Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-01
rro,vr,gbt 1912 bv G. L. Kilmer.l


was General Joseph Z. Johnston. new
fg.re on western battletields. Wound
ed in front of Richmond the summer
of 1852. Johnston had been sent to the
Mississippi region rs general in cher
over three departments. including the
army defending NickSburg under Penn
berton. the army then operating III
Tennessee under Bragg and the forces
uiarshalud under the Lone Star nag
beyond the great river. Fixing his
Headquarters noIninally at Chattanoo-
"a. he moved from place to place, with
out. however. taking active leadership
in any battle.
Under Johnston. Bragg fought the
great battles of Stone River. Chicka'
mauga and Chattanooga. Under him.
also. Pcmberton fought and lost al
Vicksburg. Yet his name does not ap
pear in the histories Of these comOAtS
except by mere incidental mention in
connection with Vicksburg. For some
reason the Confederate executive anu
General Johnston didn't get on well to-
gether. The general chafcd over being
kept from actual contact with the light
Ing forces. He had been an active sol
der OH the plains before the war ana
wanted to be mt the front, sword III
hand. instead of merely manipulating
movements from the rear.
Although it was step backward 10
give UP the control Of three armies an"
take command of one. Johnston put MS
hand TO the new task with whole heart
ed energy. Grant said that he was Il
man to give his formen trouble ana
that his policy WAS the correct one 10
tile south at that stage OF the con
flict. He believed in taking no risk
and in prolonsing the war until the
north was tired out. His plan was 10
let the Yankees force the fighting while
the south purried the blows and huS'
banded her strength. BY these sam"
tactics George Washington won the
Revolution.
Grants high opinion Of the military
ability of his opponent in front or
Chattanooga illustrates peculiar phase
of military experience. Johnston was
distrustcd by his own government AMI
rested under cloud when he succeed
ed Bragg after the latter's inglorlouS
retreat from Mission Ridge and Joined
the defeated army at Dalton. NlcES'
burg and Chattanooga had been lost TO
his department. wrested from his coll
troll by Grant.
The loss of Vicksburg was laid at
Johnston's door by jefferson Davis,
He blamed Johnston for standing idly
by while Grant surrounded and pcAAcd
in the Vicksburg garrison under Penn
bcrtUn. On one particular occasion. be-
fore Grant had brought up all his
troops and hemmcd PcmbcrtOn in. la-
Wis said that Johnston sent Pcmbrrlun
orders in writing TO attack the foe AMI
cut his way out when he should have
gone in person to PcmbertOn and di-
rectcd the fight. Johnston said that he
sent the order in writing because he
was preparing to lead an attack in per-
son from the outside Of Grants lines
while Pembcrton drove at the same
point from the inside. Pemberton re-
ceived the written order and put his
troops in motion to carry 1t out, then
suddenly changed his mind and attack.
ed in another direction. failing in tn"
attempt and losing JohnStOn's aid.
The weapon placed in Johnston
hand to keep the Army Of the Tennrs-
see out Of Atlanta was in battered
condition just at the time he took hold
Of it. Dec. -. 1868. 1t had lost 25,OOO
men in battle during the three months
campaign ending Nov. % at Mission
Ridge. The rolls showed fighting
strength OF 10000 men. but 60OO Of
these we're barefoot and 5000 without
muskets and blankets. There was
lack of forage for the animals, and the
battery horses were too feeble to draw
the guns.
Johnston found awaiting him at
Chattanooga headquarters a very
DOllltil nllll AdNlb III
Richmond that he Immediately make a
dash into Tennessee and recover the
ground lost by his predecessor. He did
not act upon the suggestion for the
reason that his army was not In condi-
ton to cope against odds, and hc
Thought the best plan would be to
stand at Dalton until the Federals al
tackled him there. He hoped to beat
them and send them back to Tennessee.
when he would follow and recover the
territory.
Although Johnston's methods Of
fighting were In sharp contrast with
those Of Lee, Jackson and Albert Sid
ney Johnston, he could strike hard on
occasion. He led to the battlefield Of
the first Bull Run the Confederate re-
enforcing army which turned the tide
and overthrow the Federals. Later
when Mcclellan moved out the grand
army to attack Richmond. Johnston re-
treated from Manassas plains to the
Rappahannock river, making that his