The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-04
LOCAL MATTERS.
DEATH OF GEN. ED. JOHNSON
ayErcEx OF HIS MILITARY
CAREER.
urs SERVICES TO THE STATE
AND NATION.
ae-zsoy OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
PROGRAMME OF THE oBsEQU1Es.

The announcement of the death OF Gene
rsl Edward Johnson, which occurred al
Ford's Hotel, in this city, on Sunday mornlll
at O'Clock, will be received throughout VII
cinia with the deepest regret; and in ever!
part of the South, where he was known ant
admired. the history Of his gallant action
will be recited in praise, and the Warmcs
sympathy rendered to the Old Dominion II
the loss of so distinguished al officer, s,
courteous a gentleman, and so valued Gu
zen.
Biographical Sketch.
General Johnson was born in Salisbury
Chesterfield county, Virginia, on the l2til 0
Nav, 1916, and, therefore, nc his death, wa
in the 1iftv-seventh year Of his age. In tn
wear 1888 he graduated at West Point W.T.
Generals Bea,lreSard, Hardee. and others
the Confederate States army, and Gcnefi:
Mcdowell and others Of the United state
army. Shortly afterwards he was appointed
Second Lieutenant in the Sixth U1ltct
States Infantry, and served with distinction II
| that caDacity in the Seminole war in Fiorld'
In September. 1917, while yet Lieutenan
in The United States service, he was brewer
ted Captain for gallantry and meri'oriou
conduct 90 an officer at Moleno del Rey.
N TIE MEXICAN WAR
his services in General SCOTS Line were full!
appreciated, and he was twice breVcttcd to
gallant conduet-at CherlbuSco and az TIT
storlning Of Chcpultepec. at the close
the war he held the rank OF Brevtt Mayor
| The news OF his valued services soon reached
his native State, and for bis courage and sol
dierly conduct .he State Of Virginia present
ed him with an elegant sword. Alter Tit
Mexi,an war he served on the frontier.
Iu 1861 he resigned his commission in th!
United States Army and determined to leave
New Mexico, and fastened home. But
short time elapsed when he was appoihlcc
COLONEL OF A GEORGIA REGIMENT.
His capacity rs an officer was soon fully
demonstrated. lie rose to the position OF Brig
adicr-General in the Confederate Army. AT
the memorable battle Of Altcgiany lie de
fcated General Reynolds, and here received
a painful wound, which for brief peiioo
disabled him from service.
When he had recovered and returned &c
duty he was promoted to the rank of Major.
General Just before the Gettysburg CAM
,a.n) aud assigned to the command Of
JAcxsoN's OLD DIVISION,
which now consisted Of the Stonewal
Brigade" commanded By General j. a
Walker; the Second Virginia brigade, undel
General John NJ. Jones; the Louisiana bri
gade, under Genera! Stafford aud the Third
Virginia brigade. Soon after he joined the
command the veteran Ewcil led his corp;
across the mountains to the capture Of Mil!
rows force at Winchester. While Early maGt
the movement to the flank and rear of Win
chester, johnson skIfui!y and CALAMITY en-
gagged the attention OF the enemy in front
and contributed materially to Early's bril-
liant success in the capture Of the outer
forts. Ho cut off the retreat of iliIroy':
forces and captured the greater part O
them.
CROSSED TIE POTOMAC
with Ewell aud bore most conspicuous par
in the fighting done by the Second corp:
(Jackson's) at Gettysburg. lii the secont
days battle Johuson'S division captured ;
portion Of the euclny's works Oh tile heights
which they held until the next day.
lie came back with the Army OF Northern
| Virginia as il withdrew from Pennsylvania
and devoted himself during the winter 10 TIT
elective discipline and equipment oil his di
vision. Rigid in his discipline, stem in &c
handing the strictest compliance with Iii
orders, and severe upon QelInqucniS, he ye
won the respect and admiration Of his mci
by his conspicuous galantry on the field ant
his strict justice 10 Ill in the camp. When
| THE CAMPAIGN OF 1864
opened, Johnson's division led the advance
! CT Ewe!i's corps down The old turnpike, AND
was the first ~ strike Grants column AS il
was advancing througi the Wilderness.
lii the severe fight which followed, al
| though his division was thrown into tempe
rary confusion By the fall Of "thc gallau
Drigadier-G General John II. Jones" (as Gen
eral Lee called him in his official report
General johnson acted with his accustomed
galantry and skill, and contributed no little
TO that brilliant victory which frustrated
| Grants plan of campaign and forced hin
10 stop in the Wilderness and fight.
lie participated in the subsequent Gghtin:
| in the Wilderness and the first days At spot
svlvauia Courthouse, and Oh the night o
| May 1lth was in command Of the advanced
| line OF the COntclerateS in front vi SpotSyl
yania Courthouse. At . O'Clock that nigh
| he made personal reconnaissance, and dis
covered evidence OF Il purpose OIL the part 0
| the eDenIy TO attack his position. lie at once
communicated this fact 10 his superiorS, ant
begged that bis artillery, which, through
solnc mSconcaption Of orders, had beef
withdrawn, might be returned to him
Again and asuiu during the night he begyet
for his artillery ind for achievements, Du
they failed TO come, and the heavy attarl
which naucock made upon him ut daybreal
the next morning found him fully expecting
il, yet still unpreparcd. I'VE are particular
in giving these details, which we received
from the lips OF the noble soldier himself
because it has been frequently published tia
the Confedcratcs were "surprised" on thu
memorable ocrasion.] He met the onset wit;
heroic courage.
MCsKET IN HAND,
he showed bis brave boys what "close quar-
ters" meant, and succeeded in delaying the
enemy until General Lee could hurry up tht
troops, which averted great disaster.
PRISONER OF WAR.
But his heroism cost him wearisome cap
tivity, as he was captured with i large parl
of his command. General Johnson was HOW
taken to Johuson's island, where he remained
for some time. Subsequently he Wis one O.
the Confederate prisoners of war who were
sent to the vicinity Of Charleston and p.aceG
under the lire Of the Confederate guns.
Having spent time here lie was eX
changed, and soon afterwards joined Genera
John 3. Hoods army in the West. At the
battle If Nashville he was captured and sem
to Fort Adams, in Boston Harbor, where ht
was K ept by the Federals until about MONT
after the surrender Of General Lees army al
Appomattox. When released the gallant Of
fcer
RETURNED TO LIS NATIVE STATE,
and from that time until two months prior
to his death led the life of u farmer, or en-
gagged in mercantile life Two months age
he came to Richmond from his residence, il
Chesterfield, and stopped at Ford's Hotel.
where he was taken sick, aud. as we have
sniri died ahnnf O'Clock on Sunday innrn