allegiance due.

Disappointment, as pertained to his life ambitions, had often before
waited upon his footsteps when the thing desired seemed ready to his
grasp. Yet, seeing his duty clearly, he did it.

To his sister by marriage, when she, in surprise at his action in
resigning, wrote him in California, where he was then stationed, he
replied that he was deeply sensible of the "calamitious condition" of
the country; and that whatever his part thereafter regarding it, he
congratulated himself that no act of his had aided in bringing it about;
that the adjustment of the difficulties by the sword was not in his
judgment the remedy.

Secession was to him a grievous thing.

Arriving at Richmond from the West, General Johnston was given the
command of the Western Department of the Confederacy.

From September to February, 1862, he held the line against heavy odds at
Bowling Green, Ky., when he retreated to Corinth, Miss., where he
assembled his entire army and attacked Grant at Shiloh Church near
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.

In the flush tide of a great victory, he was struck by a Minie ball and
expired in a few moments.

He rode a magnificent black animal called "Fire-eater." On horseback
General Johnston appeared to distinct advantage. The masterly manner in
which he sat his horse attracted the attention of the commander in
chief of the army, Thomas J. Rusk, during the Texan Revolution, and
procured him the appointment of adjutant general over several eager
aspirants for the position.

As he passed along the lines to the front of the troops at Shiloh, he
raised his hat and cried out,

"I will lead you!"

To this the men responded with a mighty cheer and quickened movement,
albeit they knew he was leading many of them to death.

Hard up the slopes they pressed.

Nor shot, nor shell, nor falling men deterred them.

The summit was reached. The Federals were in retreat. A little apart
from the others, a fine target for the deadly marksman, the figure of
General Johnston on "Fire-eater" was plainly visible.

His clothing was torn in places. His boot sole was slashed by a ball,
but he himself was uninjured.

In his countenance was reflected a satisfaction of the day's results.

[Illustration: FROM THE LAST LINE OF THE RETREATING FEDERALS A BULLET
WHISTLED BACK, WHISTLED BACK AND CUT HIM DOWN.]

The wisdom of his decisions had been proven; his judgment justified.

From the last line of the retreating Feder