Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16
North Carolina.


In 1874 Gen. Johnston published his MARIA
tive Of Military Operations" In 1880 appeared
Cen Hoods Advance and Retreat" And in
1881 the ex-president entered the arena with his
''Rise and FALL of the confederacy followed in
1854 BY Gen. Beauregsrds Military Opera
tons Mrs Davis singular book. Jefferson
Davis. ex-President Of the Confederate State"
was issued in 1890. after her husbands death
Johnston's book was almost wholly devoted
TO an explanation OF his relations with the con-
federSte executive; large proportion OF Mr..
Davis to a statement of his side of the con-
troversy, and Mrs. Davis gives many pages to
. restntsment Of the ex-president's case and to
. bitter attack on Johnston. Her book is of
little historical value, both in respect of matter
and method Beauregard had a quarrel of his
own with the president. though not so deepand
irreconcilable as the other, and consequently
the Military Operations are mostly in vindi-
cation Of himself, but with a good deal Of IN
cidental matter relating to the other two. gen.
orally favorable to Johnston. Hood naturally
took sides with President Davis. and attempts
70 justify his own magnificent failure by vio-
!ently attacking JOhnstou's previous operations
In the Atlanta campaign.
THE QUESTION OF RANK.
Let Us consider the question of rank, which
was the primary cause Of this quarrel Joseph
E Johnston was brigadier general and quarter
master general Of the United States army.
Nk41Su Po-itlou ne rerly1el aprl y. lSbl. TO
ego with his state, which had seeded on the
18th He says he considered the separation
permanent Robert E. Lee resigned the
colonelcy Of the first cavalry. United States
army, April Is, 1861. These two men-both
virgintans been classmates at IVES; Point.
Lee graduating No and Johnston No. 10 in
the class Of %. Samuel Cooper was colonel
and adjutant general of the United States army.
and he resigned March Z. 1861, to join the con-
federacy. He was bora in New York. from
which state he was appointed TO West Point
where he graduated in 1915. Albert Sidney
Johnston (kllled at Shiloh. n Ken.uck;an by
birth, but for many years prominent citizen
|of Texas. graduated from West Point No. of
1.-THE class Of '26. He resigned Nav 8, 1861 as
|colonel Of the second cavalry and b-evet briga-
der general United States army and cast his
fortunes with tine south.
March 6. 1861, q confederate act OF Congress
provided for the appointment Of four brigadier
Renerals, that being the highest grade at first
|created- March IA fifth brigadier added,
and Ii was further provided that in appoint
|men.s to Original vacancies in the confeder-
late army 1.-The commissions issued shall bear
lone and the same date. 80 that the relative rank
|of the osicers of each grade shall be determined
|by their former commissions in the United
States army, held anterior to the secession OF
these confederate states" May 16 a supple
mentary act provided that the five brigadiers
|should Shave tbs rank and denomination Of
|senerals, instead Of brigadier general"
Under the oct of March Cooper, Lee and
ID. e Johnston had been appointed brigadiers
IN he confederate states army. The act OF
May 16leithout further action. made them
|oeusras. and it vas 50 understood, a. it appears