The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-15
Letters to the Editor.

AldDAIlh 06pdTtHlenL OI f1lSIOEy ana Ar chives, Mir. Thomas M. owen, Col. s. S. Scott has been engaged in preparing a paper on the operations of the Confeder- ate Bureau of Indian Affairs. A part of the paper will be devoted to personal "reminiscences which will, no doubt, add to the interest and value of the paper as a historical document.
 Below is characteristic specimen which Is in the authors graceful and exact style;l
 General Joseph E. Johnston-An In
 cident.
 I was returning to Richmond, in the fall of 1883, from my third official visit, as fairs. to the Trans Mississippi Depart ment. 1 left Shreveport, the headquar- ters of General Kirby Smith, on horse back, and crossed the Mississippi River near Grand Gulf in canoe, swimming my horse by it's side; and with many windings and turnings, chiefly through swamps in the vivinity of the great streafn, tc evade struggling parties of Yankee soldiers from Vicksburg and Port Huron, l made my way slowly and painfully across the country. l reached the railroad, in the latter part of Octo- Der or first of November, thoroughly wornout by my long. disagreeable, and, in part, perilous ride. do not recollect now where 1 struck the railroad. l am inclined to think (although the place may have been farther easO that 1t was Jack son. the beautiful capital of the State, which, upon It's evacuation a few months before by General Johnston, was made to feel, like some other Southern cities and villages, the red hand of the Federal general, who, 1t is said. believed war to be hell, and who certainly 1t should be added, did his part toward making 1t so.
 Here l found some east-bound trains, or rather fragments of trains, their en- zines puffipg and blowing, evidently about ready to start, all of which was very rafifNinp fo hut fOMpd at bo same time, which was not at all gratify- ing. that in them. or rather on them for they were made up mainly of plat form cars-afmost every square inch of space was occupied by soldiers. I was too weak and jaded to endure such a crush. as was here offered me, even with a seat, and a seat was evidently out of the question.
 for another train, but with much reluc- tance, as l had no means of knowing how long l might be delayed by the transportation of troops and the scarcity immediately in front by some ob- struction in his way, and civilly addressed me. His cordial manner led me to tell him who l was, and also of my long and fatiguing trip from the Indian country, and my anxiety to get to the Confederate capiteS. It was a fortunate meeting and a fortunate talk for me, as he took me at once to a box car attached to one or the tralnSs nOlulHB several OOHIeOeF- ate officers. and introduced me and my situation to General Johnston. The General courteously invited me to take seat, and to consider myself at home; that is" continued he with smile, If you can stretch your imagination so far as sto consider such place as this a home"
 had seen the renowned Confederate chieftain before, but this was the first time I had ever been brought In personal contact with him. He was busy giving orders and receiving messages; and as sat alone in the corner of the car, I had a fine opportunity to study the man. It was only the soldier part of him that was turned to me at the time; and fancied, from his manner. and from the few words that reached me, as he curtly gave his orders, or emphatically responded to what was said to him. tSat I could see in him a grim. stern, unbending resolu- tion to meet every fate with dignity; a serenity not to be moved by any disas- ter; and a wise. cool and deliberate col lectedncss, which made him equal to, and ready for, all emergencies-traits,i indeed. which his whole history has shown. were truly and unmistakably his.
 I have no idea how long I remained