The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-10-08
GEN. JOHNSON DEAD
HAD DISTINGUISHED CAREER
IN WAR AND IN PEACE
Ssrysd Throueh Civil War

zen. BrAulty L. JOnnbOn, Rhllhn'
soldier, an able lawyer, an accomplished
scholar, is dead. Alter several years OF
illness, during which he suffered much
he died Monday at the home OF his son,
Bradley ) Johnson, ut Rock Castle, In
Goochiand county. The end came AZ a
surprise and will carry sorrow to many
hearts in Maryland, Virginia, and North
Carolina.
The remains will be taken to Richmond
and will lie In state at the capitol until
noon, when they will be taken TO l'alti-
more. Both civil and military honOrs
will be paid to the old soldier. Gen. John
son was colonel OF the First Regiment
NOW Seyentieth) for several years, hay-
ing succeeded Col. Sloan, and preceded
Col John b Purcell.
LIVED ~ THREE STATES.
While Gen. Johnson, who was seventy
four years old was a native OF Mary
land, married In North Carolina, and
was for years citizen of Baltimore, a
good part Of his life and his declining
days were spent In the Old Dominion.
Gen. Johnson married daughter Of
Judge Saunders, Of North Carolina, at
one time American Minister to Spain,
and after his health began to decline,
some years ago, and he retired from ae-
tive work, he aud Mrs Johnson moved
TO their home in Amelia county, n lovely
old mansion, and spent most OF their
time there until Mrs Johnson died. Gen.
johnson never recovered from the loss
Of bis devoted wife. Since that sad event
he had divided his time between Balti.
more, Amelia and the home OF his son
the only child liying-at Rock Castle,
paying occasional visits to old friends 10
Richmond
GRADUATE or PRINCETON.
Gen. Johnson WAS graduate at
Princeton In 1919, making the mathe-
NAUTICAL GRAFTON; studied law at Har-
ward, WAS admitted to the bar In North
Carolina In 1851 and was elected Stale's
attorney in November.
lie was the Democratic candidate for
comptroller Of North Carolina In 1851;
chairman OF the State central committee
in 1859 60; delegate to the Democratic
National Convention at Charleston and
Baltimore in 1860, and withdrew with
the ma ority Of the Maryland delegation
from the convention and united in the
nomination Of Breckenridge and Lane.
At the beginning Of the war between
the States he organized and armed a
company at his own expense, which
was mustered into the service Of the
oniederate States, be being captain.
June Is he was made major; July II
lieutenant colonel, and March ~, 1862,
colonel. He commanded his regiment
at all the battles Of Jackson's valley
campaign q 1862, and in the Seven
bays battle around Richmond. The
regiment having almost been be ami
Inflated, In August, s62. the remnant
was mustered out. and Col Johnson was
then assigned to Jackson's division.
June ~. 1874. was commissioned to
brigadier general OF calvary.
lie commanded n brigade of cavalry
under Early in the campaign OF 1864.
On Early's advance into Maryland, Gen.
Johnson destroyed the railroad bridges
north of baltimore, but on July II was
ordered by Early TO report to him.
HUMANE TO PRISONERS.
In December. 1864. Gen. johnson was
assigned to the post OF Salisbury, y. e..
When the prisoners were actually stary'
ing Gen Johnson stopped a train bound
for Northern Virginia. took from IL pro-
visions, with which IL was freighted, and
used them for the prisoners. At the same
time he asked to be allowed to carry the
prisoners to Goldsboro and release them
on parole, and urged upon Gov. Vance
the propriety Of furnishing them with
blankets and clothes from the depOts OF
the state. After the war Gen. johnson
settled In Richmond and devoted himself
tO the practice Of law.
rs VIRGINIA SENATE.
A memorable event in the life al Gen.
Johnson after he took up his residence in
Richmond was the contest between him
,elf and Col. William C.. Knight for the
State senate in the fall OF 1873. johnson
was the nominee of the conservative par
ty and Knight ran as an independent
against him. After a campaign OF unex-
ampled bitterness, Johnson was de-
clared elected. Knight contested his
election before the senate, claiming that
there had been fraud in the election. Al
ter a full examination Of all the evidence,
the senate seated Johnson. He served
that term In the senate, becoming per
haps the most influential member oil that
body.
An incident OF this campaign was q
duel arranged between Gen. johnson and
Gen. William Malone. which was to
come off near Weldon. ~ G., just across
the State line. Gen johnson got TO the
spot where the duel was TO occur, but
Gen. Malone got no farther than Norfolk
where he was arrested and put under
heavy bond, and the duel did not come
of.
Constitutional law was Gen Johnson
speciality, and few years alter the wal
he returned to Baltimore, and entered
into law partnership with Mr. John 7
/ Poe, who had been associated with him
in several cases in Virginia. This partner
ship was dissolved, aud zen. johnson
conducted his law practice individually
until a few years ago, when he went u
his home In Virginia.
As an author, he wrote several book
that attracted attention, among then
being the Lille OF Washington" highl.
regarded by critics for it's local color
The Confederate History OF Mary land !,
in a twelye-volume set OF Confederate mi
itary history, and a memoir OF Ger
Joseph E. Johnston.
Prior to the Ameriean-spanish wal
Gen. johnson vent to Cuba IA the col
respondent OF a New York newspape
and wrote series of interesting article
on the conditions prevailing. lie wa
selected for the post on account oil hl
Snowledge OF military matters, as we
~ for his intimate acquaintance wit
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, then consul genera
for the United States at Havana.