Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/140

 JOHNSTON

JOHNSTON

of whom were competent instructors. He at- tended the Abingdon academy, an excellent clas- sical school, and in 1825, through the influence of Senator Barbour, he was appointed to the U.S. Military academy, entering with a class of one hundred and five, in which were Eobert E. Lee and seven other Virginians. He was graduated in 1829, thirteenth in the class of forty-six graduates, and was the only Virginian, besides Lee, to grad- uate, Lee standing second, with Charles Mason of New York first in the class. Johnston was assigned to the 4th artillery as 2d lieutenant; was in garrison at New York and Fort Monroe, 1829-32; served in the Black Hawk war under Scott, 1832; on duty in Charleston, S.C, during the nullification troubles, 1832-33: at Fort Mon- roe and Fort Macon, 1833-36; and on the staff of General Scott, in Florida, 1836-37. He resigned from the army, May 31, 1837, and worked as a civil and military engineer under the government. He again offered his services to the government in the army and was assigned as topographical engineer in the Powell expedition to Florida, when, in the fight of Jan. 15, 1838, he barely escaped from the Indians with his life, being twice wounded in the forehead. Lieutenant Powell attributed the escape of his command to the bravery of Lieutenant Johnston. For this action he was brevetted captain and promoted first lieutenant in the topographical engineers, July 7, 1838, which restored him to the rank he liad held when he resigned from the army in 1837. He was engaged in topographical duties in Texas and on the Great Lakes, and was with General Worth in Florida fighting the Semi- noles, 1842-43. He was on the Canada boundary survey, 1845-46. On July 10, 1845, he was mar- ried to Lydia, daughter of the Hon. Louis Mc- Lane and a sister of Gov. Robert McLane of Mary- land. They had no children and his wife died Feb. 22, 1887. He was commissioned captain of topo- graphical engineers, Sept. 21, 1846, and at once sought to be assigned to General Scott's army of invasion soon to start for Vera Cruz en route for the City of Mexico. Scott readily accepted his services and he took part in the siege and capture of Vera Cruz, March 27, 1847. On April 9, 1847, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of volti- geurs, a regiment of regulars, in Cadwalader's brigade. Pillow's division. He also continued his duties as topogi-aphical engineer. On April 11, 1847, he led the advance of Twiggs's division at the pass of Cerro Gordo and was twice wounded while reconnoitring before the Mexican works. His action gained for him the brevets of major and colonel in the regular army. His wounds prevented his taking part in the battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17, 1847. At Contreras he again distinguished himself, and at Churubusco his

favorite nephew, Lieut. J. Preston Johnstone, who commanded a gun in Magruder's battery, lost his life. The information of his death was con- veyed by Capt. R. E. Lee to Colonel Jolmston, while he was standing on the captured intrench- ments and the news prosti-ated the victorious leader. At Churubusco the voltigeurs were held in reserve. At Molino del Rey they supported Duncan's battery, and in Worth's report of the battle Johnston's name is mentioned with other officers of Cadwalader's brigade. The voltigeurs lost 98 of their 341 men. At Ciiapultepec, Pillow was wounded and Cadwalader commanded the division and led it up the hill to the castle. The voltigeurs were prominent in the assault and their standard was the first planted on the ramparts from which the Mexicans were driven. Colonel Andrews led the left wing and Lieutenant-Col- onel Johnston the right and the latter received three slight wounds which did not prevent his leading his men. He was brevetted lieutenant- colonel " for gallant and meritorious conduct "in the battle of Ciiapultepec, to ^fete from Sept. 13, 1847. After the fall of the City of Mexico he was in charge of expeditions to carry supplies from the coast, and in the svimmer of 1848, vipon the mustering out of his regiment, congress passed a special act, approved, July 19, 1848, reinstating him as captain of topographical engineers, from Sept. 21, 1846. He engaged in topographical serv- ice in Texas, and on the improvements of the western rivers, and in 1855 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel in Col. E. V. Sumner's regi- ment of cavalry, served on frontier duty, and in 1858, was acting inspector-general of the Utah expedition. Upon the death of Quartermaster- General Jesup, in the summer of 1860, the war department requested Scott to name the officer best fitted for the office. Scott named four: Joseph E. Johnston, Robert E. Lee, Albert Sid- ney Johnston and Charles S. Smith, and suggested that the appointment be contested for. It was finally settled by the appointment of Joseph E. Johnston, who was commissioned brigadier- general, June 28, 1860. He remained in Wash- ington attending to his duties as quartermaster- general until the outbreak of the civil war, when he resigned his commission in the army, April 22, 1861, and left for Richmond, where he reported to Governor Letcher, who at once commissioned him major-general in the state service. He co- operated with Robert E. Lee in organizing and equipping the Virginia levies. In the meantime the state of Virginia had turned the conduct of military affairs- over to the Southern Confedei'acy and the Confederate congress had passed an act authorizing the appointment of five brigadier- generals. Johnston and Lee were two of the appointees and both accepted. The nominations