Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-15
MEMORIAL TABLET FOR
GENERAL ]. {. JOHNSTON
Marks Spot Where He Was Brought
Wounded From Seven
Pines.
COL. ARCHER ANDERSON TALKS
Member Of JOhnston's Staff Tells Of
Ills Character, and Grandneice
Pulls Veil From Observation-Disclosures
From General Lee Read,


From General Lee Read.
In front OF the house Mt 2sl5 East
hroad Street lies to-day simple me-
mortal tablet for General Joseph r..
'phhston. who was carried to the
'rchShaw residence which once stood
upon the spot, desperately wounded
aitcr the battle Of Seven Pines The
'"oict commentaries the fact that the
great Confederate general. one OF those
leaders whom the Federals feared the
most. was carried thither, and that he
was nursed back to health. so that
again he could strike terror and dis
may into the hosts which were so often
hung against him.
lie exercises were appropriate but
simple a small crowd of veterans,
"'eHlperS OF the various Confederate
societies and of others who still pro
serve interest in the story of The Lost
'huse' gathered about the house and
sun others who live nearby gathered
!ii 'heir windows and porchcs To watch
the scene.
ADDRESS - MADE BY
COL. ARCHER ANDERSON
me ceremony was under the auspices
n' the Confederate Memorial Literary
society, with Branch -. Morgan pre-
sidinS He explained tn. motives tina,
hau prompted III. laying OF tn. tablet
~ the pavement. and introduced Rev
'.i''es rover smith. -. d., former
""ntr on the STAFF OF General stone
wall Jackson. and the only surviving
member Of that staff. who offered the
invocation. The address Of the oc-
rasion was delivered by Colonel Archer
NAhcrson. who was member Of Cen
"ral Johnston's STAFF.
y bugle corps OF the Bow Scouts nm
DER Fairfax Jones, marched TO tho
mouse. and was used In holding ba elk
IN" crowd. rendering effective assist
ance 10 the police.
IN opening his address Colonel An
derson said:
ated with tragic moment in the life
o' IL great soldier General Joseph +.
Johnston was brought here on the even
ING or the 3lst Of May. 1862. after being
E,''ckch down By two severe wounds at
the close OF the battle OF Seven pines
always. as Livy said OF Haunihal the
nrs' 10 go into "a nigh, and the last TO
come out"
DESCnInEs STRENGTH
OF HIS CHARACTER
Aiter nhrrating the circumstances
which led up 10 the battle. Colonel An
d.Tson said that he had heard David
H. mn and other distinguished officers
say that the brilliant feat OF arms
OF the Confederate right Il; seven Pines
was decisive in Inspiring that assur-
hhce OF invincibility which carried m.
Army OF Northern Virginia TO it's future
T'uinphs lie told OF tn. strength
aud activity OF General Johns;on's ch.r
ac'ef' ana said that his early surround
iugs had tended 10 make OF him an
aspiring and hardy soldier
II was the heroic fiber in him" said
'"lonel Anderson. that was strung
INTO tension at every contact with
greatness In fiction or history He had
Il IN, d
tN"ry soldier who had played great
part In the world, and nc talked abou,
cach one. from Alexander TO Napoleon
Win criticism as discriminating and
!eehhS as deep AS contempora would
have called forth. He emerged frou,
the Mexican War with a reputation for
Nigor. forecast and valor second ONLY
to Robert Lees"
LATER RENDERED.
BRILLIANT SERVICE
General Johnston recovered and re-
turned to duty in November 1862. and
III February. 1864, ne was assigned To
command the Army of Tennessee, which
was recovering NJ Dalton. Ca, from the
disaster OF Missionary Ridge And"
said Colonel Anderson 'in the darkest
hour OF the Confedcracys fate General
Lee called him back 10 the command az
the survivors OF those men whom he
once described as infantry UNSURPASSED
by that Of Napoleons Old Guard or that
which followed Wellington into France
out OF SPAIN"
In speaking further of the soldierly
Qualities OF the great leader Colonel An
derson recalled that Grant had 81 id
When heard that your (ConfederateJ
government had removed Johnston
from command. | was as happy as if 7
had re-eaforced Sherman with a large
army corps" and to another person. az
nave had nearly all OF the Southern gen
erals In high command in front of me.
ana Joe Johnston gave me more anxiety
than any of the others. was never
half so anxious about Lee"
such. said Colonel Anderson. WAS
the great soldier whose name is in
scribcd on the tablet We now unvcil
Tho men who had felt his blows praised
him most"
TABLET Is UNVEILED
ny MISS SUSAN JOHNSTON
AS Colonel Anderson finished speak
ing, miss Susan Johnston, daughter of
Dir. George Ben Johnston, and n grand
niece OF the Confederate leader, drew
aside the veil. and the tablet was shown
Following is the inscription on the
tablet: General Joseph +. Johnston.
Confederate states Army. desperately
wounded at the battle of Seven Pines.
was brought to the Crenshaw residence
standing In this block. and nursed to
recovery. This marker is placed by the
Confederate Memorial Literary Society,
y. ID. 1915
The following letter from General
Robert e. Lee to Mrs. Johnston on the
occasion Of her husbands woundinc
was read:
Near Richmond, Q June, 'Ge.
"My Dear Mrs. Johnston:
II am so grieved at the Gen'!s wound.
on his account yours and the coun-
try's. ] heard Of it on the field, but
he was carried from 1t before ] could
get to him 1 called at his quarters
on my way back to the city ut night,
and afterwards sent to the SPOTS
wood. but could hear nothing OF him.
I was very glad yesterday to hear
DR.. Gibson's report of him, and trust
he may only suffer temporary incon-
ventence. You must soon cure him.
In the meantime the Prnsidnnt has