The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-01-26
THE WAR FIFTY
YEARS AGO
By Captain GEORGE L. KIL1ER. Late
U. s. v.
copyright by American Press Assocla-
tion, 1911

By Captain GEORGE L. KIL1ER. Late
U. s. v.
ICopyright by American Press Assocla-
ton, 1911
TAHIs time fifty years ago Union
and Confederate armies we're
mastering strong on the bor-
der and sharpening. swords
afresh for the clash Of arms to come.
In the Closing weeks of 1861 move
ments Of troops and ships were be-
gun. which were to end in the battles
Of Mill Springs, Ky; Roanoke Island,
N. c.; Forts Henry and Donelson.
Tenn; New Orleans; Pea Ridge. Ark.
and Shiloh. Tenn. in January. Febru
ary. March and April, 1862.
The generals to whom the north and
south looked for speedy and brilliant
victories fifty years ago were George
B. Mcclellan and Albert Sidney John
ston. Second to Mcclellan in the
north was Don Carlos Buell., who led
the Federal forces in the central west,
and second in point Of prominence in
rank to Albert Sidney Johnston.
though not subordinate to him. was
Joseph Eccleston Johnston. Mcclellan
as general in chief directed the army
and navy operations which, under
General Burnside and Commodore
Goldsborough, were to conquer the
coast Of North Carolina, the army and
navy operations under Ben Butler and
Farragut, which would open up the
lower Mississippi to the Federal feet.
and in person conducted the opera
tons Of the Army of the Potomac in
Virginia.
The Confederate Genius of the West.
1t was the genius Of Albert Sidney
Johnston, New Englander by birth,
which inspired the Confederate oper-
ations in Kentucky and Tennessee.
leading to the battles at Mill Springs,
Donelson and Shiloh during the first
three months of 1862 Johnston was
In California at the outbreak Of the
war and did not reach Richmond un-
til September. 1861, after the battles
of Bull Run, in Virginia. and Wilson's !
Greek, in Missouri. Joe Johnston, as
he was familiarly called, then led the |
Confederate forces directly opposing
Mcclellan on the Potomac line, and |
Albert Sidney was sent west to hold |
for the south as much Of Kentucky |
as he could get a firm grip on and the
whole Of Tennessee at all hazards. |
Taking his stand at Bowling Green.
Ky, Johnston gathered around him
Ill the Confederate troops in the west
and attempted to keep the Federal ar
my from marching south of that point.
He appealed to the government at
Richmond for more troops. saying that
with 10000 men be could not hold his
ground when the enemy had the Ohio.
Cumberland and Tennessee rivers open
o their transports and fighting ships
IN either flank Of his territory.
In the early fall OF 1861 General w, T.
Sherman had been at the head of the
lrmy opposed to Johnston, but he was
in November by Buell., who
planned a sweeping movement to the
Iouth. With his headquarters at Lou
sville. Buell. had gathered a large
lrmy and amused the Confederates at
Bowling Green IN the interior and at
Columbus on the Mississippi during
he late fall and early winter.
Johnston was an aggressive soldier
IS well as a strategist. and while con-
ronting Sherman in November had so
harmed Uncle Billy" that he de-
handed 100000 men, for he said that
Johnston took the notion to march
n Louisville no power then in the
eld could stop him. But Buell.. after
aking In the situation, said, II would
8 soon expect to see the Army OF the \