Joseph Eggleston Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a prominent Confederate general during the American Civil War. He joined the Confederate service in June 1861 and gained recognition for his leadership in the defense of the Shenandoah Valley, as well as for his significant role in the First Battle of Bull Run. Johnston commanded the Confederate Army around Richmond, effectively delaying Union advances for nearly two months. However, he suffered serious injuries at the Battle of Seven Pines in May 1862. After recovering, he took command of the Army of Tennessee in December 1863, where he focused on defending Georgia and its crucial rail junction in Atlanta from Union General William T. Sherman. Despite inflicting more casualties on his opponent, Johnston was eventually relieved of command for not taking a more aggressive stance. He was recalled in early 1865 as Sherman advanced through the Carolinas, leading to a confrontation at Bentonville. Ultimately, Johnston's inability to secure a decisive victory there resulted in the surrender of his army a month later, marking a significant moment in the war's conclusion.
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Joseph Eggleston Johnston
- Born: February 3, 1807
- Birthplace: Near Farmville, Virginia
- Died: March 21, 1891
- Place of death: Washington, D.C.
Born: February 3, 1807; near Farmville, Virginia
Died: March 21, 1891; Washington, D.C.
Principal war: American Civil War
Principal battles: First Bull Run (1861), Seven Pines (1862), Bentonville (1865)
Military significance: Johnston was one of the most able practitioners of defensive tactics on either side during the American Civil War (1861–1865) but was limited as a commander by his lack of strategic planning and his poor communication skills.
Joseph Eggleston Johnston joined Confederate service in June, 1861, and was promoted to full general following his successful defense of the Shenandoah Valley and a crucial victory at the First Battle of Bull Run. He commanded the South’s principal field army for nearly a year after Bull Run, guarded the road to Richmond, and delayed a Union advance on that city for nearly two months. He fought an action at Seven Pines in which he was badly wounded on May 31, 1862.
Following his recovery, Johnston assumed control of the Army of Tennessee in December, 1863. The following year, he oversaw the rebuilding of that force and undertook the defense of Georgia and its vital rail junction at Atlanta against a numerically superior force. Johnston made good use of terrain to delay his opponent, William T. Sherman, and inflicted more casualties than he took. However, he was removed from command on June 17 because he ignored the preservation of vital area resources, was unable to exploit his victories, and did not take the offensive against Sherman.
Seven months later, with Sherman driving through the Carolinas, Johnston was recalled. He consolidated scattered forces and surprised Sherman at Bentonville, North Carolina, on March 19, 1865. His failure to win a victory there led to the surrender of his army a month later.
Bibliography
Castel, Albert. Decision in the West. Lawrence: University of Kansas, 1992.
Hughes, Nathaniel. Bentonville. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 1996.
Johnston, Joseph E. Narrative of Military Operations. New York: Appleton, 1874.
Symonds, Craig. Joseph E. Johnston. New York: W. W. Norton, 1992.