The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-08

o1ice. Albert Sidney Johnston twice had
che alternative thrust upon him to step
down and out from q post of rank and honor
or 20 TO the dueling ground and show some
envious comrade that he was the best man.
The sunset of Johnston's career was SO dig
uified and stately that one would scarcely
axpoct that he ever cast his lines In with
society OF men SO primitive in custom, But
then his manhood-1s23 to 1s62-spanned
an exciting period, the border and Indian
TROUBLES, Texan and Mexican wars. Besides
he was born In Kentucky.
When tho young Texas republic was beg
9ing for soldiers and patting on the shoul-
1efs By Uncle Sam In way Of recognition
Gavo her standing among nations, Johnston
abandoned his plantation and enlisted In
nhe ranks 10 fght for republican principles.
He knew what the quarrel was about, for
ne had livsd ON the Texas border in his
youth and had travorsed the territory in the
4ervios Of the government as an officer OF
the x1gulax army. When he took his place
Ia TIE ranks, the commanding general was
stzusk By his martial appearance and the
WnJ he ~ on his horse. Johnston was then
n the 0Qsh Of manhood, 33 years old, over
b fsst tAll-the regulation Kentucky stat
ure-and weighing $50 pounds, and the gen.
eral rightly concluded that 1t would be
. waste of good material to make a COM
mon trooper sf him. especially when he
learned sf his military past. He called on
him q hle quarters and after short talk
offered him thcposition Of adjutant general
of tho Texas army. But he naively added
that thcre wsre several aspirants who
thoucht they had . prior claim, and the
new appoiptee, whoever he might be, would
have to fight . few dusls before entering
into tho Joy Of his offica Johnston said
that he was qualified for the duties and
would take the position and hold himself
In readiness 70 mcst those other young gen.
tlemen ssEiatim-
IL was ncissd about the camp that the
new adtutant was crack shot with q rifle
and an expert swordsman, and he was let
alone for . time His duties were 80 well
performed that he was made senior brig
adler general, and that led to another seri-
ous rivalry. The commanding general re-
signed, and Johnston was named to succeed
him. The temporary commander. Felix
Huston, thought himself overslaughed, and
when Johnston reached the camp Huston
rendered him the usual civilities and the
same day sent him challenge. The reply
was equally prompt, and they met the
morning following The weapons were
horse pistols, to be fired from the hip
Johnston got In the first shot five times in
succession, but 1t tho sixth fell with dan
gerous wound Huston retired from the
army, and Johnston remained in command,
coming on victor In several battles with
Indians and border DuffianA After three
years service he setircd The Mexican war
found him In the regular army again, and
ct Monterey he fought gallantly with Colo
mel Jefferson Davis and Captain Joseph
Hooker under General Taylor.
In 1855 Johnston was appointed colonel Of
the famous Second United States cavalry,
which was raised especially for service in
Texas. The roster of officers contained
bome Of the brightest names in our military
annals. Robert E. Lee was the lieutenant
colonel, William j. Hardee and George II.
Thomas majors, and the line included Earl
Van Dorm, Kirby Smith. j. N. Palmer,
George Stoneman, r. w. johnson, j. b.
Hood, @. w. Field, w. H. Chambliss and
T. Garrard The principal service of Colo
mel Johnston was the suppression of the
Mormon rebellion in Utah by tedious
winter campaign in 1873. Two years later
he was placed In command of the Pacific
department and was In California when
Texas, bis adopted state, seeded from the
Union He resigned his position and await
ed the arrival Of q successor to turn over
the affairs In the usual way. He debated
some time whether to carry his sword to
the south or remain neutral. There were
many southerners around him, especially
Texans, and hearkening to their appeals he
said to his wife: 1T looks like fate. Twice
Texas makes me rebel" And the die was
east.
Warnings reached him that he would be
arrested should he take to the sea and try
to land on the Atlantic coast. The ports Of
California were under surveillance. Itwas
decided to make the trip overland across