The National tribune., 1906-08-09

dent finally complied with my request.
and I bid farewell to the Army OF Ten
nessee on the 23d OF January, 1865,
after having served with 1t somewhat
in excess of II llonths, and having per-
formed my duties to the utmost of my
ability.
At he time assumed command
around Atlanta a number of Gen. John
ston's staff officers remained with me,
mong whom were Coils. Mason, Fai-
coner and Harvie. Majs. Henry and
Clare, who, notwithstanding the extra
ordinary circumstances under which 1
had superseded their old commanding
officer, ably discharged their various
duties with zeal and strict fidelity.
After leaving Tupelo 1 returned 70
Virginia, and found President Davis still
most anxious to procure reinforcements
from the Trans Mississippi Department
He consulted fully with Gen. Lee In re-
gard to this important matter, and. after
a sojourn of several weeks in Rich
mond, during which interval I prepared
my official report, l was ordered TO
Texas with instructions to gather to-
gether all the troops willing to follow
me from that State, and move at once
to the support of Gen. Lee. Soon after
my arrival at Sumpter. S. c., received
the painful intelligence of Lees surren-
der Nevertheless continued my jour-
ney. and about the last of April reached
the Mississippi in the vicinity of Match
e. Here I remained with my staff and
escort, using vain endeavors to cross
this mighty river, until after the receipt
of positive information of Gen. E. Kirby
Smiths surrender During this interim
we were several times hotly chased by
Federal cavalry through the wood and
canebrake. Finally, on the 31st of May,
1865, rode into Natchez and proffered
my sword to Maj.-Gen. Davidson, of
the United States Army. He courteous
ly bade me retain it. paroled the Off
GERS and men in company with me. and
allowed us to proceed without delay to
Texas via New Orleans.
No "Rashness."
Before closing these pages. I request
the privilege of correcting false i'm
preston which has gained ground in
my regard and which is. may say, the
outcome Of inimical statements Of cer-
tain writers who have followed in the
wake of Pollard and Johnston.
Gen. Sherman gives color to their
charge of rashness as a commander in
the following passage:
'I did not suppose that Gen. Hood.
though rash, would venture to attack
fortified places like Allatoona, Resaca,
Decatur and Nashville; but he did SO,
and in so doing, played into our hands
perfectly"
And yet from other portions of his
Memoirs 1t will be seen that 1 did not
attack either Resaca, Decatur or Nash
vile. My official report will also show
that Maj.-Gen. French assaulted ALA
toona, whilst under discretionary orders.
Thus in none of these instances Is Gen.
Sherman correct.
Touching this same accusation Of
rashness put forth by my opponents.
shall merely state that the confidence
repoSed in .Ile upon SO many occasions,
and during service of three years. by
Gems. Lee, Jackson and Longstreet, in
addition to the letters Of these distin-
guished commanders, expressive Of sat
isfaction with my course, is sufficient
refutation Of the ch grge.
The above allegation is not more err
roneous than the following inference is
illogical. Van Horne, in his History of
the Army of the Cumberland, speaks in
commendation OF my movement 20 the
rear of Sherman, after the fall of At
lanta, but regards the circumstance as
unfortunate for the Confederacy that
Johnston was not summoned to Pal
metto at the beginning of the new cam
paign, in order to insure it's successful
issue. The writer must assuredly have
General when he formed this conclu-
sion; 1t seems, indeed, preposterous to
suppose that Gen. Johnston would have
similar movement with
$4,000 men, when he had just retreated
from the same territory with an army
of 10000, and when he had declined to
make. with an effective force of over
10000, the same campaign from Dalton
the preceding Spring.
Now. since I have been charged with
and even recklessness, by Gen.
Johnston and his adherents, I may be
allowed, in addition to answering this
severe arraignment, to at least question
his right to be considered one Of our
leading Generals.
Johnston and Fablus.
It has been asserted that he pursued
the Fabian policy in his campaign from
Dalton to Atlanta. 1t is, indeed, to be
regretted that he did not follow in the
footsteps Of the renowned Roman by
holding on to the mountains Of Georgia.
In the long course of years, during
which Fabius Maximus commanded at
intervals the Roman Legions, he could