The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-21
IN THELITERARY WORLD.
WEEKLY CHAT REoxRDfSG WRIT.
xRs xyD hooks.
Medical Monthly for. Janrasy--"I~o VI
fenders," by Ouids--Oiher Recent f""-
,tcstions-.Ths Handsome Humes."
LIFE OF GENERAL JOSEPH e. JOHN
sTON. BY Robert NJ. Hughes. -. APP

few months ago the writer OF this
notice met in New York with General
James Grant Wilson, the editor of the in
teres,lng series OF volumes which are be-
ing issued under the title Of Great con-
manders.,
Gen. Wilson Informed him that the
life of Gen. Joseph r. Johnston, BY hoo-
crt NJ. Hughes. Of Norfolk. va. was
one of the very best volumes or inc
series which had yet appeared. since
therplhe writer has had the great pleas
ure and profit OF reading the volume
himself. MIR. Hughes was admirably Mt
ted for his task. He had already attained
an cnyiabIe reputation as master OF
clear and vigorous style, which Is fuuy
sustained In this volume. He was near
relation OF General Johnston. ana had
been selected by him as his biographer'
lie came 10 his task full Of sympathy WIN
the subject, aud with careful prepdrI-
lion. The result Is a most intefesuhs
and ably written volume.
An interesting account Is given OF Cen
sraI Jokrston's ancestry, both In their
r.sId.ncs I'm Scotland and in America, and
,,e find that he came by his high quail
Tics as n soldier by direct inheritance
After completing his militaryf education
at West Point. his FIRST act OF service
Was as a member Of Gen. SCOTS stdil
IN the war with the Florida Indians. Ills
gallant conduct in this war earned ior
him the promotion TO captaincy 10 tne
regular army. lie was wounded twice IN
TIE forehead, the marks OF winch nc car
ried to the day Of his death.
After his service In Florida, he was as
signed TO various duties on the corps or
Typographical Engineers. and took part
In the survey Ct the boundary between
the United States and the British PROV
fnces. On the completion Of this, he was
attached To the coast-survey, with which
ne remained until the outbreak or the
Mexican war. When General Scott took
command OF the American army, IN Next
co, Johnston was appointed 1t. Col. OF
Toltiquers, and was one of the foremost
in the celebrated assault upon Chapulte-
pee which resulted In the surrender OF
the city of Mexico. In this assault john
ston received three wounds, which caused
Gen. Scott to say Of him, Johnston is
a great soldier but he has an unfortu-
nate knack of getting himself shot in
nearly every engagement"
In 1850. he was appointed Quarter Mas
ter General OF the United States from
among four persons named by General
Scott as fitted for the position; the other
three were Robert Il. Lee, Albert Sidney
Johnston. and Charles i. Smith. The
office was an important one, as IL gave
rank next 10 General Scott, Commander
in-Chief. whose advanced age might, at
any time, dcvolve the command OF the
United States army. upon the appointee
John 3. Floyd was Secretary of War. and
appointed Joseph l.. Johnston, in spite of
the opposition of Jefferson Davis, then
chairman of the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs. The appointment raised
him to the position Of a Brigadier-Gen-
eral, and Kept him in Washington until ne
resigned his commission on the 22nd. OF
April, 1861 to offer his sword to
his native State. which few days
before, had passed the ordinance of
secession. And now we enter upon the
all important part of Johnston's life; the
part which entitled him TO be included IN
the list of Great Commanders" Our
author in describing Johnston's military
career in the late war between the States
has proved himself to be a military his
forian of high order. He has handled
President Jefferson Davis, Gen. Pember-
Ton. Gen. Bragg. and Gen Hood. with
gloves off," and has shown by indubita-
bic proof that each one was unfit for the
position he held, and without excuse Tor
the inimical part he bore toward John
sion. The prosecutions of President Da-
Wis after the war by the North caused
the generous South to look upon him as a
martyr to their cause and TO forget, or
10 ignore his shortcomings as President OF
the Confederacy. That feeling is passing
away, however, and the publication OF the
official War Records and of the cores
rondence of President Davis during the
war will relegate him, even in the minds
of the southern people to his true position
In history. That he was conceited. fancied
himself great military genius, able TO
direct his generals in the field however
distant the scene of war; that he was
prejudiced against some of his best gem
erals, and continued to show implicit
confidence in some OF his worst; that he
was head-sfrong in adhering to any posi-
ticn he took, and that NJ never really
yrasped the proper plan for defending the
Ctnfederacy: and, finally. that he was
Gle OF the principal agents in Fastening
the downfall Ct the Confederacy, by, the
policy he pursued; all that may be now
cIs1r]y read in undisputed records.
AGAINST no one OF his generals was his
prejudice More-clearly and more-persist-
emily exhibited than against Gen. john
stou. They radically differed as to the
proper method OF the conduct of the war
President Davis insisted that the true
policy was 10 defend every part OF the
extended territory Of the Confederacy,
which was but to frighten away the re-
sources OF the South In vain effort.
Johnston, on the contrary, insisted on
concentrating the southern armies. and
overwhelming the northern forces. which
were opposed. saying that the destruction
OF an army would soon restore any terri
tory which had been allowed TO be pre-
ysously occupied Again General john
ston differed from Mr.. Davis, in that he
had a full appreciation OF the tremendous
task which had been laid upon the south
ern Confederacy. and never moderated
the soldierly qualities of his foe, or his
almost boundess resources. His first com
mand under the Confederacy was at Har-
per's Ferry. Finding 1t or no strategic
Importance, and easily fianked. he with
drew to Winchester, where he could
command the several roads by which the
Federal forces could enter the valley.
Here he held at bay for some time the
superior force under Gen. Patterson. De-
ceivfng Patterson as to his movements,
he rapidly conveyed his army 10 Manas-
sas. where his troops bore the brunt of
the celebrated battle of July II. 1851.
and he. as ranking officer of Beauregard,
had the main direction OF the battle.
President Davis rewarded Johston's bril-
liant services In winning this great victory
in very peculiar manner. The Confed-
crate Congress- had pledged officers re-
signing from the United States army
that their commissions In the Confederate
army should bear one and the same
date, so that their relative rank should
be determined by their former commits
sions In the United States army.
Davis however, sent In the nominations
he kaH