Bat he had done enough for enduring fame.
The verdict Of the skiful and vigorous sol
diers who led the Federal army. including their
brilliant chief sherman, declaring JOhustonto
have been q great daring commander l. one ~
the most striking tributes % miltsry merit
known 20 the annals of war The men who felt
bis blows admired him most.
"One crOWning testimony 70 his worth was re-
served 10 heal the hcros wounded pride. At
the darkt 81 hour ~ the war. Robert J.. Lee r.
fragments Of the Army Of the Tennessee. In tho
heroic - iri' Of the great Of Old whose custom
was in adyersls vlltum secundn fortune
gtrere. moderari animOs In secundls. Johnston
answered thar cali OF duty. The nud0cty aud
hcrcencss of hi, attack with a mere handful Ot
CQniodoratcs on Shermans army az Bcnton-
Vile showed what aggressive strokes might
have been delivered had adequate means been
yielded by that daring spirit
Men who had stood near him IN battle had
long before read this in his flashing eye and
grim. hru-set. hon-iEc mouth. Never was
warlike temper more yisibly stamped on
feature. gr,tur. and bearing. than in the person
of tins grand loader in the crisis of action. 10
see him then was 20 receive new impulse 70
battle.
"liut the soldier who had leen 50 great in war
was ready when peace returned, TO discharge
with modcsiy aud fidelity every duty Of the citi-
zen For the last twenty-five years he has lived
among rs life OF quiet and unassuming fulfil
mcnf of public and private trusts.
Crowned with honor, Teyered and cherished
by cOuntrrmcn OF all sections and parties,
he has comil.tcd ln peace end dignity the span
OF an existence PROLONGED beyond the ordinary
limit. and cOmfOrtct IN rs latter years By an
abiding conviction OF life beyond the grave,
and by all tho assurances OF Christian faith and
"lls fame is secure in the keeping OF his
Profoundly imbued with these sentiments.
R. T. Lee Camp 30 I. Of Confederate Veterans,
has heretofore ordered Its hall 70 be craped in
mourning for thirty days IN honor of the illus
trious commander, u member of this Camp;
AMI now
"Ro.o.yod. That the foregoing minutes lie
placed upon It's records and communicated 10
tho family Of General Johnston
lir. b. Smith BEDFORD Colonel L. A Bowery,
Colonel William +. Smith. Major James W. Pc
gram and MIR. J.. c. Crump were appointed
committee 20 request Mayor EuysOn 20 call
mass-mecilng Of the citizcns at such time and
place as he may designate 20 pass resolutions
requesting that the remains OF General joseph
T.. Johnston be inferred IN HOLLYWOOD The
committee viii request the Mayor 20 invite such
Ff q he A
the lnass-mectlng.