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J.e. Johnston Joseph E. Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807-March 21, 1891) was a Confederate General during the American Civil War from 1861-1865. Born near Farmville, Virginia on February 3, 1807 Johnston graduated from West Point Acadamy in 1829 with a commission in artillery. Serving in the Seminole War Johnston was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in July 1836. Resigning in May 1837 as a civil engineer Johnston returned to service the following year in the resumption of the Second Seminole War as a Lieutenant with the Corps of Topographical Engineers. Serving under General Winfield Scott during the Mexican-American War fought with distiction at the Battle of Cerro Gordo on April 18, 1847 and promoted to brevet Colonel. Took part in the Mormon Expedition under Brigadier General Albert Sidney Johnston from 1857-1858. As Brigadier General and Quartermaster General of the US Army in June 1860 Johnston resigned in April 1861 joining Confederate forces as a Brigadier General commanding the Army of the Shenandoah in May. The ranking officer during the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861 Johnston was later promoted to General and appointed commander of the Confederate Army of the Potomac in August. Fighting against the Union Army of the Potomac under Union General George B. McClellan during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862 was relieved of command by General Robert E. Lee after being wounded at Fair Oaks on May 31, 1862. As commander of the Department of the West in [Vicksburg,-Mississippi]-against-Union-General-[Ulysses-S.-Grant]-in-early-[May-1863]-however,-lacking-sufficent-forces,-he-was-driven-from-his-headquarters-in-[Jackson,-Mississippi]-by-Union-General-[William-T.-Sherman]-later-that-month-on-[May-14,-1863]-he-was-unable-to-relieve-Vicksburg-captured-by-Grant-on-[July-4,-1863].-As-commander-of-the-[Army-of-Tennesse]-in-[December-1863]-fought-an-impressive-campaign-against-Sherman-in-title="November 1862 successfully defended [[Vicksburg, Mississippi] against Union General S. Grant] in early-1863] however, lacking sufficent forces, he was driven from his headquarters in Mississippi] by Union General T. Sherman] later that month on 14, 1863] he was unable to relieve Vicksburg captured by Grant on 4, 1863]. As commander of the of Tennesse] in 1863] fought an impressive campaign against Sherman in (U.S. state)">Georgia] defeating him at Mountain] on 27, 1864] and successfully defending [[Atlanta although he was unable to defeat Sherman. Relieved of command by Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced him with General John Bell Hood in July 1864. Restored command by General Lee in February 1865 he attempted to halt Sherman's campaign through the Carolinas at the Battle of Bentonville on March 19-21, 1865. After Sherman's capture of Raleigh, North Carolina on April 13, 1865 Johnston was forced to surrender to Sherman at Durham Station, North Carolina on April 26, 1865. After the war retired to Georgia entering the insurance business while writing his memoirs until 1878. Serving in the U.S. Congress from 1879 to 1881 he later became a commissioner of railroads in 1885 living in Washington, D.C. until his death on March 21, 1891. Further Reading Gilbert E. Govan and James W. Livingwood, A Different Valor: The Story of General Joseph E. Johnston C.S.A., Indianapolis, 1956
Bradley T. Johnson, A Memoir of the Life and Public Service of Joseph E. Johnson, Baltimore, 1891
Joseph E. Johnson, Narritive of Military Operations, New York, 1874
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