Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-03-23
Death of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.

UeaLl OF OGu. JUSC ~ L. oo1AS1o!'
General Joseph E. johnston died shortly
after II O'Clock on Saturday night at his
residence, on Connecticut avenue, Washing
ton. The General had been suffering for the
mast three weeks with an affection of the
heart. aggravated by cold he caught soon
after General Shermen's funeral IN New
York. His physician had been trying 10
Keen ND bis strength for some days. but Dis
advanced age has given little hope for MS
recovery from the beginning OF his illness.
A. his bedside were ex GoVernorMcLane
Of MARYLAND, the Generals brother-ir-la"'
and the nurse At times for ABOUT TWO years
General Johnston had shown unmistakaoie
signs of general breaking down ana Ms
mind often became bewildered.
He had been confined to his room for sew
eral weeks past and during the last Ie"
DAYS bad gradually grown weaker. during
the last twenty -four hours rs had remained
In a semi-oomstose condition and was arouS-
ed with difficulty. His death was 30 peace
fol that Governor McLane, VINO was at his
bedside, could not for several moments De-
lieve that the General was dead.
His death was very sudden, and few
moments before dissolution there was no
General Johnston had no immediate rel
atives cave his sister, the aged Mrs. Mitch
all. Gov. MoLaDe, the brother OF his wife
who died four yes!s ago. and DR.. Benjamin
Johnston, of Richmond, grand-nephew,
the son of Senator Johnston. of Virginia.
Es had many family connections sill through
Virginia, but none of them was IN Wash
lnpton at the time of his death. The Cen
erals brothers both preceded bin In desth.
The funeral services will be he'd in Wash
ineton on to morrow. The interment will
be made In Greenmount Cemetery IN Balsi-
more.
Joseph Eggleston Johnston, the son OF
Peter and Mary Wood Johnston, was born
February 8. 1909. at LoDgwocd, near Farm
vile, Va. He graduated from West Point,
In the same class with Robert +. Lee, IN
1929, und WAS commissioned second lieu
tensnt In the Fourth artillery. In 1852 be
participated In the Black Hawk war, and IN
1885 was made frst lieutenant and ai6e de
camp to General Winfield Scott In the SEM
mole war. He resigned In 1887 and for the
next year engaged in his profession OF civil
engineer, when he was appointed first lieu
tenant of typographical engineers. ln the
war with tho Florida Indians his eallsntry
was conspicuous, aud he was brevetted cap
tain in recognition of his eerVices in that
campaigp. 10 1928 be acted az assistant
acknowledgement, and rendered efficient SER
vice In tine Florida war OF that date. Sep
TENDER 81, 1916, be vas appointed captain
In the corps of Typographical engineers
In the war with Mexico he participated in
the siege OF Vera Cruz. and the battles OF
Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cherubusco, Moline
del Raw, Chapultepec, and the assault on
the City of Mexico. On April 12.h, lS47,
he was brevetted major. lieutenant colonel,
and colonel for meritorious conduct at Cerro
Gordo, whore he was severely wounded. In
leading q stormiDg party st Cnarultepec,
where Gen. Scott reported TINT ne was the
frat man to plant his coiors on the eDeny'5
pamperts, he was again wounded. be was
mustered ont of service August rs, lS4S. SO
lieutenant colonel of volunteers, but Con-
gress reinsteted him to his original rank IA
captain OF typographical engineers. DE acl-
ed as Encouragement on the Usah eXpe
dition, and wss commissioned qusrtermas-
ter-penersi of the Uni, ed States army on
Jane 2S, 1860 On April % 1861, this 20
stion was resigned to enter the confederate
service, in which be was com mlssioDed MA
j1r-genersl OF volunteers, and With Generai
4. E. Lee organized the volunteers which
gere pouring into Richmond. he was sp-
pointed by the government sc Montgomery
one or the four btigadier-geDerals then COM
missioned, and was assigned TO duty at HAIR
per's Ferry. Upon the approach OF the
northern army, under General Patterson,
General Johnston withdrew to Wlncnester'
When Beauregard was attacked ct Manss
SEES by Mcdowell, Johnston went 10 MS e.
sjstsncs, and aesumed command of the Joint
~ Tnhn h.
drew to the sppehsnnock, whence be re-
moved to meet McClellan's threatened adj
vance. Owing to wound received at Seven
Pines on Hay 81, 1862, he was incapac,ated
| for duty until the following autumn.
Ga May Is. 1861 Brigadier Generals Johl-
stop, Cooper aud Lee we're created Generals
| Ia The order named. On August 81, 1861,
| the sppoin tment OF five full generate, as an.
| thoriz d by act OF Congress OF Inc Confed-
crate Slater, was made, Johnston being one
OF the appointees. It Ia claimed that in a.
lowing various other generals to outrank
| Johnston In this appointment, By priority OF
! commissions, 1t was in direct contradiction
of the act of Congress, which stated that
| when officers resigned from the United
States ermy, the rank of such officer IN the
| Confederate service should be determined
| by their former commissions In the United
States army. The rank thus estsbliahed by
law should have been: J. E. Johnston.
brigader general; Samuel Cooper. colonel !;
&. S. Johnston, coIonel Robert z. Lac,
lisutsnsnt- colonel, and P. g. 7. Baauregerd,
captain. The protest made by General
Johnston In regard to what was thns claim
ed as illegal action, led to continued un
pleasantness between himself and President
Davis. 90 March "a, 1868, he Was appoint
ed to the command of the army OF the
Southwest. He next assumed command OF
the troops 10 Mississippi, and endeavored to
save Vicksburg, but Grant captured the city
10 December, 1868. he was traIIccttarred 10
the command CT the Army OF Tennessee.
and participated In his campaign against the
late General Sherman. in which he dis
played considerable genius In his retreat.
The authorities at Richmond, however, be-
Ing dissatisfied with his movements, relieved
him of the command and turned it over to