The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-19
SAVANNAH WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 49, 1902

Georgia shared the feelings of the
| army Gen. Howell Cobb, then sta
toned at Macon, had unbounded con-
! fidence in Gen. Johnston and there
never was any doubt in his mind as
/ to the final outcome of the struggle
( between Sherman and Johnston.
ION July II. 1854, Gen. Johnston re-
ceived from the Adjutant General the
following telegram:
Il am directed by the Secretary OF
1 War to inform you that as you have
/ failed to arrest the advance of the en-
envy to the vicinity OF Atlanta far in
to the interior OF Georgia, and express
no confidence that you can defeat or
eNpel him, you are hereby relieved
from command of the Army and De-
partment of Tennessee which you win
| Immediately turn over to Gen. Hood
Gen. Johnston yielded immediate
and dignified obedience to the fatal
order, but sent the following telegram
| in reply: AS to the alleged cause OF
my removal, I assert that Sherman's
army is much stronger compared with
the Army of Tennessee than Grants
compared with the Army of Northern
Virginia, yet the enemy has been COM
PEELED to advance much more slowly to
the vicinity of Atlanta than to that
of Richmond and Petersburg. and has
penetrated much deeper into Virginia
than into Georgia. Confident language
by a military commander is not usual
ly recognized as evidence of compe-
tence.'
Thus was he removed from COM
mand 1t is left to the future histo-
rian to paint the picture of this stu
pendous blunder in its true colors. That
President Davis was blinded at the
time no one who was then in Georgia
and who had any opportunity of know
- -. -, ~. Sc
army and among the people was could
doubt. If there was one prayer which
William r. Sherman put UP to his
Maker during his progress from Dali
ton to Atlanta it was that he might
be delivered from Joe Johnston. Day
after day this magician falling back
slowly, coolly and apparently indif-
ferent to the presence of Sherman,
nevertheless was inh!cting a. loss
to every one lost by the Confederate
army. Gen. Sherman saw that 1t was
but question of time when, with his
heightened line to his base, he could
no longer recruit his wasting ranks.
There was another fact before him
that was appalling. The country be-
tween Dalton and Atlanta is the
Switzerland of Georgia. 1t is noun
famous. 1t suited Sherman's flank
ing tactics, because whenever he de-
tached corps to flank it could always
in an hour post itself in the impregna-
BILE position and Johnston could not
attack it. The country was full OF
natural fortresses and every one of
Sherman's fianking columns was in
easy reach all the time of mountain
strongholds to take refuge in If at
tackled. But the country below At
lanta was fiat and Gen. Sherman saw
staring him in the face the certainty
that the first time he detached a corps
in that level country it would be de-
stroyed. The silent, Sphinx-like SOL
der who was leading him on to de-
struction knew this was before them,
and Sherman knew that he knew it.
Gen. Johnston's career after the war
was plac cid and uneventful. He served
one term in Congress from the Rich
mond district in Virginia and was APP
pointed by President Cleveland to some
important positions in connection with
the Pacific Railroads. His residence
in Savannah after the war is a familiar
history to all here. He left this place
with regret himself and his departure
was a distinct loss to this community,
and was so considered at the time by
everybody here. His presence here was
a happiness to our people and when he
left us the respect, admiration, and
best wishes of the entire community
accompa MED him.
''Gen. Johnston was below the aver
age OF men in size but his frame was
well knit and symmetrical and his
bearing was dignified and impressive
at all times. He was noted for his
physical strength. Even in old age
his muscular power was uncommon.
lie lived to be over "a years old. Gen.
Sherman died in Washington and Gen.
Johnston was one of the pallbearers
at his funeral He caught a severe
cold at that funeral, in a few days was
compelled to take to his bed. and on
March q, 1891, he breathed his last.
Thus ended the career of the great SOL
died who may rightly be styled the
American FabiuS"