The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-11-14
HON. FRANK JOHNSTON.
Notable Events Of the Life Of This Dis
tineuiShed Man.

participated IN many notable and
important events.
He joined the Confederate army
at Nashville where he was cadet
in the Military Academy at that
place, being under eighteen years
old at the time. He was in Rut.
lege's Light Battery, 1st Tennessee
Artillery, and was with Gen. Zolli-
Golfer and Gen. Crittendon in the
ill-fated East Kentucky campaign,
and in all of it's dangers and hard
ships. At the battle of Fishing
Creek he rescued his captain from
death or capture at the risk of his
own life.
In the spring of 1862, he joined
company A, Withers 1st Mississip-
pi Light Artillery, and was appoint
ed lieutenant when eighteen years
old. He was all through the first
bombardment of Vicksburg, and
was constantly engaged with his
section on the river front on picket
duty, which was both irksome and
perilous. During the following
winter the battery was at Snyder S
Bluff in winter quarters, but was
often called out and put into action
during the demonstrations made
against the works at that place by
the Federal gunboats.
His section was detailed at his
own request for the battle of Chick
asaw Bayou, where he was placed
in a strong and important position
on the Confederate right His
section went through the three days
of that memorable battle in which
Gen. Sherman was defeated.
Captain Johnston was in the
fighting before Vicksburg, which
ended in the siege of that historic
city. He lost his guns and all of
his horses and all but a handful of
his men at Champion Hill in des-
perate but futile effort to hold the
Confederate left until it could be
reinforced. General Loring in his
report of that battle, said that the
of Wither's Artillery at
that point on the line was the most
heroic and desperate artillery fight
ing that he had ever witnessed.
The guns engaged at this point
were WaddeIps Battery and Shar.
keys and Johnston's sections.
In the battle of Big Black,
fought the next day, Captain
Johnston had command of the sec
tion of Lieutenant Hooker, who
was then in command of the bat
terry Captain Ridley having been
killed in the battle of Champion
Hill.
In this battle Captain Johnston
was severely wounded and burned
by the explosion of caison, which
cut down one of his guns, the other
being brought off the field. He
was carried into Vicksburg and was
in hospital during the siege.
Captain Johnston was in the two
days battle of Barrett's Farm and
rendered conspicuous services and
great skill and coolness
in handling his guns. He was in
various other smaller engagements.
Captain Johnston has seven men.
tions by name for conspicuous and
services in official reports
which are published by the Govern
ment in The Records of the Rebel
lion. Lieutenant General Pember-
ton mentioned him with the high
est praise in his report of the bat
tie of Chickasaw Bayou.
In 1875 he was at Senator
Georges side during the memora-
ole campaign of that year, and
Senator George relied upon him in
every emergency.
Captain Johnston proposed the
Notable Peace Conference as it is
now termed between Senator George
and Governor Ames, which proved
to be the pivotal event that gave
he white man control of the situa-
Ion, and which defeated the Ames
Government.
In 1881 he was the chairman of |
he State Democratic Executive
Committee in the memorable cam
oaign of the Democrats with Hon. |
Robert Lowry as their nominee for |
governor. against Col. Ben King,
who was supported as fusion can
iidate by the Republicans and the
Ireenbackers and which ended in
! decisive victory for the Demo-
rats. !.
Captain gohnston displayed in
hat difficult and complicated can
'ass, tact and executive skill of a
ligh order.
To Captain Johnston is largely
lue the credit for the .abolishment
II leasing of the State and county
in this State.
Captain Johnston served as At
orney General by appointment of
Governor John M. Stone upon the
of Hon. 7. M. Miller
n 1893. He performed the duties
# this office with credit to the
tate and the highest distinction
or himself.
On various occasions he has serv-
d as special judge in the Supreme
,ourt in notable cases. most credit
bly, to himself.
No man in the State stands high.
r in the estimation of the bar of
Mississippi for legal learning and
minent judicial ability.
He has practiced in the Supreme
'ourt of the State for many years,
ppearing in many celebrated cases.