Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/137

 JOHNSTON

JOHNSTON

government at Richmond for a force commen- surate uitli the importance of his position. Knowing that he would soon be called to defend the waterways, then the pathways into the heart of the Confederacy, he estal)lished new defensive works on the Tennessee, including Fort Henry, and constructed Fort Donelson, on the Cumber- land. Wlien Gratit oi)erated against Fort Henry, Jolmston fell back to the line of the Cumber- land in order to defend Nashville, and he re- solved to make his stand at Fort Donelson, but the presence of Buell with 90,000 men soon obliged him to fall back on Nashville with less than 14.000 men, of which 8.J00 were effective, leaving Buckner, Pillow and Floyd to defend Donelson. When Donelson fell, to save his re- maining army, Johnston abandoned the line on the Cumberland and concentrated his forces at Corinth, Miss., for a renewed struggle, March 25, 1862, where he was re-inforced bj^ Bragg with 10,000 men from the southern coast. He placed the territory west of the Tennessee river under General Beauregard, who, instead of defending Columbus, concentrated his force at Island No. 10, and when Beauregard was taken sick, the command devolved on General Bragg and the place surrendered with its garrison of 7000 men. Johnston now determined to concentrate the entire Confederate forces at Corinth and meet Grant at the bend of the river and crush him be- fore he could be reinforced by Buell. Beaure- gard and Bragg delayed the movement, asking time to reorganize their demoralized forces. Af- ter ten days' delay Johnston placed Bragg in command of a corps, and made him his chiet-of- staff. As the battle would be fought in the ter- ritory assigned to Beaui'egard, Johnston tendered to him the immediate direction of the battle, which that general generously declined and be- came second in command. Grant had moved up the Tennessee by boats and taken possession of the left bank at Pittsburg Landing, where he was stationed for one week before Johnston had gathered the scattered forces together, which, when concentrated, made an army of 40,000 men. Grant had in camp at Pittsburg Landing 58,000 men, Buell, near bj', had 37,000 and Mitchell, near Florance. had 18,000. On April G. 1S62, Jolmston made the attack on his lines. His plan was to turn the left flank of the Federal army and so cut off Grant's retreat to the Tennessee, forcing him to the junction of Owl creek and the Tennessee river and thus obliging a surrender. This plan was being carried out when the left of Hurlbut's division offered a determined resistance, and Johnston riding up exclaimed, "Men, they are stubborn: we must use the bayonet! I will lead you! " Bowers and Statham's brigades followed him in the charge, gained the crest and put the

enemy to flight. Johnston had hisclothes pierced by bullets and his bcjot sole cut by a minie, while his horse received four shots. Groups of Fedei'al soldiers as they retired kept up a sharp fire and then fell back on their supports. The last line turned before they yielded, tired a volley, and Johnston received a minie ball wound. He still sat his horse, gave an order to Colonel 0"Hara of his staff and in answer to Governor Harris's questit)n "General, are you wounded?" an- swered, " Yes, and I fear seriously." Harris and "Wickham led his horse to the shield of a hill and lifted the dying general to the ground, to find his leg bleeding and his boot filled with blood. His surgeon. Dr. D. W. Yandell, having been or- dered by the general to attend to wounded pris- oners, could not give immediate aid, and Johnston died a few miiuites after being dismounted. In the selection of names for a place in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, New York university, made in October, 1900, his was one of the twenty names In " Class N, Soldiers and Sailors " submitted as eligible and with James Lawrence and James S. "Wadsworth received no votes in the final election, Farragut, Grant and Lee being the only names in the class receiving a place. General Johnston died near Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April G, 1862.

JOHNSTON, David Emmons, representative, was born in Giles county, Va., Aj^ril 10.1845; son of Oscar F. and Elizabeth (French) Johnston; grandson of David and Sally (Chapman) John- ston and a descendant of David Johnston, who was born in county Fermanagh, Ireland, immi- grated to America about 1787, and settled in Cul- peper county, Va. He received a jniblic school education, entered the Confederate army in 1861 at the age of sixteen, and was twice wounded, more severely in Pickett's charge at Gett^'sburg, July 3, 1863. He was admitted to the bar in. 1867, located in practice at Mercer county, W.Va., in 1870, and was elected prosecuting attorney of Mercer county, 1872-76. He was elected state senator in 1878; was judge, of the circuit court, 1880-88, and was a Democratic presidential elector in 1896. He was a Democratic representative from the third West Virginia district in the oGth congress, 1899-1901.

JOHNSTON, Francis, soldier, was born in New London, Chester county. Pa., in 1749; son of Alexander and Martha Johnston. His father was justice of the county. He entered the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in 1764, and was gradu- ated. A.B., 1767, A.M., 1770. He was admitted to the bar and practised in Philadelphia. He was a member of the provincial convention of Pennsylvania. 1774 and 1775; of the committee of safety, 1775-76; I'eceiver-general of the land- oflUce of Pennsylvania. 1781-1800, and sheriff of Philadelphia county, 1810-13. He served in the