The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-09


 treaty of peace was written with the sword of Appomattox, is fast displac- ing the actors in the great catsclysm of '61-'65. and they. the children of those who barred their bosoms to the storm of shot and shell and steel of bayonet are still eager to learn some- thing more of the great causes of this terrible war. and of the heroism it evoked q&
 When all traces of the war shall have disappeared. save imperishable monu- ments, which will attest the valor of victor and of vanquished alike, we, daughters of the South and our chill dren. can well await the verdict of posterity. for that posterity will have carefully sifted from prejudice. add freed from distortions of error or mal ice, all the evidence on which the facts of history are based, and will have woven 1t into an authentic record, where only truth shall have lodgment. Alabama's Daughters have on yester- day unveiled a monument on Shiloh's battlefield, to Alabama's sons who fell on that field pro aris focisque. And on yesterday. in most eloquent terms, have you heard the story of Shiloh. and of that great and brilliant strategic com mander. Gen. Albert Sidney Johnstonl But 1t were not amiss to haev that story told again to the Daughters. and to the sons and daughters of those Daughters, for their patriotic enlight- enment. and appreciative devotion to those who sacrificed life to patriotic principle
 Albert Sidney Johnston was born in Washington, Ky. February St lSgs' He 1928, and assigned to the 2nd United States Infantry. and saw active ser vice on the frontier in the salSh tlont Hawk tns army and emigrated to Texas. where ne soon Joined in the struggle for Texan independence, enlisting as a trooper, but was soon made adjutant general and then commander of the Texan ar my. In 1888 he was appointed secre- tary of war of the young republic, and displayed political wisdom and mili- tary ability in dealing with Mexican and Indian encroachments.
 When the Mexcan war broke out he became colonel of the 1st Regiment or Foot Riflemen of Texas six months volunteers, and was present at tne siege of Monterey as inspector general He lived for several years after the close of the Mexican war In retire- ment, but being a soldier by. instinct and training. he again sought service in the army of the United States; ne was appointed colonel of the End Uni- ted states Cavalry in 1855, and two years later, when the MoTmons in utah had defied the United States authori- ties. and a military expedition was sent against them. the command or that expedition was conferred on Col onel Johnston. He conducted tne march to Utah with rare judgment and courage. His command consisted or two regiments of infantry and one or cavalry, and these with their commis- sary stores were stretched over nearly i 900 miles of almost desert road from Fort Kearney to Salt Lake. 50 iate in the season had the troops started on their march that fears were enter tained that if they succeed in reacnins their destination 1t would only be py Abandoning the greater part of their supnlies, and endangering the lives or many men among the snoWs or the Rocky Moutains. But the march was accomplished and A. s. Johnson con verted an impending calamity into felicitous solution without bloodsheo, serious military and political problem. For these eminent services, he was breveted brigadier general. remaining fin command in Utah until 1880. when \ he was transferred to the command ol the department of the Pacihc, with headquarters at San Francisco. where the outbreak of the civil war founo him in 1S61 When Texas. which ne regarded as the State of his adoption
 
 in the old army, and the command or inc department of. the Pacific, to offer his sword to the State to which ne felt he owed paramount duty. At the age of nearly sixty years. he crossed the desrt on horseback, journey or seventeen hundred miles to Austin, Texas. thence to Richmond and was assirned to command by the Confed- crate government. This command was known as Department No. 3. and em- hraced the states of Tennessee, Arkan- .sas, part of Mississippi and the mil tarv operations in Kentucky. Missouri with authority to fix headquarters as his judgment approved. As commander of this department General Johnston held the line of Bow ling Green from September. 1881. to February, 1862, against greatly supe- rior forces.
 The effect of the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson was stunning to the South. The brnnt of the blame fell upon General Johnston, who. know ing that time would vindicate him. bore 1t calmly. and made the best dls- | position possible to meet the calamity. eH was calm under the animadiversions cast upon him in the Confederate Con | gress and by the anxious and terrified | people of Nashville, which was thus thrown into the hands of the Federals' | General Johnston nao lonB peeh aware of Nthe danger, and even before evacuating Bowling Green had fore | seen the possible necessity of falling behind the Cumberland. if not the Tennessee River His plan was fully matured and he had selected Corinth: Miss, juSt south of the great bend or | the Tennessee, as the point at which he would rally, and from which, with the concentration of all available forces. he would move to give battle to the Federal army. On the 25th Of March. General Johnston completed the cons centration of his army at Corintn' corresponding movement had mean while taken place on the part of the Federal forces. General Grant had. on the 10th of March. began his expedi- ton up the Tennessee River, ana on the 17th of the month the greater part of his army. containing about 5O'Ooo effective men, was in camp at and near Pittsburg Landing. On the 18th Of March, Gen. Buell., with an army of 37. 900 marched from Nashville for the same point, while Gen, O. M Mitchell. with a corps of 1s.000. marched South to seize the M. and c. Railroad
 Grant was resting in fancled secur- ity awaiting the arrival of Gen Buell. to move southwest, without a thought of danger when Gen. Johnston, hoping to strike him before Buell. could ef feet A Junction with him, moved out from Corinth on the 3rd of April. ow- ing to continued rains and consequent Ats@so,,lfxk oP moving his army the hat