ppointments were announced after the battle of Manassas,
and in the following order of seniority: Samuel Cooper, Albert Sidney
Johnston, Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, and G.T. Beauregard.

Near the close of President Buchanan's administration, in 1860, died
General Jesup, Quartermaster-General of the United States army; and
Joseph E. Johnston, then lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, was appointed to
the vacancy. Now the Quartermaster-General had the rank, pay, and
emoluments of a brigadier-general; but the rank was staff, and by law
this officer could not exercise command over troops unless by special
assignment. When, in the spring of 1861, the officers in question
entered the service of the Confederacy, Cooper had been Adjutant-General
of the United States Army, with the rank of colonel; Albert Sidney
Johnston, colonel and brigadier-general by brevet, and on duty as such;
Lee, lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, senior to Joseph E. Johnston in the
line before the latter's appointment above mentioned; Beauregard, major
of engineers. In arranging the order of seniority of generals, President
Davis held to the superiority of line to staff rank, while Joseph E.
Johnston took the opposite view, and sincerely believed that injustice
was done him.

After the grave and wondrous scenes through which we have passed, all
this seems like "a tempest in a tea-pot;" but it had much influence and
deserves attention.

General Beauregard, who about this time was transferred to the army in
the West, commanded by Albert Sidney Johnston, was also known to have
grievances. Whatever their source, it could not have been _rank_; but it
is due to this General--a gentleman of taste--to say that no utterances
came from him. Indiscreet persons at Richmond, claiming the privilege
and discharging the duty of friendship, gave tongue to loud and frequent
plaints, and increased the confusion of the hour.

As the year 1862 opened, and the time for active movements drew near,
weighty cares attended the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.
The folly of accepting regiments for the short period of twelve months,
to which allusion has been made, was now apparent. Having taken service
in the spring of 1861, the time of many of the troops would expire just
as the Federal host in their front might be expected to advance. A large
majority of the men were willing to reenlist, provided that they could
first go home to arrange private affairs; and fortunatel