The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-03-26
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Sketch of Gen. Johnston's Life and His

service IN the SOHlSuSfaL0 army.
Joseph E. Johnston was born in Prince Ed
ward county, Va, in February, 1907 He re-
ceived military education, graduating from
West Point in 1929, served with distinction
through the Seminole war in Florida and the
war with Mexico in 1S46-7, where he rose to the
rank OF captain.
In the early part OF the year 1861 he was
made quartermaster general, with the rank OF
brgadier general but resigned his commission
In April, 1861, to enter the rebel army as major
general, taking immediate command Of the rebel
troops concentrated about Harper's Ferry. 1t
was wiley Joe Johnston that amused Patterson
during the months OF June and July, closely
eluding Pennsylvania supposed great general
and by brilliant rapid maneuver effecting a
movement with his subordinate, Gen. Beaure-
gard, in time to prevent the defeat
Of that that general by crushing N McDow,
first great battle of the war-Bull Run. After
effectIng the junction with Beauregard at Bull
Rum Johnston waived his rank, giving the glory
to his subordinate. Johnston continued chief
in command Of the rebel armies in Northern Vir
gna until May 81, 1862, when he was severely
wounded at the battle OF Fair Oaks.
During his incapaCity for duty, Gen. Lee was
given command of the rebel armies about
Richmond, and on reporting for duty in Janu
airy, 1868. Johnston WAS assigned to the COM
mand of rebel armies i'll Alabama, Mississippi and
Tennessee, and on May 13 1863, Grant, on his
campaign In the rear OF NickSburg, found john
ston at Jackson, where he whipped him on the
14th with O single army corps and cut him off
from cooperating with Pemberton. During the
siege Of Vicksburg Johnston continued to
threaten the rear of the beSiegers, but was care
fully watched by Sherman, who, on the surren-
der of Pemberton, attacked Johnston at Jack
son, but the wiley general eluded capture and
escaped across Pearl river. In December, 1863,
Johnston relieved Gen. Bragg, whom Grant had
routed at Chattanooga, and found himself
CONFRONTING GEN. SHERMAN
In the battles OF Dalton Resaca, Altoona Pass
driven and forced to fall back by Sherman, he
was never caught mapping. and although forced
across two deep rivers in his retreat his move
ments were mastery and executed with small
loss of material and men, Gen. Johnston was
never popular with Jeff Daas, who had super
seeded him at Richmond with lee, and had at
various times shown his dislike by unfrlendiy
criticisms and on July 49, 1864, took advantage
OF Johnston's reverses in the Atlantic campaign
to summarily relieve him, placing Hood i'll com
mand The change OF rebel commanders, 1t is
safe to say, was in no wise detrimental to the
Union cause.
This suspension of Johnston from command
continued until in February, 1865, when Davis,
seeing Hood slaughtered by Thomas i'll Tennes-
see, Early annihilated by Sheridan i'll the Shen-
andoah valley, and Lee hemmed in by Grant at
Petersburg, with Sherman marching through
the Carolinas to Join Grant, yielded to the
pressure and called Johnston to the command
of the scattered commands in Georgia and the
Carolinas. Gathering an effective army of some
81, 900 men, Johnston gave battle to Sherman
at Bentonvile, N. G., only to be beaten and
driven back to Chapel Hill, where on April 26,
he surrendered himself and army, being given
the same terms granted to Lee at Appomattox.
When the rufus of the Confederacy were
crumbling and Davis and his cabinet were seeking
safety in fight. Johnston had an opportunity of
striking back at his old-tlme enemy, Jeff Davis,
who to cover his retreat and that of his imme-
diate frinds ordered Johnston to make certain
disposition of his troops but Johnston quietly
ignored the orders of the fugitive president, and
proceeded with the surrender of his army.
Sherman, in his memoirs, tacity admitted
Johnston to be the ablest general who con-
fronted him during the war, and while Lee at
the North was popularity supposed to be the
| ablest of Southern generals, the Confederate
soldiers point to Joseph L. Johnston.