scattered remnants of the Southern forces in North Carolina for the purpose of opposing Sherman's northward march. After great effort he succeeded in concentrating about 19,000 men of all arms, and with them attacked and repulsed Sherman's left wing of about 33,000 men at Bentonville on March 19th. Sherman there upon concentrated against him his entire force, about 70,000 strong, and Johnston withdrew.
On the surrender of Lee, Johnston opened negotiations with Sherman looking to a cessation of hostilities, and the result was their convention, which was practically a treaty of peace. It was disavowed, however, by the Federal government immediately after the assassination of President Lincoln. On April 26, 1865, the generals met again and Johnston capitulated on honorable terms, the same that had been agreed on between Lee and Grant, thus closing his military career in high honor and holding both the esteem and affection of the Southern soldiers.
After the close of the war he led an industrious though quiet life, winning the respect of friend and foe. He served a term in Congress from the Richmond district of Virginia. He was selected as one of the pall-bearers at the funeral of General Grant, and later at the funeral of General Sherman, his old antagonist. He died in Washington City on March 21, 1891. His military reputation has constantly grown as it has been closely studied. Grant and Sherman are said to have reckoned him as the ablest general of the South. Colonel Chesney, the eminent English military writer, classes him with Turenne, and Lord Wolseley has expressed himself hardly less strongly. Lee, Jackson and Johnston will ever rank as the great triumvirate of Virginians, who were by general consensus of opinion the greatest military leaders of the South. His services during the Civil war were related by him in his work called Johnston's Narrative, which he published in 1874. A less technical and briefer account is contained in the biography written at his request by his grand-nephew, Robert M. Hughes, and published in 1893.
