e subject, expressed the gravest fears of the consequences; General
Whiting, especially, declaring his conviction that it was a fatal
measure; and it is certain that General Johnston's army was
enthusiastically devoted to him; officers and men, with few exceptions,
reposing unbounded confidence in him.

Concurrent testimony has since conclusively proven how grave a mistake
was committed. General Hooker, who served in that campaign under General
Sherman, writes "This retreat was so masterly, that I regard it as a
useful lesson for study for all persons who may hereafter elect for
their calling the profession of arms." "The news that General Johnston
had been removed from the command of the army opposed to us, was
received by our officers with universal rejoicing." "One of the
prominent historians of the Confederacy ascribes the misfortunes of the
'Lost Cause' to the relief of General Johnston. I do not think this, but
it certainly contributed materially to hasten its collapse." Indeed the
Confederate Government seems subsequently to have admitted its mistake,
and the injustice inflicted upon General Johnston, by reinstating him in
the command of the "army of the South," and with orders "to concentrate
all available forces, and drive back Sherman." This, however, was not
till February, 1865, when the "available forces" amounted to about
16,000 men, and General Sherman's army of 70,000, had reached the State
of North Carolina unopposed. When General Johnston turned over the
command to General Hood, the army consisted of 36,900 infantry 3,750
artillery, and 9,970 cavalry, a total of 50,620 well equipped troops.
"In returning from its disastrous expedition against Nashville, the army
of Tennessee had halted in north-eastern Mississippi. A large
proportion of these troops were then furloughed by General Hood, and
went to their homes. When General Sherman's army invaded South Carolina,
General Beauregard ordered those remaining on duty to repair to that
State * * * The remaining troops of that army were coming through
Georgia in little parties * * * at least two-thirds of the arms of these
troops had been lost in Tennessee."[11] In General Johnston's Narrative,
page 351, he says "The troops themselves, who had been seventy-four days
in the immediate presence of the enemy, laboring and fighting daily;
enduring trial and encountering dangers with equal cheerfulness; more
confident and high-spirited even than when the Federal army