The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1904-04-15
A SOUTHERN GENERAL.

Short sketch of a Southern
general at the battle of Shiloh and
other battles, written by Miss
Valeria Field for Leonidas Polk
Chapter, U. d. c., and read at
their regular history meeting at
the home of Mrs. Virginia Voor
hels March u, 1904:
General Albert Sidney Johnston
was born in Macon county, Ken
lucky, in 1903, He graduated at
West Point Literary Academy in
1926. He resigned his commits
sionin United States Army in 1884
and enlisted in the Army of Texas
of which State he became comman
der,in chief; was made Secretary
of War Of the Republic of Texas
in 1888 and used all his influence
to bring about the annexation of
Texas to the United States.
! He served in the Mexican war
with marked distinction. In 1857
he was put at the head of an expe-
dition to Utah Territory to force
the Mormons to submit to the laws
of the United States government,
and showed such ability and tact
in the delicate mission that he was
brevetted brigadier general.
When the Civil War broke out
he was in command of the Depart
ment of the Pacific, but promptly
resigned; was made a general in
the Confederate Army and assign
ed to the command of the Depart
ment of Kentucky.
1t was stated, bat on what
specific authority we know not,
that at the opening of the war of
secession President jefferson Davis
regarded General Johnston as the
ablest, not only of all the South
ern, but of all the generals in the
whole country. But when General
Johnston fell back from Bowling
Green, thus abandoning Tennessee,
and such of the country to the in
vading forces, he was bitterly at.
tacted by general speech, and by
the newspapers, as traitor, or as
incompetent, and as he was keenly
sensitive it seems, to criticism.
which appeared as weakness in
so great man. He unduly ex-
posed himself to the next battle.
On April 3, 1862, he marched from
Corinth, Miss, intending to attack
Gen. Grant at Pittsburg Landing
or Shiloh church-twenty miles
off. On April 4 there was delay
on part of some of the troops. SO
that the attack could not be made
till the morning of the 9th, but
with his forty thousand men John
ston attacked Grants fifty thous-
and with such impetuousity, skill
and dash that the national force
was driven back at every point
md huddled together at Pittsburg
Landing and just as Johnston re-
marked to one of his staff, 'sThe
yictory is ours, we shall soon
water our horses in the Tennessee
River,o he was struck with min
lie ball and died in fifteen minutes.
Such, largely, is the account
yiyen in the Universal Encyclo-
oedia. Though it is but matter ..
# surmise, we may conjecture
what would have been the result
lad Johnston's life been spared.
lie would possibly have followed
Ip the first days victory and have
ither driven Grants army into ..
he Tennessee River and over
Vhelmed them in that way, killing
nd drowning the majority or have :
aused surrender if such had
zen the case. General Grant
7ould in almost the very outset of
is aftcrward successful career
ave been discredited and either y
ave been placed in a subordinate
osition or put out of the com
land altogether. Then he would /
ave never been able to make the
Iege of Vicksburg and reduce o
nat stronghold and so open the 4
Mississippi River and thus divide y
he Confederacy; neither would 7,
Q have displayed his skill and 4
on his success at Missionary i
,idge, nor the way have been pre- f
AIRED for him to confront General 9
,obt. E. Lee on the field of his n y
snown, and won his fame in de- 3
eating by force of mere over
owering numbers and resources