Johnston's decision to lead an attack personally invites comparison with Colonel H. Jones. Both cases show the appeal of sharing the danger faced by the troops. The criticism concerns command responsibility: personally joining an assault can deprive the whole formation of the officer needed to direct it. In this assessment, Jones's battalion would have benefited from his continued leadership through the campaign. Johnston's loss also deprived the Confederacy of a prominent figure whose reputation helped rally support in the western states.
Notable Point · 1:46:30-1:48:49
Johnston and H. Jones: the cost of leading a charge
Personal bravery could put the officer responsible for directing a whole formation at risk, with consequences beyond the immediate attack.