Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
az w. a. JOHNSON, co. o, S. c. v.

BY w. a. JOHNSON, co. o, ;. c. v.
i come now to write OF the greatest bat
lie fought by the Confederate army on
any battlefield. Like newly created sun
the Confederate army had risen from its
birthplace at Sumter. April. 1851. and had
wound its way upward over the rugged
heights OF fame. and az ChancellOrsville,
MAY. ISs, Il stood a. the pinnacle OF its
grandeur and felt that Omnipotence had
endowed II With the power 10 conquer a
universe
There was a spirit I'm the heart OF each
man at that time that seemed TO possess
him from some unknown and unfathoma-
BE source. The idea OF defeat never en-
tered his mind. He felt that the god OF
battle was his sponsor ana the whole
world his heritage. This spirit was not
a delusion. but a veritable force which
he could not resist. and which. In fact,
made resistance TO Il impossible OF con-
ception-
On entering upon this battle the Con-
federate soldier did IL In the prime OF
his manhood as a warrior. He was sure
OF victory. no matter what the odds were
On the other hand. the soldiers on the
other side seemed TO be under some spir-
ftual influence which depressed them and
they looked not for victory. no matter
how few our numbers were
These opposite convictions seem strange.
but they are true. as subsequent events
show.
A. this battle I was a private soldier.
but nevertheless. took as much interest
in what was going on during campaign
or In a battle as did our commanding
generals. and ] formed my plans and
conclusions OF how the battle ought 10
be fought and also formed an opinion
Of the result OF the plan adopted.
did not let my views cOraict with the
faithful performance Of my duty. but
did not intend 10 fall. IL fall / must. like
one blind. but as one who ought TO know
what any why things are lone in which
he Is a factor. ] did not intend TO be any
the less intelligent and free after l vol
unteered in the army than l was before
Joined IL. I did not join ii to go backward
on these lines. but as i was fighting for
freedom IL was absolutely indispensable
that / frst be free myself. have not
yet been convinced that a slave. under
command. eve- fought 10 free anybody, or
that a free soldier ever fought TO enslave
another. or that an army of freemen We're
ever commanded by tyrant hold to
The axiom. or fact. that every seed sOwn
surely brings its own kind and no other.
Excuse this rather lengthy preface. but
want 10 show an important fact in re-
gard 60 this battle. Not that l want TO
blow my own horn. but unless l deduce
the fact I have in view another may not
do so. and the fact be lost 10 mankind
In a previous article on the battle at
salem church ] related all about my COM
mand In its march from camp and OF its
joining Anderson's division and how we
pushed HoOkeF's advance back TO Chan
cellorsville-
were right onto the whole Yankee army,
except that under Sedgewick, which was
stu at Fredericksburg.
We skfrmished and made feints on
HOOker's lines 10 keep him busy. expect
ing something until We could give him
~ not
ing
Wen we had not been in his front long
before .'StonewalT came up with his
corps. He was cur leading man in rails
ing the curtain and beginning the perfOr-
nance
or this occasion our division and Ander-
sons was simply the orchestra.
So Jackson ard Lee had a consultation
as TO which part u the stage could the
show be opened up 10 interest Mr.. Hook
er the most TX was determined that Mr.
Hooker's people who we're away round ON
the right OF the arena. would enjoy the
opening most. and the surprise il would
surinR on Mr. Hooker would relieve him
OF all doubt as 10 our having the greatest
living actor on any stage. When Jackson
came up we all felt that he brought VIC
tory with him. for something Of an unae-
countable feeling possessed US. The effect
may be nkened TO uniting the two poles OF
cheered over the man In spite OF them
selves. They fought under him in spite
Of themselves: they defeated the enemy in
spite OF themselves: at his name the enc
my were depressed in spite OF themselves;
this depression was not for want OF cOur-
age. but some subtle power overcame
their courage BY weakening their conn
dence in their safety; they were defeated
before a gun was fired. There was some
thing which went out Of the man into the
breast OF every soldier. or else the same
spirit which was in him was likewise de-
posted in our hearts by unseen pow
err so that he was our counterpart or we
were his counterpart So we knew he
would succeed. We knew that Hookers
army vas doomed TO defeat. and that we
should all feel that way is remarkable. for
We knew that there was only 5000 Of US
10 defeat the 10000 or more under Hook
er at this point. And not only that. we
knew that when Jackson got into posi-
ton. that Lees army would then be d.
vfded into three parts and Hooker's into
but two Our two divisions. between
Hooker and neutrality-suspicious.
whole army between our two divisions
and Jackson. and Early down at Freder-
icksburg confronted by Sedgewick with
$3.50 men The Confederate army In this
position without Jackson could not have
succeeded for there was no other man 10
supply US with the feeling which made US