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Adapted from Joseph E. Johnston, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for audio. This HearLore entry is also licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

— Ch. 1 · Born At Longwood House —

Joseph E. Johnston.

~5 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
Joseph Eggleston Johnston entered the world on the 3rd of February 1807 at Longwood House in Cherry Grove near Farmville Virginia. His grandfather Peter Johnston had emigrated from Scotland to Virginia in 1726. Joseph was the seventh son of Judge Peter Johnston Jr and Mary Valentine Wood who was a daughter of Patrick Henry's sister Lucy Wood. The family moved to Abingdon Virginia in 1811 where his father built a home named Panecillo. He attended the United States Military Academy starting in 1825 after being nominated by John C. Calhoun while serving as Secretary of War. Johnston graduated in 1829 ranking thirteenth out of forty-six cadets. He became the first West Point graduate promoted to general officer in the regular army reaching a higher rank than his classmate Robert E Lee.
6 sections
Johnston resigned from the Army in March 1837 to study civil engineering before rejoining during the Second Seminole War. On the 12th of January 1838 sailors aboard a ship led by William Pope McArthur were attacked at Jupiter Florida. Johnston reported there were no less than thirty bullet holes in his clothing and one bullet creased his scalp leaving a scar for life. He later served on the staff of Lt Gen Winfield Scott during the Siege of Veracruz in the Mexican American War. He performed reconnaissance before the Battle of Cerro Gordo and was severely wounded by grapeshot. He received brevet promotions to lieutenant colonel and eventually colonel for actions at Contreras Churubusco and Chapultepec. Winfield Scott humorously remarked that Johnston had an unfortunate knack of getting himself shot in nearly every engagement. His greatest anguish came with the death of his nephew Preston Johnston who died when a Mexican artillery shell struck at Contreras.
Joseph Eggleston Johnston entered the world on the 3rd of February 1807 at Longwood House in Cherry Grove near Farmville Virginia. His grandfather Peter Johnston had emigrated from Scotland to Virginia in 1726. Joseph was the seventh son of Judge Peter Johnston Jr and Mary Valentine Wood who was a daughter of Patrick Henry's sister Lucy Wood. The family moved to Abingdon Virginia in 1811 where his father built a home named Panecillo. He attended the United States Military Academy starting in 1825 after being nominated by John C. Calhoun while serving as Secretary of War. Johnston graduated in 1829 ranking thirteenth out of forty-six cadets. He became the first West Point graduate promoted to general officer in the regular army reaching a higher rank than his classmate Robert E Lee.
6 sections
Johnston resigned from the Army in March 1837 to study civil engineering before rejoining during the Second Seminole War. On the 12th of January 1838 sailors aboard a ship led by William Pope McArthur were attacked at Jupiter Florida. Johnston reported there were no less than thirty bullet holes in his clothing and one bullet creased his scalp leaving a scar for life. He later served on the staff of Lt Gen Winfield Scott during the Siege of Veracruz in the Mexican American War. He performed reconnaissance before the Battle of Cerro Gordo and was severely wounded by grapeshot. He received brevet promotions to lieutenant colonel and eventually colonel for actions at Contreras Churubusco and Chapultepec. Winfield Scott humorously remarked that Johnston had an unfortunate knack of getting himself shot in nearly every engagement. His greatest anguish came with the death of his nephew Preston Johnston who died when a Mexican artillery shell struck at Contreras.
When Virginia declared secession in 1861 Johnston resigned his commission as brigadier general becoming the highest ranking U S Army officer to do so. He accepted a commission as brigadier general in the Confederate States Army on the 14th of May 1861. In August he was promoted to full general but remained displeased because three other men now outranked him despite his seniority in the old Army. This created bad blood between Johnston and President Jefferson Davis lasting throughout the war. Davis argued that Johnston's U S commission as brigadier general was as a staff officer while his highest line commission was as lieutenant colonel. Johnston sent an intemperate letter to Davis which offended the president enough to discuss its tone with his cabinet. The conflict intensified during the Peninsula Campaign when Davis moved to restrict Johnston's authority by bringing Robert E Lee to Richmond as military adviser. Davis began issuing direct orders to forces under Johnston's ostensible command creating strategic friction.
Johnston defended the Confederate capital of Richmond during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign against George B McClellan's superior force. He withdrew from Yorktown after lengthy siege preparations and fought at Williamsburg on the 5th of May 1862. On the 31st of May 1862 he attacked south of the Chickahominy River in the Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks. His plan was aggressive but too complicated for subordinates to execute correctly. During the battle near the end of the first day Johnston suffered a severe wound to his shoulder and chest from an artillery shell fragment. G W Smith commanded the army during the second day before Davis turned over command to Robert E Lee. Lee drove McClellan from the Peninsula during the Seven Days Battles of late June. Johnston's replacement marked the end of his ability to lead major armies in Virginia despite his earlier successes.
In 1864 Johnston commanded the Army of Tennessee against William Tecumseh Sherman in the Atlanta campaign. He conducted a series of withdrawals appearing similar to his Peninsula Campaign strategy while preserving his army as the crucial consideration. Sherman began his advance on the 4th of May 1864 forcing Johnston to retreat from Dalton then Resaca and Cassville. The Confederate forces faced unexpected threats leading to abandoned attacks and renewed retreats toward Cartersville. By June U S forces were within ten miles of Atlanta threatening the city from west and north. Johnston had yielded over fifty square miles of mountainous territory in just two months while inflicting heavier losses than he sustained. President Davis lost patience when Johnston retreated across the Chattahoochee River removing him from command on the 17th of July 1864. His successor John Bell Hood was left with a virtually impossible situation defending Atlanta which he eventually abandoned in September.
Johnston returned to active duty on the 25th of February 1865 commanding remnants of three Confederate field armies totaling about 6 600 men plus additional forces under Hardee Bragg and Hampton. On the 19th of March 1865 he caught the left wing of Sherman's army by surprise at the Battle of Bentonville gaining brief tactical successes before retreating to Raleigh. After learning of Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House on the 9th of April 1865 Johnston agreed to meet General Sherman between lines at Bennett Place near Durham North Carolina. Three separate days of negotiations occurred on the 17th of April 18 and 26 1865 resulting in the largest surrender of the war totaling 89 270 soldiers. President Davis considered this act treason since so many troops surrendered without explicit defeat. Johnston received ten days rations for hungry soldiers along with horses mules corn meal and flour distributed to civilians throughout the South as an act of generosity he would never forget.
When Virginia declared secession in 1861 Johnston resigned his commission as brigadier general becoming the highest ranking U S Army officer to do so. He accepted a commission as brigadier general in the Confederate States Army on the 14th of May 1861. In August he was promoted to full general but remained displeased because three other men now outranked him despite his seniority in the old Army. This created bad blood between Johnston and President Jefferson Davis lasting throughout the war. Davis argued that Johnston's U S commission as brigadier general was as a staff officer while his highest line commission was as lieutenant colonel. Johnston sent an intemperate letter to Davis which offended the president enough to discuss its tone with his cabinet. The conflict intensified during the Peninsula Campaign when Davis moved to restrict Johnston's authority by bringing Robert E Lee to Richmond as military adviser. Davis began issuing direct orders to forces under Johnston's ostensible command creating strategic friction.
Johnston defended the Confederate capital of Richmond during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign against George B McClellan's superior force. He withdrew from Yorktown after lengthy siege preparations and fought at Williamsburg on the 5th of May 1862. On the 31st of May 1862 he attacked south of the Chickahominy River in the Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks. His plan was aggressive but too complicated for subordinates to execute correctly. During the battle near the end of the first day Johnston suffered a severe wound to his shoulder and chest from an artillery shell fragment. G W Smith commanded the army during the second day before Davis turned over command to Robert E Lee. Lee drove McClellan from the Peninsula during the Seven Days Battles of late June. Johnston's replacement marked the end of his ability to lead major armies in Virginia despite his earlier successes.
In 1864 Johnston commanded the Army of Tennessee against William Tecumseh Sherman in the Atlanta campaign. He conducted a series of withdrawals appearing similar to his Peninsula Campaign strategy while preserving his army as the crucial consideration. Sherman began his advance on the 4th of May 1864 forcing Johnston to retreat from Dalton then Resaca and Cassville. The Confederate forces faced unexpected threats leading to abandoned attacks and renewed retreats toward Cartersville. By June U S forces were within ten miles of Atlanta threatening the city from west and north. Johnston had yielded over fifty square miles of mountainous territory in just two months while inflicting heavier losses than he sustained. President Davis lost patience when Johnston retreated across the Chattahoochee River removing him from command on the 17th of July 1864. His successor John Bell Hood was left with a virtually impossible situation defending Atlanta which he eventually abandoned in September.
Johnston returned to active duty on the 25th of February 1865 commanding remnants of three Confederate field armies totaling about 6 600 men plus additional forces under Hardee Bragg and Hampton. On the 19th of March 1865 he caught the left wing of Sherman's army by surprise at the Battle of Bentonville gaining brief tactical successes before retreating to Raleigh. After learning of Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House on the 9th of April 1865 Johnston agreed to meet General Sherman between lines at Bennett Place near Durham North Carolina. Three separate days of negotiations occurred on the 17th of April 18 and 26 1865 resulting in the largest surrender of the war totaling 89 270 soldiers. President Davis considered this act treason since so many troops surrendered without explicit defeat. Johnston received ten days rations for hungry soldiers along with horses mules corn meal and flour distributed to civilians throughout the South as an act of generosity he would never forget.

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Common questions

When was Joseph E. Johnston born and where did he grow up?

Joseph Eggleston Johnston entered the world on the 3rd of February 1807 at Longwood House in Cherry Grove near Farmville Virginia. His family moved to Abingdon Virginia in 1811 where his father built a home named Panecillo.

What military academy did Joseph E. Johnston attend and when did he graduate?

Johnston attended the United States Military Academy starting in 1825 after being nominated by John C. Calhoun while serving as Secretary of War. He graduated in 1829 ranking thirteenth out of forty-six cadets.

Why did President Jefferson Davis remove Joseph E. Johnston from command during the Civil War?

President Davis lost patience when Johnston retreated across the Chattahoochee River removing him from command on the 17th of July 1864. The conflict intensified during the Peninsula Campaign when Davis moved to restrict Johnston's authority by bringing Robert E Lee to Richmond as military adviser.

How many soldiers surrendered under Joseph E. Johnston at Bennett Place?

Three separate days of negotiations occurred on the 17th of April 18 and 26 1865 resulting in the largest surrender of the war totaling 89 270 soldiers. This agreement was reached between lines at Bennett Place near Durham North Carolina after meeting General Sherman.

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