To add one man, even if a great commander, would add but little strength to any army, already exhausted beyond the hope of recuperation, still “You will beat Sherman back!” the President writes.  I for one cannot see how a General could receive such an order at such time in any other spirit than ridicule.  President Davis, even after the fall of Richmond and the battle of Bettonville fought, where Johnston tried once more to “beat back Sherman” and failed—­after all the circumstances and conditions were given to him in detail—­said, “The struggle could be still carried on to a successful issue by bringing out all our latent resources; that we could even cross the Mississippi River, join forces with Kirby Smith, and prolong the war indefinitely.”  Was there ever such blind faith or dogged tenacity of purpose?  Did Mr. Davis and our Generals really believe there was still a chance for a successful issue at this late day, or was it the knowledge of the disposition of the troops whom they knew would rather suffer death than defeat.

It must, within all reason, have been the latter, for no great commander cognizant of all the facts could have been so blind.  Even while the Confederate troops were overwhelmed by numbers, communications cut on all sides, all out posts and the borders hemmed in one small compass, some of our soldiers entered a publishing house in Raleigh, destroyed all the type, broke the presses, and demolished the building—­all this because the editor of the paper advised the giving up of the contest!  Did the soldiers of the South believe as yet that they were beaten?  Circumstances and their surly moods say not.  Well might a commander or executive have apprehensions of his personal safety should he counsel submission as long as there was a soldier left to raise a rifle or draw a lanyard.  I ask again was there ever before such troops as those of the South?  Will there ever be again?

Kershaw’s Brigade, now attached to Hardee’s Corps, reached Cheraw about the first of March, but the enemy’s advance was at Chesterfield, causing Hardee to continue his march by Rockinham on to Fayetteville, N.C., near which place the two armies, that is the one under Hampton and the other under Hardee, came together.  Hardee having recovered from his indisposition, relieved General McLaws, the latter returning to Augusta, Ga.  Kershaw’s Brigade was soon after put in Wathal’s Division.

On the 22nd of February General Jos.  E. Johnston, who was then living at Lincolnton, N.C., was called from his retirement and placed in command of all the troops in North and South Carolina and Georgia.  Although the army was nothing more than detachments, and widely separated and greatly disorganized when he reached them, still they hailed with delight the appointment of their former faithful old commander.  His one great aim was the convergence of the various armies to one point in front of the enemy and strike a blow at either one or more of his columns, either