.MTA5MQ.MTY3MA

54 Cathedral Street Baltimore, Jany 21st 1865

General,

                        kind

The letter you were so obliging[crossed out] as to write to me on the 10th inst is received. In re- ference to the matter to which it relates, - our recollections differ. I am unwilling to oc- cupy the position in which your letter places me. I have no right to be surprised at any inaccuracy of your recollection of my course, when, of the other three gentlemen consulted by the President at the time, only Genl Ran- dolph (whose evidence I was fortunate enough to obtain) seems to have preserved any dis- tinct recollection of the discussion

Thinking it not unreasonable on my part, to claim to be good authority as to the opinions I expressed and the degree of perti- nacity with which they were maintained

                  occasion

on the most important ^ of the kind in my life, I will here write the substance of

                                   what

[Pg 2] what I have said of my own course in that conference, whenever I have spoken of it. I am as confident of its correctness as I can be in a matter of memory. It is,

The you having made to the president a suggestion (the first one offered) to assem- ble at Richmond all the available troops of the confederacy, and with the powerful army so formed, to fall upon the Federal forces when, following ours from the Pen- insula, they came within striking distance. I regarded it as the wisest course practica- ble and advocated it and represented the danger of attempting to hold the Union near Yorktown until after midnight, when the President announced his decision – to meet McClellan on the Peninsula. In connection with which he ordered me to take com- mand there; and to add you troops and those of Genl Longstreet to Magruder’s ar- my. This order included no instructions –

                                      nor 

[Pg 3] suggestion even, as to the course to be pursu- ed after my arrival.

I obeyed this order precisely as you and Genl Longstreet obeyed mine.

You say that I told Genl Whiting that if you had not gone to sleep the army would not have been sent to the position ( of York- town) I cannot pretend to remember what may have I ^ said in casual conversation at that time. But such as opinion seems to me now so unreasonable that I can not imagine that it was ever entertained by me. I hope therefore – indeed think that Genl Whi- ting must have misunderstood me.

                        obliging 

Thanking you for the kind offer[crossed out] with which you close your letter, I am

                    most respectfully 
                    your [ ? ] [ ? ]
                     J. E. Johnston

Genl G. W. Smith