Correspondence.
Gen Albert Sidney Johnston.
To the editors of the Dispatch:
Republics, it is said, are often ungrateful.--There has been no exemplification of this fact than the lately raised against a gallant officer for unavoidable disasters.
I refer to
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston.
Calm reflection, however, is now
proving the gross injustice of the popular clamor, which blamed him for the capture of
Fort Donelson by an overwhelming force of the enemy Do your readers know what force
Gen. Johnston had?
Besides the 14, 000 at
Fort Donelson, he had not more than 10,000 men on his retreat from
Bowling Green to
Nashville.--He could not be ubiquitous, and could not, with so small a force.
protect
Nashville against a column of 80,000 troops.
Did he not use every exertion to rouse up
Tennessee, and urge the people to make such preparations as would render
Nashville impregnable?
The writer knows that he did as far back as October last.
The people of that State are a gallant race, the citizens of
Nashville are as true and loyal to our Government as any in the
South.
I have not a word or a reflection to make against them; but they did not dream of the enemy attacking
Tennessee, and all of
Gen. Johnston's efforts and appeals were rendered fruitless by the unfortunate and mistaken confidence which the people had in the ability of our small army to repel a host of invaders.
I wish to call the attention of your readers to the testimony of
Gov. Harris, in his late message to the Legislature at
Memphis:
"Immediately upon hearing of the fall of
Fort Donelson, I called upon
Gen. Johnston to tender to him all the resources of the
State which could be made available, with my full co-operation in any and all measures of defence of our State and capital.
Gen. Johnston informed me that under the circumstances which surrounded him, with the small force then under his command, he regarded it as his duty to the army he commanded and the
Government he represented, to fall back with his army south of
Nashville, making no defence of the city, and that he would do so immediately upon the arrival of the army from
Bowling Green.
The necessity for this retrograde movement, I am certain, was deeply regretted by
Gen. Johnston.
None could have deplored it more seriously than myself.
"Many weeks before this crisis in our affairs,
Gen. Johnston sent a highly accomplished and able engineer,
Major Gilmer.
to
Nashville to construct first cations for the defence of the city.
Laborers were needed for their construction.
I joined
Major Gilmer in an earnest and urgent appeal to the people to send in their laborers for this purpose, offering and fair compensation.
This appeal was so responded to that I advised
Gen. Johnston to impress the necessary labor, but owing to the difficulty in obtaining the laborers, the works were not completed; indeed, some of them little more the a commenced, when
Fort Donelson fell"
I make the prediction now, that
General Johnston will yet prove himself to be a General of surpassing ability and sagacity.
He is long-headed and clear headed, and strengthened as he is, the day is not distant when his gentle will add fresh laurels to his own brow and lasting fame to the
Confederacy.
He has not had the opportunity to display his talents.
When a fair field is presented to him, the nation, with one acclaim, will hall him as among the noblest and trust of her sons.
Kentucky.
