The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

n ANY thousands of Alabama vet
M Grams in their heyday of martial
devotion. marched with this
atnightly commander upon fields of glo-
rious renown. This day, the one hum
dredth anniversary of his birth, on the
farm at the foot Of the Blue Ridge. may
well inspire in them and their posterity
some tribute to so noble a gentleman, so
true a soldier and SO consecrated a South
ron.
The life of the Confederacy. In the
final crisis of it's fate, poised upon the
genius of General Johnston. The con-
pueror writes the history OF his conquest,
We need PIutarch-
Joseph EggIeston Johnston was born
on the Cherry HIP farm. Prince Ed
ward county, Virginia, In the vicinity
of historic Appomattox, February 8. l807-
His father, a youth at college, stole away,
procured horse and Joined Capt. Harry
Iee's-.Iight Horse Harry cavalry,
under General washington The young
man soon arrested the attention OF his
commander by daring military perform
ance and was promoted Later he be-
came a circuit Judge OF Virginia Ihe
grand father of General Johnston emil
grated from Scotland:
s'Within the bounds OF Annand2le
The gentle Johnstones ride;
They've been there a thousand years.
And a thousand moro they'll bide-
This colonist possessed a large area or
the wild lands at the foot OF the Blue
Ridge and endowed the neighboring col
lege literally with his acres.
Joseph Johnston graduated from West
Point in the class with Robert e. Lee.
He entered the army at once In the
FLORIDA war of 1886 he went as lieutenant,
attached to the stan of General Scott
Scott ordered him. with 100 men, to drive
the Indians from a bridge which they
held In strong force. Johnston attacked,
and in the fight received scalp wound,
the ball striking the top Of his forehead,
cutting its way along the length OF his
head. His uniform was so perforated
with bullet holes that 1t had to be laid
put of use and was preserved by COM
panion in arms as a curiosity Of the
day General Scott promoted him cap
tain for gallantry In this, his first fight.
Captain Johnston went with General
Scott's section of the army invading
Mexico He was severely wounded at
Cerro Gordo and was promoted brevet
major for conduct there. He was soon
promoted brevet Northumberland. He
was more severely wounded at Chepulte-
pee and was promoted for conduct there
brevet colonel. General Scott is said to
have remarked later. upon assigning Col
pnel Johnston to some duty: There is
but one objection to Johnston in action
he catches too many bullets.
In President Pierce's administration,
congress re-organized some old cavalry,
making the First and Second Dragons.
The most ambitious officers of the army
were eager to be assigned to these new
regiments. Jefferson Davis secretary OF
war, made the appointments. The First
Dragons was commanded by f. V. Sum-
ner. colonel; Joseph E Johnston, lieu
III Thomas.
pf the majors. The Second Dragons
was commanded by Albert Sidney john
ston, colonel; Robert e. Lee, lieutenant
colonel; w. ]. Hardee and Earl van
Dorm, majors. J. E. B. Stuart and John
b. Hood were ieutenants in one or the
bther of these regiments. Joseph Wheeler
was assigned to the First Dragons as
brevet second lieutenant, upon his grad
nation from West Point in the class of
1853.
In 1858 President Buchanan selected
Col A. s. Johnston to command the per-
ious expedition across the trackless
wilderness, to Salt Lake, to subdue
Brigham Young and his Mormons. Lieu
tenant Colonel ]. e. Johnston accom-
panied this expedition In capacity of in
spector of the army.
Soon after the return of this expedition,
In 1860, Ldeut-Col j. E. Johnston was
appointed quartermaster of the United
states army with the rank of brigadier
General, to succeed the venerable General
Sessup, deceased. He was the only gen.
eral officer of the old army who ever left
Il to unite with the Confederacy.
In early life General Johnston married
Miss McLane of distinguished Mary
land family and a woman of rare brill
hancy of mind and elegance of manners.
they had no children. The office of the
nusrtermaster general at the ma
Eional capital and there Johnston re-
teived knowledge of the secession of Vir-
kinia. He resigned Immediately and i'm
h1ediately with his wife and his sword,
let out for Richmond, leaving behind him
Ii! the property he possessed. he not
bnly came with his sword, but with his
heart and mind. He gave much attention
10 the theories of civil government, be-
hoving that soldier should understand
khe structure of the society In whose de-
tense his life was pledged and should
tnow the fundamental principles of the
elvics. whose laws he must obey. Cen
kral Johnston, in coming to the Confeder-
rev. did not hesitate to avow his belief
hl the Justice of the Confederate cause
md his confidence in the ability OF the
becple TO maintain their government.
This frank declaration of his sympathy
greatly endeared him at the outset to the
beople and to the citizen soldiers whom
he was assigned to command. NO man
be the world who came In contact with
him left him without receiving the MS
hnct mental conclusion that he was by
nature a great man. His figure was over
medium height, erect strong and singu-
arly graceful in bearing. His manner
was simple and precise, as the educated
poldier, well bred. who had lived always
N army circles He was less austere
nan reticent in general company. Al
hough capable of fluent talk and Wig
Irous and rapid writer, in the drawing
loom he was reserved to remarkable
legree. To ladies he was studiously po-
lite and brightly In manner.
His STAFF honored him perfectly, but
livery man on it, of rank whatsoever,
was watchful to be time with his du-
hes and in all particulars exact. He was
\ rigid discipliparian, but never harsh,