The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-15

seated alone in the car watching what was going on around me. It may have been only a few minutes--it may have = been an hour or two. l was so deeply in, took no note of time or its passage. When all was quiet in the car-the busi- ness having been despatched, and the trains started-General Johnston took chair near me, and commenced a con versation upon ordinary topics, apparent " as free and easy, as If there was no trouble, no worry, no anxiety for him in the world. The stream of his talk flowed evenly, smoothly, unbrokenly on. fre- quentiy frightened by suggestions crispiy ana tersely put, which made his remarks extremely Interesting. Of course allu- sion was made by me to the important occurrences of recent date in the Missis- referred to them at all without iD, and among them the fall of vicksburg. lie spoke of them in general way; and al- though knew enough of the secret facts with regard to some of these occurrences. especially the last, to satisfy me that his feelings could scarcely be amiable in re- viewing them-that, in short, he was bound to feel mortified and indignant as the commander of the department at the manner in which his plans had been in- terfered with, and thwarted, and the un- just criticisms to which his conduct had been sub3ected-not one word of bitter comment upon either escaped his lips.
 
 Pemberton to evacuate Vicksburg before It's investment, and his failure to conn ply, 1 interrupted General Johnston for the first time:
 now that your order to General Pember- ton was wise one-was the only step possible to save his army. But we would not have known it had he obeyed you The people of the Confederacy generally many of them in high official positions,' as well as the masses-were supremely anxious, I might even say, without the least exaggeration, frantically anxious, for vicksburg to be held, and firmly and Confidently believed it could be held. Didn't you know then when you gave the order to General Pemberton, that the evacuation of Vicksburg under that order would ruin--pardon me, General-I use a strong word, but could not use softer, and do justice to the subject-didn't you know that it would ruin you in the esti, nation of the Government, as we'll as 8 large part of your fellow citizens of the Confederate States7'
 piled: "Yes, I knew it." The words dropped from his lips one by one. He looked the hero that he really was. as he rose from his chair, and slowly, deliber- ately repeated: "Yes. I knew 1t; and ] knew more. I was sure that. under the circumstances. the chances were decided ly against me ever being able to success fully vindicate my action. But" contin- ueu ne, with a ring Tn ms voice, Wn1Cn betrayed the depth and intensity of his feelings. T felt that the Confederacy could do without General Johnston, while did not believe 1t could do without the veteran army under General Pemberton, whose loss was a certainty If that army was once cooped up in Vicksburg." Mo- ble words, expressive of a noble action, and uttered by a noble man! Here, in deed. was a doing of ones duty, though the heavens should falli Here was a willing sacrifice of self-an utter immo- iation of self-upon the altar of one's s country! Here was not only the wisest generalship, but the purest and most feryent patriotisml Here was a giving to the help of the Confectionery that which Is dearer to a true soldier than life, ones military fame! Impartial history, if 1t has not already done so, will yet place Joseph F. Johnston close by the side of George Washington and Robert E. Lee as soldier, gentleman and patriot.
 sTo show that the Government was just as wild as the people of the Con- federacy on the subject of holding Vicks- burg, parts of two .telegrams from Mir. Seddon, Secretary of War, to General Johnston, during the siege. are given. It will be perceived that the language Is decidedly "strenuous. 'rThe first telegram dated June IS, says: "Vicksburg must not be lost without a desperate struggle. The interest and honor of the Confederacy forbid it." The second, dated June 2, says: 'T leave you free to follow the most desperate course the occasion may demand. Rely upon 1t, the eyes and hopes of the whole Confectionery are upon