The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-04-09
Rosecrans on Johnston.
The following is from an interview
with Gen. Rosecrans, published in the

hUSeCTuuS Ul JUuuSGUus
The following is from an interview
with Gen. Rosecrans, published in the
Baltimore american by D. E. Sickles:
1t took Sherman eighty.four days to
drive Johnston eighty.four miles, from
Resaca to Atlanta. About mile day
vas the average rate of movement dur.
ing this famous engagement. johnson
no sooner left one good position than he
gained another. This was, by all means,
the most beautiful strategic work shown
in the war. When I heard that John.
ston had been relieved by Hood turned
to my brother officers with the remark:
"That finishes the business. Hood will
surely fight openly, and he will be de.
feated in day." I will not say that
Johnston was Hoods superior as a sol.
dier, but he certainly was as strategist.
Hood was more rash and heady, and felt
it a point of honor to fight, no matter
what the odds.
Johnston was of different fiber, and
while on occasions he could fight as
bravely and as gamely as Hood, he held
fighting to be subordinate to the business
in hand. The two men may be compared
to two chess players-the one skillful
student of the royal game, playing for
position, and the other playing only for
pieces and throwing strategic positions
to the winds. spontaneously made the
remark quoted to my brother officers, for
1 felt that it was true, and future events
justified my prophecy.
I hold that as strategist, Johnston
was second to no man in the Confederate
service. Johnston seriously impeded
Sherman on his march to the sea, and at
Bentonville he struck him blow that
came near being the death blow of his
undertaking. Afteward Johnston sur
rendered to Sherman, and q strong
friendship sprang up between the two
men. So strongly cemented became this
friendship that the two brave generals
pledged themselves to remain true COM
rades during life, the survivor to attend
the funeral of the one who should die
first.
Last new years day Gen. Sherman
was in this city and called on Gen. John.
ston.
"Joe, do you still stick to your prom
ise?" he asked during his visit. "Will
you attend my funeral ?" Johnston hur.
riedly strove to dismiss from his old
friends mind the gloomy forebodings
that seem to possess it, but he was un-
successful. The premonition of the
advance of death was too strong to be
disregarded. It was but short while
after that death did come to Gen. Sher-
man, and Johnston, true to his word, and
against the entreaties of his brother-in-
law, Governor McLane, of Baltimore,
attended the funeral Of his old friend.
ri, myself, have spent many pleasant
days with Gen. Joe," said Gen. Rose
Grams, sadly. "During the time I have
lived here I have been with him great
deal, and always have found him the
same perfect, whole souled gentleman in
all the significance the word contains"
Here is telegram I have just received
from Gen. Dan Sickles that may interest
you in this regard, said the general, taxi
ing from his coat familiar looking vel.
low envelope. The telegram is as fol-
lows:
"Kindly convey to Governor McLane
and the family my most sincere sympa.
thy in this hour of trouble. Major Gen.
eral Howard will serve as pall.bearer on
any day except Wednesday and Thurs
day, these days being engaged beyond
recall.