The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-22
JOE JOHNSTON DEAD.
The Last but One Of the Great
Confederate Generals.
CONSCIOUS TO THE VERY END.
One 81 the AbIest Soldiers Of the Rebel
Jion-Hs Gave His Sword % Sherman
-Js1 Davis Hated Him.

WASHINGTON CrrY, March n.-General
Joseph +. Johnston died shortly after IL
O'Clock tonight The general had been
suffering for the past three weeks with an
affection Of the heart, aggravated by
cold caught soon after General Sherman's
funeral, at which he was pail-bearer.
Physicians have been trying TO keep his
strength mp some days, but his advanced
age has given little hope for recovery from
the beginning of his illness.
General Johnston was the last, save Gen.
cral Beauregard, Of the six full generals OF
the Confederacy.
The general did not seem to suffer In the
least, and was conscious to the last The
immediate cause Of death was heart
failure, the result of degeneration OF the
heart, due in measure to the cold.
At times for about two years General
Johnston has shown unmistaksble signs
of breaking down. His mind became be-
wildered SO that he did not know where ne
was or how he came there. At the begin
ming Of his last attack OF liz
ness Dr. Lincoln was sum-
moned. and succeeded with mucn
difficulty IN arresting the progress OF the
disease for time. Prior to week ago yes
tcrday the general seemed to be improv-
ing, but on that day he went downstairs
without assistance, over-exerting himself.
Since then he continued to grow worse,
until about o'clock this evening, when
the doctor found him perfectly comfortable
and apparently little better. There was
no warming that death was so near.
Governor McLanc, of Maryland, entered
the room little after II o'clock, and as he
approached the bed heard an almost in
audible sigh, and the general was dead.
The funeral services will be held in this
city and the intcrment in Baltimore.
General Joseph =. Johnston was born In
Longwood, near Farmville, Va, February 8, 1907
He was graduated at West Point military acad-
envy in 1879 in the same class with Rober. 4.
Lee, and was commissioned second lieutenant
in the Fourth artillery. He served In garrison
At Fort Columbus, N. ", in 1891, at Fort Mon
roe, Va. in 1872 was In the Black Hawk ex-
petition in 1882, in garrison at Charleston s. c.,
in 1925, at Fort Monroe in 1854, at Fort
Madison, n c., in 1884, and on typographical
duty In lsa4-5. He was made first lieutenant.
Fourth artillery, 3lst of July, 1886, aid-de-camp
to General Winfield Scott, in the Semi
mole war in 1858, and resigned on the 3ist of
May, 1857. He was q civil engineer in 1873,
and was appointed first lieutenant on the corps
GEOGRAPHICAL "
brevettcd captain for gallantry In the war with
the Florida Indians. On one occasion, having
been sent under the escort Of q party of infantry
and sailors to make q survey or re-
connoissance Of . region around lake,
and having crossed the lake In boats, the
party fell into an ambuscade, and nearly all its
ofiicers were killed or disabled at the last fire.
The men were thrown into confusion, but Lieu
tenant Johnston took command, subdued what
was fast becoming panic, and conducted the
retreat for seven miles. A ball struck him above
the forehead and ranged backward, grazing the
skull the whole distance The troops repelled
the enemy, and carried on their wounded In
safety to the boats. The uniform worn by
Lieutenant Johnston on this occasion was long
preserved by = friend as . curiosity, being
perforated BY thirty bullets. He was in charge
OF the Black river improvement, New York, in
1889, OF the Eault Ste. Marie in 1S40, the boun-
Diary between Texas and the United States ia
1sll the harbors on Lake Erie In 1s41, and the
typographical bureau ct Washington In 1912
He served in the Florida war Of 1923, and a.
acting adjutant general In 1893, on the survey
OF the boundary between the United States and
the British provinces In 1884, on
the coast survey in 1916, and be-
came captain in the corps OF typographical
engineers, September q, lS46 In the war with
Mexico he participated in the siege of Vera Cruz
and the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cher
assault on the City OF Mexico, and was brevetted
major, Northumberland and colonel, April II,
1S47, for gallant and meritorious conduct on
accommodating duty at Cerro Gordo. Hewas Sc
verely wounded at Cerro Gordo. and again at
Chapultepec. September -, lSi7, where he led
detachment of the storming party, and General
Scott reported that he was the first to
plant regimental color on the ramparts of
the fortress He was mustered out as lieuten-
ant colonel OF volunteers, August g, 1Sfs, but
was reinstated by act OF congress and his rank
a. captain OF typographical engineers TO date
from September II, 1896 He served a chief of
typographical engineers of the Department OF
Texas In 1Ss2 ., was in charge OF western river
Improvements in 1855, and was acting inspec-
tor general on the Utah expedition of 1855 On
June =. 1850. he was commissioned quartermaster
general of the United States army, which post
he resigned on April p. 1861, to enter the Co n
fcderate service He was commissioned major
general of volunteers In the Army OF Virginia,
and with General Robert L. Lee organized the
volunteers OF that state. who were pouring into
Richmond. On being summoned TO Montgom-
cry, the capital of the Confederate states he was
appointed one of the four brigadier generals
then commissioned, and was assigned 10 the
command of Harper's Ferry. General Robert
Patterson, at the head OF National force
was then approaching from the mouth OF the
Potomac, and General Johnston withdrew from
the Guide sac at Harper's Ferry and took IN
position at Winchester with his army, which
was called the Army of the Shenandoah. When
General Beauregard was attacked at Manassas
by the National army under General Mcdowell
July Is, 1851. Johnston, covering his movements
with Stuarts cavalry, left Patterson in the
valley and rapidly marched to the assistance of
Beauregard. On reaching the field, he left
Beauregard, whom he ranked, in tactical COM
rnand Of the field, and assumed responsibility
and charge OF the battle then about to be
fought General Johnston remained in COM
maud OF the consolidated forces until the spring
OF isG2, when. finding Mcclellan about to adj
vance. he withdrew to the Rappahannock.
whence he moved to meet Mcclellan He
WAS wounded at Seven Pines, May 81, 1852, and
ineapacitated for duty until the following an.
turnn. On May 10, 1861, the Brigader- Generals
Johnston, Cooper, and Lee were created ceuer-
ais by act OF the Confederate congress in the or
der named. On August 81, 1861, Johnston was
appointed one OF the five generals authorized nv
this act, who were commissioned in the
following order: Samuel Cooper, Albert
Sidney Johnston, Robert f. lee. Joseph
+. Johnston and u. T. Bcauregard
This assignment of rank was directly
contrary to the act OF the Confederate congress.
which required that when officers resigned from
the United States army the rank fsuch officers.
when commissioned in the Army of the Con-
federate States, should be determined by their
former commissions in the United States army.
The order OF rank thus established nv
Law was Joseph L. Johnston, briradie-
general. Samuel Cooper, colonel; Al
bert S. Johnston, colonel: Rohor.
4. Lee, lieutenant colonel; Pierre G. T. Beaure.
gard, captain. General Johnston protested tn I.
Illegal action and his protest is believed 10 have
been the beginning and cause OF Mr.. Davis