Ethan's Peach Tree - A Civil War Blog

Sherman had a deep respect for General Joseph E. Johnston.  Sherman described him as a "dangerous enemy," and Johnston proved him right by inflicting 25% casualties on Sherman's army at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.  Bitter enemies during the war, as so often happens between warriors, Sherman and Johnston grew to respect each other.  After the war they became friends, wrote to each other, and on many occasions had dinner together.  Johnston would not allow an unkind word to be said of Sherman in his presence.  When Sherman died in the winter of 1891, Johnston served as an honorary pallbearer, and during the funeral kept his hat off in the cold rain.  A friend, out of concern for the old General's health, asked him to put on his hat.  Johnston replied, "If I were in his place, and Sherman were standing here in mine, he would not put on his hat."  Johnston caught a cold that day.  He died ten days later of pneumonia.