Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

would De surrendered. HIS last troops
were then arriving at Nashville. Tenn,
which he had elected to defend at Donel-
son. His first words were: Il must save
this army" He at once determined to
abandon the line of the Cumberland and
concentrate all available forces at CO.
rinth, Miss, $50 miles 10 the southwest
for a renewed struggle.
He moved his men over the mud roads
to Cornth. in a wet and stormy season
Nevertheless, he assembled his army of
23.o00-about 5000 effectives-there on
the 18th day of March, full of enthusiasm
and the spirit of combat. In the mean
time the Confederate government lent
him all the aid in its power, reinforc-
ing him with an army ten thousand strong
from the southern coast under Gen.
Braxton Bragg and with such arms as
could be procured.
When the capture of Fort Henry sep
arated Tennessee into two distinct
theaters of war, Gen. Johnston assigned
the district west of the Tennessee river
to Gen. Beauregard. who had been sent
to him for duty. This officer had sud-
denly acquired a high reputation at the
battle of Bull Run. and Gen. Johnston
naturally intrusted him with large dis
erection. He sent him with instructions
TO concentrate all available forces near
Corinth, movement previously begun.
Besides the reinforcements brought by
Bragg, Gen. Beauregard found in the
western district 1870 electives under
Polk, and at or near Corinth 5000 men
under Pope Walker and Chalmers anu
5000 under Ruggles sent from louisa Ia
by Lowell. He made eloquent appeals,
which brought him several regiments
more. Thus he had nearly 10000 men
collected for him. 10000 of whom he dis
posed in river defenses. and the remain
der to protect the railroads from Grants
force, fresh from its victory at Donelson,
which was concentrating at Pittsburgh
Landing, on the Tennessee. Gen. john
ston's arrival increased the force at
corinth TO about JO.0O0 men, about 10000
of whom We're electives.
Gen. JohnStonS plan of campaign may
be summed up in a phrase. 1t was to
concentrate at Corinth and interpose his
whole force in front of the great bend
OF the Tennessee. the natural base of the
Federal army: this effected, to crush
Grant in battle before the arrival of
Buell's army of the Ohio from Nashville.
which had fallen into Union hands as
the result of the fall of Donelson. This
meant immediate and decisive action. The
army Johnston had brought from Nash
Vile ready for the contest, but Gems.
Beauregard and Bragg represented TO him
that the troops collected by them were
unable TO move without thorough reor-
eaniZation. Ten days We're consumed in
this work of reorganization. But Buell. 8
movements were closely watched. and,
hearing of his approach on the I'd of
April, Gen. Johnston resolved to delay no
longer, but to strike at once a decisive
blow
In the reorganization of the army he
assigned Gen. Bragg as chief of staff,
with command of corps. To Beaure-
gard he rendered the immediate COM
mand of the army in the impending bat
tie. Coming into this district, which he
had assigned to Beauregard, Johnston
felt dsinclined TO deprive him of any
reputation he might acquire from a vic
tory. He had not the slightest idea, how
ever, OF abdicating the supreme COM