{⋆★⋆} GEN Johnston, Albert Sidney

Albert Sidney Johnston

:CSA1stNat:

Born:
February 2, 1803
Johnston 1.jpg


Birthplace: Washington, Kentucky

Father: Dr. John Johnston 1762 – 1832
(Buried: Washington Baptist Church Cemetery, Old Washington, Kentucky)​

Mother: Abigail Harris 1770 – 1806
(Buried: Washington Baptist Church Cemetery, Old Washington, Kentucky)​

1st Wife: Henrietta Preston 1804 – 1829
(Buried: Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky)​

2nd Wife: Eliza Griffin 1821 – 1896
(Buried: Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California)​

Married: October 3, 1843

Children:

Colonel William Preston Johnston 1831 – 1899​
(Buried: Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky)​
Henrietta Preston Johnston 1832 – 1906​
(Buried: Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky)​
Albert Sidney Johnston Jr. 1845 – 1863​
(Buried: Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California)​
Hancock McClung Johnston 1847 – 1904​
(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, California)​
Margaret Strother Johnston Pritchard 1851 – 1922​
(Buried: Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, California)​
Griffin Johnston 1857 – 1895​
(Buried: Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California)
Johnston.jpg
Alberta Johnston Denis 1861 – 1947​
(Buried: Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California)​

Education:

1826: Graduated from West Point Military Academy (8th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1826: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Infantry Regiment​
1826 – 1834: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 6th Infantry Regiment​
1827: Garrison duty at Sackett’s Harbor, New York​
1827 – 1828: Garrison Duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri​
1828 – 1832: Adjutant of United States Army, 6th Infantry Regiment​
1832: Colonel of Illinois Volunteers during Black Hawk War​
1832: Served in the Battle of Bad Axe​
1832 – 1833: Aide – de – camp to Bvt. Brig. General Atkinson​
1834: Resigned from United States Army on May 31st
1836 – 1840: Served in Texas Army rising to Brigadier General Wounded
Johnston 2.jpg
1838: Texas Republic Secretary of War​
1846: Colonel of 1st Texas Rifle Volunteers​
1846: Served in the Battle of Monterrey, Mexico​
1846 – 1849: Farmer Brazos River, Texas​
1849 – 1855: Major, United States Army, Paymaster​
1855 – 1861: Colonel, United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment​
1855 – 1856: Frontier Duty at Fort Mason, Texas​
1856 – 1857: Commander, United States Army, Department of Texas​
1857 – 1860: Commander of Expedition to Utah, and Dept. of Utah​
1857: Brevetted Brigadier General for duty he performed in Utah​
1861: Commander of U.S. Army Department of the Pacific​
1861: Resigned from United States Army on May 3rd

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: General of Confederate States Army Infantry​
1861 – 1862: Commander of CSA Department Number 2​
1861: Commander of Central Army of Kentucky​
1862: Commander of Central Army of Kentucky​
1862: Mortally Wounded during the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee​

Died: April 6, 1862

Place of Death: Hardin County, Tennessee

Cause of Death: Wounds to the Popliteal Artery

Age at time of Death: 59 years old

Burial Place: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas

Section: Confederate Field Section 2, Row A, Number 13
 
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ASJohnston_zps6962df93.jpg


Unfortunately Albert Sidney Johnston is pretty poorly represented in photographs, understandable considering his short career as a Confederate general. But even beforehand, he was seldom photographed, and many of his likenesses are based on only a handful of examples. This one below dating from around the time of the war with Mexico is probably the best and seldom seen:

Albert Sidney Johnston.jpg


Another from 1860 when he was either commanding the expedition against the Mormons or possibly soon after arriving in California to assume command there is also very good:

Albert_S_Johnston.jpg


This early war woodcut, likely from Harper's Weekly is apparently based on the latter photo:

albert-sydney_Picture3.jpg
 
I am kinda confused about the uniform he is wearing in the photo. I had assumed it was the uniform of a Major General and was not aware he ever held that rank in the U.S. Army, which the uniform seems to indicate.

John
No he only held the rank of Brigadier general. He was commanding the army's Pacific division on Alcatraz Island when the war began and became the nation's highest ranking officer to leave the service when his resignation was accepted on May 6th
 
View attachment 389761

Unfortunately Albert Sidney Johnston is pretty poorly represented in photographs, understandable considering his short career as a Confederate general. But even beforehand, he was seldom photographed, and many of his likenesses are based on only a handful of examples. This one below dating from around the time of the war with Mexico is probably the best and seldom seen:

View attachment 389758

Another from 1860 when he was either commanding the expedition against the Mormons or possibly soon after arriving in California to assume command there is also very good:

View attachment 389759

This early war woodcut, likely from Harper's Weekly is apparently based on the latter photo:

View attachment 389760

Also these three images:

ASJ Texas.jpg


ASJ young.gif


ASJ original.jpg
 
I'd never seen the first one, but the second one's almost surely an imposition (read: FAKE), as is the very first one in the OP, probably made up by some enterprising photographer who appears to have put Johnston's head on H. H. Sibley's body:

Pinterest Sibley.jpg


Note that in both photos the subject is wearing the notorious prop general's coat belonging to a now-unknown Richmond photographer for use in his studio that shows up on many other Trans-Mississippi officers including Gen. John S. Marmaduke and Texas' Col. Ochiltree.
 
Sirs, for a little free reading...

Collection; USASMA Digital Library
Sub-collection; History Papers

Title; Albert Sidney Johnston's epic 1861 journey on the Butterfield Overland Trail.
Author; Studer, Steve

Abstract
This essay is an examination of a reluctant traveler's flight through this hostile area at the beginning of the Civil War. The study of history allows us the insight into what actions and circumstances caused success in battle. It also allows us to take precautions to not make the same mistakes that were made in past events. My goal in studying Johnston's flight from California is to understand the events he experienced on the Butterfield Overland Trail, and to analyze the effects on his later military performances. It turns out that like many other officers, Johnston's resignation from the US Army came after pain staking prayer and deliberation. Johnston lived in Kentucky and Louisiana in his younger years, but he considered himself a Texan and did not want to fight against his adopted home state. Johnston did not support the secession movement, and most of his statements during this period were in support of the Union. If he had been left alone, it is likely Johnston would have remained in Los Angeles as a neutral party. My research indicates that Johnston was a reluctant Confederate.

Date, Original; 2002; 2003; 2004
Date, digital; 2010
Release statement; Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Repository; USASMA Digital Repository
Library; Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library


Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 

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