Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-29

loved country and under whose flag he had
long been a soldier. The man studied over
this matter with ~profoundest thought" said
Captain winder. and I remember as dis
tinctly as though II we're yesterday that
when we parted on that day ~ the noble
Johnston. arising as I started to TAX my
leave, extended his hand and said: Well,
winder, I have no intention now at least Of
resigning my commission under the Stars
and Stripes and joining the confederacy.'
LAS for me, there was never any doubt in
my mind as to what my course would be,
though l confess that It cost me many a
severe struggle to take sides against my
own relatives, as much as I loved the union,
and what Il stood for"
Johnston and wlnder parted. The former
remained at his post in San Francisco
while the subordinate officer returned to his
camp on the island Of Alcatraz. They did
not meet for several days, and when they
did Johnston revealed a decision formed
since their last meeting which completely
sstonished Winder.
Announces His Resignation.
As winder entered Johnston's quarters
the latter said: We'll, l guess you will be
surprised when l tell you that l have re-
signed my commission, forwarded the let
ter to Washington and decided to go to
Los Angeles, where l have relatives, but
not with any idea Of going back to the
south to join the army of Jefferson Davis"
Yes, l am surprised. indeed" was Win
der's quick response. but II that is your
decision, General Johnston. after careful
consideration of the weighty consequences
involved, I have nothing to say. except I
would like to know what has led to your
sudden change OF mind"
CTpco tho tuo men had eeen each othpr
information reached Johnston from Wash
ington by pony express which justified this
action on his part. A friend at the national
capital had informed him that word had
reached the seat Of government that he
had become the leader of a conspiracy to
throw the Pacific states into the confed-
eracy and thus use the influence OF his
ONCE in betraying his country, to promote
the cause of secession. This report, born
of ignorance or malice, according to Cap
tain Winder, was given credence at Wash
ington and General Sumner was at on 81
ordered to hasten to San Francisco by
secret mission to supersede Johnston.
Ready TO Be Relieved.
But instead of being in ignorance Of the
plans at Washington Johnston was care
fully informed as to what had taken place.
He told Captain winder of these circum-
stances, and declared that IL the govern
ment had lost faith in him and could no
longer trust him he could do IL no good by
remaining in its service, and hence desired
not to await Summers arrival, but resign
forthwith. Consequently Johnston's resig-
nation was in Washington long before Sum
ner had reached San Francisco, and when
Sumner did arrive he found his predeces-
scr ready to turn over his office and every
thing pertaining to II. Sumner, who had
even guarded his coming with such secrecy
as to enter San Francisco at a lower and
out-of-the-way port, instead Of at the mair
harbor, was overwhelmed with surprise a
Johnston's knowledge of events and his
thorough preparation. and a slight chagrir
was apparent on his part. 1t actually re.
quired but ten or fifteen minutes for thu
retiring officer to deliver his post, papers
and all equipment over to his successor.
Johnston acted upon his original deter
mination and went to Los Angeles, where
he became very popular and was besiegeC
with various business offers and induce
ments of most hattering sorts. 1t was hi
plan to settle at Los Angeles and not jolI
the confederate army, but he found it i'm
possible to resist the urgent demands mad
for his CO. cooperation and services by tn,
| SOutn anu he uudlly yltlutui JOlhlu6 III
southern army and fighting its battle
against his former government until hi
tragic death at Shiloh.
Having been thus superseded by SumneI
and gone to the south, Johnston was thel
made the permanent victim of the slande
that he had systematically endeavored t,
wheel the states OF the Pacific int,
the confederacy, and 1t was folly for friend
to seek to correct this impression at tina
time. Johnston was stung to the quicl
by the ill course events had take
and is said to have carried his grief t
his grave. He made no attempt PERSONAL
to dissuade the authorities at Washington
from the opinion into which they had beef
misled.
sherman Believed the story.
Some years after the war the story O
General Johnston's alleged perhdy was re
peated by General William Tecumseh Sher
man at a banquet in Cincinnati. Genera
Sherman, like thousands of others, ha
ceased to question the truthfulness of tn
story and had accepted 1t as true. Blu
General Shermanis attention was called {
the inaccurscy of the story by Capital
Winder and also by Colonel Stevenson, VIII
was associated with General Johnston 10
a time on the coast and knew the full cir
cumstances Of the case.
1t was coincidental that both these forme
associates and friends of Johnston's shoul
have written Sherman at the same time, a.
most upon the same day. They learned
Sherman's utterance through newspape
reports and. knowing the great warrior q
? both did, they were sure he would be gla
to learn that the story which he had limo
Gently repeated was untrue, and would
glad to make amends for relating 1t.
In reply to the letter written him upo
this occasion by Captain Winder, Genert
sherman wrote the following:
s2 GARRISON AVENUE, ST. LOUIS
4 Mo, Nov. 80. lSA-Captain William :
! Winder, San Diego, Cal: Ny Dear Friend
/ nave your letter of the list, bearing az
ditional testimony to what Colonel Steyel
) although there was a conspiracy or a
tempted conspiracy in California to sell
the arsenal. forts, etc, somewhat as wa
done in Texas, the attempt was Illustrate
before the arrival of General Sumner,
, not before he started: that General Johl
u ston was in no manner compromised ar
that Johnston had not communicated
sends me what amounts 10 the claim of
Sacramento editor, who sent a messal
n across by the pony express because !
could not trust the telegraph.
General Keyes also, in his new boo
q Fifty Years Experience Of Men ar
4 Events" bears equal testimony to the no
orable character of General Johnston al
: sending Sumner out was made by &c
q eral Scott. at the instance of Mr.. SeWar