Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/361

 In his attack on McClellan's left on the 31st of May he had beaten two corps, one-third of the Army of the Potomac, and had victory within his grasp when at the close of the day he was seriously wounded. The command of the army then fell into other hands.

We next find General Johnston assigned to an extensive command in the West, where he was loaded with responsibility, while practically powerless. In the campaigns in Georgia, his operations were masterly—too well known to need comment here. In his last battle in North Carolina, with an inferior force, he defeated one wing of Sherman's army, and held the ground until his wounded were removed from the field.

The terms entered into with Sherman at the close of the war stamp him the statesman.

He rises before us a born leader of men, commanding alike in war or peace.

[From Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch, February 19, 1911.] WHY JEFFERSON DAVIS WAS NEVER TRIED.

Consultation Night Before Case Was Called—The Chase Dinner—Unrecorded History.

The Chief Justice of the United States just appointed is an ex-Confederate soldier, and two of the associate judges are Southern men, and this fact may lend special interest to an incident which occurred more than forty years ago, and very soon after the termination of the War between the States.

Jefferson Davis had been indicted for treason, and, at the time I refer to, was on bail, one of his bondsmen being Horace Greeley. His counsel were James Lyons and William H. Macfarland, of Richmond; Charles O'Connor, of New York, and William B. Reed, of Philadelphia. Some wonder was expressed that Chief Justice Chase had come to Richmond to sit with Judge