Joseph E. Johnston

Joseph E. Johnston was a senior military officer who served in the United States Army and later as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He is best known for his cautious, defensive command style and his long-running feud with Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Despite early successes, his tenure was marked by strategic disagreements and he was ultimately relieved of command during the pivotal Atlanta campaign.

Early life and military career

Born in Farmville, Virginia, Johnston was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1829 alongside Robert E. Lee. He served with distinction in the Second Seminole War in Florida and the Mexican–American War, where he was wounded multiple times during the Battle of Cerro Gordo and the Battle of Chapultepec. His pre-war service included roles in the Topographical Engineers and as a staff officer for Brigadier General Winfield Scott. In 1860, he was appointed the Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army with the rank of brigadier general.

American Civil War service

Following Virginia's secession, Johnston resigned his U.S. commission and was appointed a general in the Confederate States Army. He commanded the Confederate forces at the First Battle of Bull Run, earning praise for the victory. A dispute over seniority with Jefferson Davis began after the Confederate Congress ranked him fourth among full generals. In 1862, he commanded the Army of Northern Virginia during the Peninsula Campaign but was severely wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines, leading to his replacement by Robert E. Lee. After recovering, he was given command of the Department of the West, overseeing the unsuccessful Vicksburg campaign. In late 1863, he took command of the demoralized Army of Tennessee, opposing Major General William T. Sherman's advance through Georgia. His defensive strategy during the Atlanta campaign led to his relief by Davis, who replaced him with John Bell Hood. In the war's final weeks, he was reinstated and surrendered his forces to Sherman at the Bennett Place in North Carolina.

Postbellum life and death

After the war, Johnston engaged in business ventures, including an insurance company and a railroad role. He served a single term as a Democratic Congressman from Virginia and was appointed U.S. Commissioner of Railroads by President Grover Cleveland. He maintained a prolific correspondence and wrote his memoirs, *Narrative of Military Operations*. Johnston died of pneumonia in Washington, D.C. in 1891 after catching a chill while serving as a pallbearer at the funeral of his former adversary, William T. Sherman. He was buried in Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.

Legacy and historical assessment

Johnston's legacy is defined by his defensive mastery and his acrimonious relationship with the Confederate government. Historians often contrast his cautious, Fabian strategy with the aggressive tactics of commanders like Robert E. Lee and John Bell Hood. While praised for preserving his army, he was criticized for ceding strategic territory without major battles, notably during the Atlanta campaign. His surrender to Sherman is viewed as effectively ending major combat in the Eastern Theater. Modern assessments, including those by scholars like Steven E. Woodworth, often portray him as a capable but politically hampered commander whose feud with Jefferson Davis significantly weakened the Confederacy's military effectiveness.

Category:Confederate States Army generals Category:People of Virginia in the American Civil War Category:1807 births Category:1891 deaths