State

THE LAST CONFEDERATE TO SIR "I earnestly exhort you to observe faithfully the terms of the pacification agreed upon, and to discharge the ob¬ ligations of good and peaceful citizens as well as you have performed the duties of thorough soldiers in the field." This from General Joseph ifcclcston Johnston on April 26, 1865. at Durham's Station, North Carolina, when he surrendered the forces under his command to General Sherman. A grave, unobtrusive, elderly gentleman is lie today; neat from his carefully brushed hat to his scrupulously dusted gaiter-tops; straight as a lightning rod. with a hawk’s glance, and a mouth as if cut in steel. Born in 1807. he graduated at West Point in 182‘J, and did garrison duty up to the Seminole war, during which he served as aid to General Scott. Dur¬ ing the war with the Florida Indians lie was breveted captain for most dis¬ tinguished gallantry. He fought all through the Mexican war, leading the forlorn hope on the castle of Chapul- tepcc, and was wounded on two occasions, winning successively his ma¬ jority, lieutenant-colonelcy and colo¬ nelcy. His numerous wounds led General Scott afterwards to say of him. ‘‘Johnston is a great soldier, but he has an unfortunate knack of getting himself shot in nearly every engage¬ ment." In June, I860, he became quarter¬ master-general with the rank of briga¬ dier-general of staff. He resigned his commission on April 2 2d, 1861. en¬ tered the Confederate service, and commanded at the battle of Bull Run. and subsequently at Yorklown and Richmond. During the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, he was badly wounded, and was for some months disabled for service. After Bragg's de¬ feat at Chattanooga, he took command of his army, occupying a position at Dalton, Ga.. which was burned by Sherman early in May. 1864. where¬ upon Johnston fell back successively to Rcsaca. Altoona Pass. Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta fighting every inch of the road. So skillfully and or¬ derly was his retreat, that Sherman exclaimed. "I have followed Johnston for hundreds of miles, and I never ► t R> i: a fi a fs 1£ b ■f X Hr ikr General Joseph E Johnston, sketched by the artist tor “Leslie's Illustrated" newspaper in 1880 The setting is Rolcigh, but whether the background represents the courthouse or copitol. we do not know i 6 THE STATE. FEBRUARY 3. 1962