Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/180

 180 Southern Historical Society Papers.

what demoralized, but when the campaign with Sherman opened the worst regiment in it was equal to the best when he came to its com- mand. A Missouri soldier of Cockrell's brigade, which Johnston declared to be the best body of infantry he ever saw, was on his way back to his regiment after recovery from a wound. I asked him, " What do you all think of the change of commanders ? " " Oh, sir, we are mightily cut down about it ! "

" The bomb-proofs and the newspapers complain of his retreats. Why, we did not miss a meal from Dalton to Atlanta, and were always ready for the fight. We never felt we were retreating."

GRANT'S OPINION.

During that campaign Bishop Lay went to City Point to get a pass from Grant to enable him to return to his home. He told me Grant sent for him, invited him to his headquarters, and talked freely with him for a long time. He seemed to the Bishop to feel that he was handling Sherman's army during that campaign. He said that the telegraph was a wonderful accessory of war; that every night he and Sherman conversed by it an hour or two about the movements of the army on that day, and what it was to do on the next. And he said: " Bishop, when I heard your government had removed Johnston from command I was as happy as if I had reinforced Sherman with a large army corps."

SCHOFIELD.

During the past year General Johnston, responding to me, said in his emphatic manner: " Yes, I consider General Schofield much the ablest soldier and the highest gentleman who has occupied that office since I have known it."

Such a tribute from such a source must be very gratifying to such a soldier as Schofield is. And you know just praise is the breath of the soldier's life and its highest aim.

THE BEST SHOT.

The General bitterly deplored the long inaction which his severe wounds at Seven Pines enforced upon him. When he was lying at Mr. Joseph H. Crenshaw's, in Richmond, where he was brought from the field, his medical director, Dr. P'auntleroy, told me an old Vir- ginian called to pay his respects and sympathy.

He said: " Not only do we deplore this cruel affliction upon you, General, but we feel it to be a national calamity."