The Princeton union., 1891-03-26
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Sketch of Gen. Johnston's Life and His
Co faGa

Sketch of Gen. Johnston's Life and His
Service the Confederate Army.
Joseph E. Johnston was born in Prince Ed
ward county. Va, in February, 1907. He re-
ceived a military education. graduating from
West Point i'll 1929, served with distinction
through the Seminole war in Florida and the
with Mexico in 1867, where he rose to the
rank OF ca plain.
In the early part OF the year 1861 he was
made quartermaster general, with the rank of
brigadier general, but resigned his commission
I IN April 1861 to enter the rebel army as major
general, taking immediate command OF the rebel
troops concentrated about Harpers Ferry. 1t
was wiley Zoe Johnston that amused Patterson
during the months OF June and July closely
eluding Pennsyivania's supposed great general
and by d brilliant rapid maneuver eHecting
movement with his subordinate, Gen. Beaure-
81 that general by 'N'tT crushing A' Mc6oW. T'eSs
ell and gaining for the rebels the
aifectlng the junct: on with Beauregard at Bull
Run, Johnston waived his rank giving the glory
to his subordinate. Johnston continued chief
sinia until May 81, 1862 when he was seve ely
wounded at the battle OF Fair Oaks.
During his incapacity for duty, Gen. Lee was
Richmond, and on reporting for duty in Janu
ary, 1868, Johnston assigned to the COM
mand OF rebel armies in Alabama. Mississippi and
tennessee and on May 13, 1868. Grant, on his
campaign i'll the rear OF Nicksburg, found john
ston at Jackson. where he whipped him on the
i4th with single army corps and cut him off
from cooperating with Pemberton During the
siege OF Nicksburg Johnston continued to
threaten the rear of tine 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
q CONFRONTING GEN. SHERMAN.
q In the battles Of Dalton, Resaca. Altoona Pass
kpnpS9W Maintain yhop JNh,
driven and forced to fall back by Sheruan he
was never caught mapping. and although forced
across two deep rivers in his retreat his move
= Inents were mastery and executed with small
loss OF material and men, Cen Johnston was
never popular with Jeff Daais, who had super
seded him at Richmond with Lee and had at
various times shown his dislike by unfrlendv
criticisms. and Oh July IS. 1864, took advantage
OF Johnston's reverses in the Atlantic campaign
TO summarllE relieve him. placing Hood in COM
mand. The change OF rebel comm anders it is
SAFE to say, was in no wise detrimental to the
Union cause.
This suspension OF Johnston from command
continued until i'll February, 1865, when Davis,
seeing Hood slaughtered by Thomas in Tennes-
andoah valley. and Lee hemmed in by Grant at
petersburg with Sherman marching through
the Caroinas to JOIN Grant, yielded to the
pressure and called Johnston to the command
OF the scattered commands in Georgia and the
Carollnas. Gathering all effective army OF some
$4,000 men, Johnston gave battle to Sherman
at BentOnVille, n. G., only to be beaten and
driven back TO Chapel Hill. where, on April 90,
he surrendered himself and army being given
the same terms granted to Lee at Appomattox
When the rulus OF the Conederacy were
crumbng. and Davis and his cabinet were see king
j safety i'll flight. Johnston had an opportunity of
striking back at his old-tlme enemy Jeff Davis,
e who, to cover his retreat. and that Of his mme-
date frinds ordered Johnston to make certain
disposition OF his troops but Johnst on quietly
ignored the orders OF the fugitive president, and
proceeded with the surrender OF his army
Sherman, in his memoirs, tacitly admitted
Johnston to be the ablest general who con-
,fronted him during the war, and while Lee at
the North was popularly supposed to be the
[abest OF Southern generals. the Confederate
soldiers point to Joseph E. Johnston.