Raimondo Luraghi on Joseph E. Johnston

Raimondo Luraghi, Five Lectures on the American Civil War (1861-1865). Translated from the Italian by Sean Mark. John Cabot University Press. Distributed by University of Delaware Press, 2013.

Luraghi discusses American Civil War strategy within a greater historical context. He notes that the Confederacy only had to keep its armies from being "overpowered," that it did not need to "bring down the Union" (page 29) and so it had an essentially defensive task.

On the Vicksburg campaign: "Johnston's keen eye immediately spotted the danger: at his current rate, Grant would reach Vicksburg from the east, thus isolating the stronghold, which would surely fall shortly after" (page 49). "Unfortunately for the Confederates, Pemberton had no intention of obeying Johnston's sage advice" (Ibid.).

Luraghi notes that, after withdrawing from Jackson, "instead of moving east -- as might have been expected -- he [Johnston] had artfully and unexpectedly marched northwest (reproducing, on a smaller scale, General Mikhail Kutuzov's famous flank march against Napoleon at Moscow) so that his forces could join with Pemberton's, once the general had abandoned Vicksburg. . . (page 51).

Incisive coverage of the Atlanta campaign. On Johnston's role: "The Confederate general knew very well that an offensive would be precisely what Sherman was hoping for . . . In the campaign of 1864, he proved to be a real master of the tactical retreat and deserves to be remembered alongside such military leaders as Fabius Maximus, Raimondo Montecuccoli, Turenne, and Albert Kesselring" (page 56).

"What would happen next? Johnston's delaying tactics had been successful and had preserved his army, which was ready for battle" (page 57). However, he was replaced by Hood in the middle of the campaign. "Hood knew only one strategy: attack" (page 57).

Finally, the 1865 campaign. "'Old Joe' wasted no time and went on the offensive" (page 58). 

The comparable generals:
Fabius Maximus (circa 280-203 B.C.).
Raimondo Montecuccoli (1609-1680).
Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne (1611-1675).
General Mikhail Kutuzov (1745-1813).
Albert Kesselring (1885-1960).