The age-herald., 1902-01-05
REMINISCENT VIEWS OF
 GOV. JOHN A. WINSTON

Gov. John A. Winston, apart from his
 high mental qualities and acknowledged powers of leadership, possessed a most imperious and infiexible will and was singularly assertive. aggressive and not a little vindictive. in the exercise of the prerogative of the veto during his admin istration, he justly won for himself the rare distinction of being designated "The Veto Governor" He vetoed more legisla- tive bills than any other chief executive before or since his administration.
 The question of secession becoming the leading issue after his retirement from office. he opposed that movement with all his earnest abilities, and campaigned the state as an elector on the Douglas ticket. But he was ever a patriot and a states rights Democrat, and when the war fol- lowing secession began in 1861, he prompt ly offered his services to the state of his nativity, for he was the first native Ala bamian ever elected Governor. On the organization of the Eighth Alabama Reg iment he was chosen colonel, and as- sumed command. The regiment was i'm mediately ordered to the front in Vir- ginia, where it became part of Wilcoxs famous brigade, and followed the for tunes of that renowned command to the surrender of Lees army at Appomattox.
 In the battles around Richmond, as else where, this regiment was conspicuous for its gallantry and hard fighting. But it's imperious leader, Colonel Winston, long accustomed in civil life to exercise his own dominant will, could not always await and obey the orders of his su- periors. Indeed, he bore impatiently the restraints of military life. A memorable occasion illustrating his character in this respect occurred early one June morning, low Richmond. The Confederate troops were aligning for battle. Colonel Winston discovered through the under growth what he took to be a detached force of Federals on his flank. On his own responsibility he pushed his regi- ment forward to cut them off. To his sur prise his command was suddenly exposed to galling fire from a superior force of the enemy. when his regiment precipitate- ly retired from the unequal contest.
 General Wilcox hearing the firing, and not understanding it's meaning dispatched a member of his staff in all haste to Winston's position on the line to know of the colonel what that firing meant
 The reply of Winston to the unwelcome inquiry, smarting and chagrined as he was, at his own misadventure was char acteristic and expressed with emphasis.
 ''Go back, sir, and tell General Wilcox that I undertook to cut off some d-d Yankees, and cut off more than could chaw. sir'
 Colonel Winston's health becoming seriously impaired he resigned the com mand of his regiment and returned to Alabama before Lees army began the of the second Manassas and Sharpsburg in the summer of 1862. Like Tombs and many other distinguished civilians Governor Winston chafed under military discipline and was manfestly out of his proper sphere of life in the army.
 He pasesd away a few years after the close of the war. before the normal re lations of the state and federal govern ments were fully restored Alabama has produced few men who impressed their political convictions on their party more than did John Anthony Win ston during the activities of his political life WILLIAM TAYLOR.
 TalladeRa Ala January g. 1902.