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

Mr.. Davis is mistaken. as think. in asserting
that Robert E. Lee had held the higher rank in
the United States army. Johnston and Lee
were made lieutenant colonies respectively Of
the first and second cavalry on the same day,
viz. March 8. 1855. Johnston was promoted to
be brigadier and quartermaster general June
%, 1860. Lee was still really only lieutenant col
onel when he resigned. though it is true he had
been nominated as colonel about month pre-
viously, but the Senate had not yet confirmed
him. During the Mexican war. in which
both were distinguished. Johnston was a lieu
tenant colonel Of volunteers, two grades above
Lee. who was then but a captain of engineers.
There was more tenable ground for assuming
that A. S. Johnston ranked ]. E. Johnston. He
was acting brigadier general BY brevet dated
November IS. 1857. in command of a depart
ment. and had been made q full colonel March
3. 1855, the same day the other two were COM
missioned lieutenant colonies. But the confed-
crate statute did not draw any line between the
staff and other officers of the old army who
might resign and seek service with them. 1t
was purely arbitrary on Davis part to SO con-
strue the Law and then act upon the assumption
that Cooper, A. 5. Johnston and Lee ranked ].
E. Johnston.
The candid inquirer Of today will observe
that the confederate president was disingenuous
in this matter. II merit based on services had
been considered in the appointments ]. E.
Johnston must Inevitably have headed the list
for his ability and energy had largely contrib
uted to win the first battle at a date when Lee
was hardly known outside of Richmond and
before the other Johnston had entered upon
active service. There are grounds for the sup
position that Davis withheld action purposely
until the arrival of A. s. Johnston from Cali
fornia, whom he intended to be a beneficiary
Cooper was ar old-time Washington favorite
and crony, and ii is well known the president
was infatuated with Sidney Johnston. I'm
doubtedly both these appointments, however
u
sonal favoritism.
Lees subsequent career in a sense certainly
indicated the presidents action in selecting
him to rank Johnston. but this cannot be said
OF Albert Sidney Johnston. As commander in
the west he sIgnally failed to comprehend the
natural lines of federal advance into the in
terror and his dispositions to meet the central
attack were painfully feeble. Grant, with a
small force, was permitted to leisurely advance
and capture the isolated post of Donelson and
thereby. without further effort. drive him ont
Of Kentucky 800 miles south into Mississippi
bold, energetic concentration at the threat
ened point might have stopped Grant and prob
ably held the line of Kentucky many months
longer-such as characterized the movement OF
Joe Johnston in the previous July TO the battle
field of Bull Run. which stopped the federals in
Virginia. But after idly observing the battle
when all was over he calmly marched away to
the southwark, seeking q new line of defense.
ExA6GERArISa HIS GRIEVANCE.
But whatever Davis motive for overwhelming
Johnston with his juniors. the exaggerated i'm
portance the latter attached to what seems ut
this distance a secondary matter is surprising
and gives one bad impression Of this other
wise admirable character. He morbidly dwelt
upon the presidents injustice with the feverish
pertinacity of a crank, wholly unobservant Of
the fac. that notwithstanding his technical loss
OF rank he was actually in command Of the
chief army Of the confederacy-at the post Of
honor and danger, the cynosure Of all eyes.
But Johnston regarded his own present inter-
ests and dignity as paramount, unlike Lee forget
ting that time and success would rectify every
thing. When they were touched he became
sour, even sullen, and watchful and suspicious
OF those he deemed his enemies. His mental
vision was conspicuously practical and far
reaching in all other mattersexcept those which
concerned himself His nature was positive; he
was an unbending, unyielding personality This
was the rock upon which he split
The foregoing statement Of the original casus
belli incidentally affords the reader a view of
the characters of the two men involved in the
quarrel After the acrimonious correspondence
concerning the question Of rank the belliger-
ents settled down into stately attitude of ZEAL
oas and guarded hostility, suspected but NO.
fully known to the public
About this time there was also some friction