Uncle Joe Johnston on his removal before Atlanta

[gary]

When told that "a black pall" fell over Georgia when he was removed, General Johnston replied that the speaker was biased in his favor. He was pressed again and Johnston relented and told more.

"I was in command of as splendid an army as general ever had. It was stronger and larger the day I reached Atlanta than it was the day I began to retreat. It took me seventy-three days to fall back seventy-four miles. I never lost a wagon or a caisson. I put almost as many of the enemy hors de combat as I had in my army. Men who were at home flocked to me. I had put fifteen thousand of Governor Brown's militia on the fortifications, and Atlanta was impregnable. I had 'tolled' General Sherman just to the place where I wanted him, i.e., between two rivers. I had divided his forces, and would have fallen on one part, and if the God of battles had not been against me, I would have crushed that, and fallen on the other, and an organized command would not have gotten back to Chattanooga. Three brigades had marched three miles to begin the fight when the order came."

By this time the General had become so excited, that the tears gushed from his eyes, and he strode out of the room into the piazza.

General Hardeee and I had risen to our feet, as excited as the General was, and as he went out, General Hardee fairly sobbed, as he said: "Yes, and the grand old man does not tell you, but I will. He went to General Hood, and asked him to withhold the order until the battle was fought. Johnston stipulated that if it should be a victory, it should be Hood's, if a defeat, he would not come from the field alive. If it would only be a check, Johnston could fall back on Atlanta, recruit and resume operations. Hood, however, refused. The rest we know; history will tell of the desolation and ruin that followed."

I disliked Hood as an army commander before but even more so now. But hey, I won't lose sleep. It's hystery.

[johan_steele]

JOhnston was well loved by his men there is no doubt about it. You have to really feel bad for his men. First they had Bragg then Hood after Johnston.. two men guranteed to make anyone look angelic in comparison.