Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/358

346 (2.) That on the 22d of July "Hardee failed entirely to turn the enemy's left, as directed, took position and attacked his flanks." (322.)

(3.) That at Jonesboro', on the 31st of August, he did not succeed in dislodging the force of the enemy there in position; and the attack, measured by the loss—fourteen hundred killed and wounded—was not vigorous. (324.)

Fifteen years later, and some seven years after General Hardee's death, these charges are reproduced, amplified and reinforced; and he is now, in effect, charged with wilful disobedience of orders on these occasions, arising from a purpose to thwart the operations of the Commanding-General, and supplemented by such unsoldierly and dishonorable means as cautioning his troops against the breastworks they were about to assault.

General Hardee was a soldier by nature and by education. His career in the old army was long and in a high degree honorable. In the war between the States his military service covered the entire period of its duration. It extended through every grade—from Colonel to Lieutenant-General. It embraced every command, independent and subordinate, from a brigade to a military department. In the outset he declined the position of Adjutant-General, in favor of active service in the field, and throughout the war, from Missouri to North Carolina, as the trusted lieutenant of Albert Sidney Johnston in Kentucky in charge of the first line of battle at Shiloh—at Perryville—in command of the victorious left wing at Murfreesboro'—in the long and deadly grapple of Sherman's and Johnston's armies from Dalton to Atlanta—at Savannah, and through the Carolinas—at Bentonville, leading a remnant of the Army of Tennessee in the last charge it ever made—always on duty; always at the post of honor and of danger; always equal to the trusts reposed in him, there is no chapter in the history of the fortunes or the misfortunes of the Western army which does not bear conspicuous witness to his honorable service. Even at Missionary Ridge, in command of the right, he not only held his own, and repulsed all assaults upon him, but charged the enemy in turn, and brought off prisoners and captured colors, as after nightfall, he withdrew, in perfect order, from the position which had covered the retreat of the army. He afterwards declined the command-in-chief of that army under circumstances which, if showing an undue diffidence of his own abilities, showed also exalted patriotism, and an absence of all selfish ambition.