The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1904-11-11
INTERESTING VOLUME
On the Civil War. Gen. Adam R
Johnston's Memoirs.
BIZ J. sroppARp JoHNsroN.


has been looked for with interest
by a large class of readers, will
cause no disappointment. OF the
many contributions to the Civil
War history it will take its place
among the best for faithfulness in
narrative and stirring adventure.
1t consists of two parts, the first
constituting the personal memo
IRIS Of Gen. Adam r. johnson,
one of the most conspicuous par
tisan rangers Of the Confederate
army, and second, the personal
narrative Of officers and men as
sociated with him in the service.
A native of Kentucky, the
author had some years before the
war emigrated as young man to
Texas, and became a surveyor of
vacant lands upon the western
frontier Of that State. The region
was subject to bloody incursions
by the Comanche Indians, the
most savage of all the tribes with
which the emigrants of the South
west had to contend. The open
ing chapters of the book detail
the experience of Gen. johnson
in the Indian warfare, which prov
ed valuable school so we'll fitted
him for the service in which he
later distinguished himself. In
thrilling interest it has all the ro-
nance of Cooper's novels and
Washington Irving's narratives Of
Western adventure, in a style as
simple and unaffected as it is faith
full in its details.
While thus engaged the drama
OF the Civil War opened suddenly
in the East and the author relin-
pushed his pursuits in Texas and
came to Kentucky and cast his
fortunes with the South. He re-
turned to Henderson, KY, to find
his father and two of his brothers
enlisted in sympathy on the oppo-
site side and the latter enrolled in
the Union army, two other of his
brothers having already entered
the Confederate army. Without
out delay Gen. johnson attached
himself to Gen. Forrester's COM
mand as scout and had many
stirring adventures and hair
breadth escapes during the opara-
tons in West Kentucky and Ten
nessee preceding the battle of
Donelson, all of which are inter-
estingly detailed in his graphic
narrative. Possessing q thorough
knowledge of the country and a
large acquaintance with the peo-
pie, he penetrated the Federal
lines with success and rendered
valuable service to his chief. At
length having demonstrated his
for higher field he re-
ceived permission to return to
Western Kentucky and raise a
of partisan rangers in
with bis fellow scout
and friend, Col. Bob Martin.
The history Of the success Of
these two young soldiers is un.
equaIed in the bold courage ex-
hibited by them and the rapidity |
with which they rose in command.
Operating at first with but one or
two followers, they captured |
towns and in some instances con-
siderable bodies Of Federal SOL
diers, organizing 10 time a COM
pany which grew apace to regi-
ment, brigade and later to a di-
vision, commanded by Adam
Johnson as a regular commission
I'd Brigadier General. Space will
not admit of the details of his re-
markable adventures, the large
bodies of Federal soldiers which
are kept busy in an attempt to
capture him or thwart his designs,
the battles he fought and the stir
ring danders Of his service. For
i time his command became part
If that Of Gen. John H. Morgan,
With whom he participated in a
raid through Indiana
ind Oaio which eliminated in the