The National tribune., 1906-04-26
WASHINGTON

Johnston. and was 40 well and so favor
ably known throughout Virginia, and
by Our prominent men of the South,
any statement Of his to one of your
prominence in tAe public affairs of this
country makes very important link
in history--in fact, becomes of great
historical value. III no objection on your
part, l would be much pleased to have
you give me in brief what You stated
TO me on this subject in Mobile, about
the 26th ultmo
Respectfully and truly yours.
u. 3. Hood
l received in answer the following:
Washington. ID. c., June IS, 1874.
Dear General, On my return n few
days ago from ar visit to West Virginia
/ found your letter and telegram. Upon
rejection. have determined that l can
not with propriety comply with your
request.
I'm the first place, although the con-
versation between Mr.. Mcfarland and
myself, of which you ask me to give
you statement. was not profeSsedly
confidential, 1t might, from its nature,
be considered implicitly SO. as it related
TO "a communication which was conf
dentialy made by Gen. Johnston TO
him., and which he would probably not
have divulSed to any one but an inti-
mate friend. 1t was perhaps indiscreet
in me to have repeated the remark at
all; but 10 give publicity TO it, and that
for a purpose unfriendly TO Gen. John
ston, would, in my view, be unjust both
to Gen. Johnston and to Mr.. McFar-
land, as the latter is no longer alive to
eA plain II, il necessary to maintain his
statement.
Il will add that l have long known
and esteemed Gen. Johnston and his
family. In his quarrel with Mr.. Davis
(Which you are aware commenced long
before the events which gave rise to the
controversy between him and yourself)
he had my sympathy and support. Un-
der these circumstances for me TO vol
unteer statement not for the purpose
of vindicating your military reputation.
but for the purpose of assailing him in
a matter with which you were in no
manner concerned, would, / think, give
just cause of complaint to him and his
friends. | am sure that on considering
the matter you will come TO the same
conclusion.
Very truly yours,
&C. NJ. Conrad"
l subjoin my reply:
Niagara, Ont. July /, 1874.
"Hon.-C. NJ. Conrad, New orleans, La.
Dear Sir: | received few days ago
your letter of the 18th ult.. which was
forwarded from New Orleans. Its con-
sequent delay in reaching me will in
part account for my, tardiness in reply
ing.
whilst ] fully appreciate your un-
willingness to comply with my request,
| cannot agree in forming with you the
conclusion that l should remain silent
upon this important matter of history.
[ have with your consent, granted at
the time of our conversation in Mobile
already mentioned to number of our
common friends the fact of Gen. John
ston's intention to abandon Richmond.
after his retreat from Yorktown, as ex-
pressed TO Mr.. Mcfarland; and one of
our friends, after listening with great
interest to my assertion, and being ip-
formed that l had requested of you q
written statement of the fact, remark
ed: If Charles NJ. Conrad told you this.
he will give 1t to you in writing
Moreover, l ann not only indirectly
but, | may say, directly concerned in
this matter, from fhe fact that | have
publicly stated THAI Gen. Johnston fore
sfiadowed to his corps commanders at
New Hope Church. his intention to re-
treat to Macon, Ga. during his cam
paign of "a from Dalton. | am the
only living witness of this historic truth;
therefore Mr.. McFarlands testimony
through one of your prominence and
character, becomes of great relative
value to me.
when 1 again Ehave the leisure to
continue my repiygtO the many unwar-
ranted statements contained in Gen.
Johnston's book, may find It necessary
to bring forth also this important truth
Il am yours truly,
"J. B. Hood
Johnston's Inycteratc Habit of Retreat.
When ! recall the different events
with which the military careers of Gen
johnston is connected, it is difficult to
believe that he ever had any. other fixed
plan than that Of retreat. Possibly the
following paragraph in reference to q
light engagement of Cen Hardee, on
the 18th of March, 1865, near Averys-
boro, y. c., may indicate the nature OF
his expectations. after u surrender of
Richmond. Atlanta, etc, etc, and
final retreat to the seashore, the last
point of resistance: THAT report, If