The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-10-01
Memoirs Of General Johnson.

"The Partisan Rangers, by
Gen. Adam r. Johnson, is one OF
the most interesting of the many
contributions to the "war lltera-
ture" Of the South. In a plain,
narrative form, the author writes
his Memoirs of that part of the
great struggle in which he was
engaged. In this comparatively
brief period his field was extern
sive and his deeds of daring were
numerous and almost always
successful. Some of these bold
raids, admirably planned and
brilliantly executed, read like ro-
nance, but are more interesting
because Of their truth. They
were not made merely for the
sake Of adventure, but from a
patriotic desire to aid the South
ern cause, and in this each con-
tributed, from entering the Fed
eral lines with the fate of a spy as
his doom, 10 his last battle, late
in 1864, at a point on the Cum
berland River, where he was in
capacitated by blindness mimic
ball struck him in the right eye,
and coming out at the left temple,
cut out both eyes. During his
term of service he accomplished
as much good for the Confederacy
as many OF the great leaders, con-
sidering his smaller command and
narrower field, and he did more
than some of superior rank and
greater names. He was quick
to plan and prompt to execute,
and his brilliant successes show
that he was naturally a leader of
men-having few equals even
among those higher in command.
He advanced from the ranks to
a Brigadier Generalship, and
from a scout under Forrest to the
command of that famous brigade.
The events in his military life
form very interesting story, and
he relates it in simple and un-
affected manner, which is the
more charming because of that
simplicity. He begins by relat-
ing his first meeting with Colonel
Forrest, asking to be enrolled as
scout, and, after a searching
look from that unerring reader OF
men, was assigned to important
and extra-h hazardous duty. He
had left his home at Burnet, Texas,
and came to Kentucky to en-
list-his native State. With For
rests permission, he visited his
mother at Henderson, the village
then being occupied by a detach-
ment of Yankees. Here, he re-
manned several days, and, finally
when suspected, made his escape
after thrilling adventure.
The military situation was re-
ported to Colonel Forrest, and il
was decided to capture the place,
This was done by Johnson and
% men, and without loss on his
side. Following the capture OF
this provost guard of so men, was
the capture of Newburg, the fight
at Madisonville, and the taking
of Madisonville and GAINESVILLE,
and about one million dollars
worth Of supplies. These victo-
ries also gave to the South a large
number OF recruits, from which
johnson organized a regiment,
and was given its command.
But, the most interesting part
of this entertaining narrative, is
that detailing his adventures as a
scout after information-worming
his way through ravine into the
enemy's lines under the cover OF
darkness. when discovery would
bring shower of bullets, or
death by the hangman's moose as
a spy. These incidents are re-
lated not in a boastful manner,
but as the happenings in a SOL
dier's career. The book is writ
ten, not for self glorification, but
for these two reasons, says the
author:
''First, to pay merited tribute
to the Kentucky boys, who, most