The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-03-27
GEN. JOSEPH L. JOHNSTON.
Another Great Hero of The War Dies
Suddenly.

WASHINGTON, March 23.-Gen. Joseph E..
Johnston, the celebrated Confederate Cen
eral and opponent Of General Sherman,
passed away Saturday night, March 81, at
II o'clock, after week s illness, from a
cold contracted while a pail bearer at the
late General W. T. Shcrmans funeral.
General Johnston was the last, save
Beauregard, of the six full generals Of the
confederacy.
He was born at Cherry Grove, Va, in
1907 and was graduated from West Point
in 1929 in the same class with Gen. Robt.
Z. Lee. He was appointed second lieu
tenant of the Fourth artillery, and first
saw active service in the field in 1889 in
the Black Hawk Indian expedition. He
was promoted in 1886, aud was an aide
de-camp on Cen Winfield Scott's staff in
the Seminole war.
He participated in all the important
battles connected with Gen. SCOTS cam
paign in Mexico. from Vera Cruz to the
capture OF the City of Mexico. He was
thrice brevcttcd for gallantry during this
war in ISIS, and was mustered out of SER
vice as licutenant-coo of the Volun-
tccrs, only to he reinstated by Congress
with his original rank of captain OF topo-
graphical engineers. He was commits
stoned quartermastcrg general Of United
States army in June, 1850, but resigned
the following April to enter the Confcdcr
ate service, in which, as ma or general of
the Volunteers, lie assisted General Lee
in working up an organization CT the men
who we're pouring into Richmond.
Subsequently he was commissioned bri
gadier general,in the regular Confederate
service, and was placed in command of
Harper's Ferry. He joined forces with
Bcauregard and remained in command of
the consolidated troops until 1862. At
the battle Of Seven Pines, he was wound
ed and incapacitatcd for duty for six
months.
His next service was as commander OF
the army Of the Tennessee, and he en-
p!Oyed the winter of 1863 to reOrganiZe
his command which had become dcmora-
lied by the defeat at Missionary Ridge.
1864, nv the authorities at Richmond.
General Hood succeeded him. Early in
1863 General Lee again assigned him to
the command from which he had been re-
lieved and ordered him to drive back
Sherman. General Johnston urged Lee
to abandon Richmond Join forces with
him and fight Sherman before Grant
could come up, but Lee replied that it was
impossible for him TO leave Virginia, as
his force was small General Johnston
declined a decisive engagement, hung on
Shcrman's flank, annoying the latter and
impeding mis- march from Atlanta toward
Richmond as much as possible
Lee surrendered ut AppomatioX, and
Johnston, obtaining the consent Of Pres
ident Jefferson Davis that the war should
gotiations with Sherman. The first agree
mcnt framed was disapproved by the Fed
eral government, and on April 20 q second
agreement was concluded.
General Johnston, after the war, became
lively president Of Il railroad COM
pany in Arkansas, of an express company
in Virginia. and an insurance agent in
Georgia. He was elected to Congress
from the Richmond district in 1877, and
next saw public life as commissioner Of
railroads, which Office he held under
President Clcvcland's administration. He
had lived in this city since he lost his
Office under the present administration.
In person, General Johnston was man
of slender build, Of not more than
medium height and with Il kindly, pleas
ant face lie was unoblrUsive in manner
and invariably courteous to all persons
wth whom he was brought in contact.