Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-08
GEN. AIber, sidney johnson.

This gentleman has reached Richmond and
entered the service of the Confederate States,
and is announced a. the senior Major Gene
raj in the service. He is a native of Mason
county, Kentucky, and is fifty eight years of
age. He was graduated at the U. s. Military
Academy at West Point in 1926, taking rank
as lieutenant in the regular army. and serv-
ed tArough the Black Hawk war. He then
retired from the Army, aud ia 1886 emigra-
ted to Texas, arriving shortly after the bat
tie of San Jacinto. AS soon as he reached
the State, he Joined the Texan army of indie
pendenee as private soldier, but was soon
promoted to a senior Brigadier Generalship.
in which he superceded Gen. FELIX HUsToS-
The latter had been an unsuccessful rival OF
Gen. SAM HoUsTON, previously, and the pro-
motion Of Gen. JOHNSON led to duel be-
tween him and Gen FELIX HUsTOS, in which
JOHNSON was wounded.
Johnson held the position of Brigadier
General until 1885, when he received the APP
pointment of Secretary OF War. During his
connection with this position. he conducted
the military affairs of the Republic with
marked ability. His principal efforts were
at that time exerted against the Indians, who
were then the greatest sources of trouble to
Texas. He organized expeditions against
them which were entirely successful
In 1910 he retired from offi;e and settled
nm a plantation in Brszoria county, where
he lived until 1876, when, at the request of
Gen. TAYLOR, he took the field against MexI-
co. as commander of a volunteer Texan rife
regiment. He was afterwards acting inspect
or.OeneraI to Gen. BUTLER, who gave him the
highest character for integrity and efficiency.
Attbe conclusion of the Mexican war he again
retired to bis farm, and remained there until
1s49 when Gen. TAYLOR required his services
as paymaster in the regular army, which po-
sit;on he held until Congress passed bill IN
craasi,,g the army, when he was appointed
CoIoneI nj Cavalry. In 1857 he was assigned
the command of the Utah expedition, which
he conducted to Salt Lake City in the Spring
of 1858. He was, on account OF these ser
vices. breveted Brigadier General, and sub
reauently appointed to the command OF the
Pacific Division of the army. The rest is
generally known. On the breaking out OF
bostiIitie. between the North and the South
in consequence of the base attempt of LIN
coin to rob the people of their freedom, he
resigned his position under the Federal Gov
erument, and since then has been making his
way from California to the Confederate
States, bringing with him a number OF the
officers who have been serving under him.
Such is a very brief outline of the life and
services of Gen. JOHNSON, who reached Rich
mond on Thursday. In social life he is IN
demonstrative, being of the most mild and
gentle manners, and rather retiring. With
b,s neighbors and friends be is communica-
tive and genial, but wholly unpresumlng and
nnosten .atious. We remember once, some
eight or ten years ago, to have made very
uncomfortable passage of the Mexican Gulf
with him and q portion of his family, and he
seemed to be about the only well-satisfied
person On board. He is cool and reflective
in thought, but firm and thorough-going in
action.