A late article in
Blackwood's Magazine makes an interesting reference to the
Confederate Generals, and among them, of course, to the veteran
Commander-in-Chief of the army of the Potomac.
Virginia, which has contributed so liberally in men and means to this war, and which has so many sons of whom she has reason to be proud, has none more worthy of her admiration and confidence than
Gen. Johnston.
We believe it is the universal opinion of military men that as a strategist, planner of campaigns, and a leader of armies in the field, this accomplished son of
Virginia has no superior on this continent.
His masterly conduct of affairs at
Harper's Feery, and the reticence he manifested with reference to his ulterior objects, and the uncomplaining fortitude with which he bore the captions criticism of the ignorant multitude about his falling back to
Winchester, leaving it to events to elucidate the wisdom of his course, show him to be not only a first rate military, show him to be not only a first rate military leader, but one who cannot be moved from the anchorage of an enlightened and strong judgment by that popular elamor which has disturbed the equilibrium and changed the plans of so many military.
There was something of the moral sublime in the explanations of
Gen. Johnston's mysterious movements in the
Valley, which burst forth like a thounderbolt upon the plains of
Manassas.
His timely arrival and splendid daring and energy upon that hard-fought field, were the means, in the hands of
Providence, of wresting from the enemy a victory which they thought already within their grasp, and of covering his name with imperishable laurels.
In addition to his eminent military genius, and those hereis qualities which command the entire and perfect confidence of his troops,
Gen. Johnston is a man of remarkable common sense, and never either says or does a foolish thing.
He understands human nature and the nature of soldiers thoroughly, and looks through a man or a subject with the quickness and clearness of a sunbeam.
The
Yankees are fond of comparing their pet chieftain,
McClellan, to
Napoleon; though what title he has ever established to that most extravagant compliment, the world at large has never been able to learn.
We may with much more propriety compare
Gen. Johnston to the
Iron Duke, and predist for the ‘"Young
Napoleon"’ such a Waterlco at the next
Manassas as
America at least has never yet behold.
