Confederate Military History/Volume 3/Biographical/J
Major-General Edward Johnson was born in Kentucky, April 16, 1816, and was graduated at the United States military academy in 1838 and promoted second lieutenant of the Sixth infantry, U. S. A. He served during the operations against the Florida Indians from 1838 to 1841, and subsequently was on duty in the southwest. He rendered honorable service during the war with Mexico, taking part in the siege of Vera Cruz in March, 1847, the battle of Cerro Gordo, the skirmish at Amazogue and the battle of Churubusco; earned the brevet of captain at Molino del Rey, and was brevetted major for gallant and meritorious conduct at Chapultepec. He also participated in the assault and capture of the Mexican capital. Subsequently he was on duty at the frontier, being stationed at various posts in Kansas, Dakota and California. He was also for a time with the garrison at Fort Columbus, N. Y. Early in 1861 he resigned his Federal rank of captain, and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, corps of infantry, C. S. A. As colonel of the Twelfth Georgia infantry he was called to Virginia and sent to the relief of Garnett, but was not able to reach that officer before his death. Falling back he occupied Alleghany mountain, and two Virginia regiments were added to his command. In December he defeated an attack by Milroy, his troops fighting splendidly under his inspiring leadership, and he was at once promoted brigadier-general. In May, 1862, with his command, the army of the Northwest, he defeated Milroy at McDowell. This battle was fought under his direction and by his own command, reinforced by Taliaferro. Stonewall Jackson commended his "skill, gallantry and presence of mind." Near the close of the battle Johnson was severely wounded. In February, 1863, he was promoted major-general, and at the reorganization following the death of Jackson he was put in command of a division of the Second corps of the army of Northern Virginia, under Lieutenant-General Ewell, comprising Steuart's, Nicholls', J. M. Jones' and the Stonewall brigades. Soon afterward he was conspicuous in his third defeat of Milroy. Deploying his division east of Winchester, he masked the operations of Early, and after that officer had captured the Federal works, he cut off the retreat of the enemy, inflicting great loss and demoralizing his forces. Then marching to Carlisle, Pa., he reached the battlefield of Gettysburg on the evening of the first day's fight. He was ordered to the attack upon Culp's hill on the second day and was successful in carrying the enemy's intrenchments, where the fight was renewed, and raged with great fierceness, on the morning of July 3d. During the operations on the Rapidan in November, 1863, he fought successfully at Payne's farm. At the Wilderness, May 4, 1864, he took position on the Orange turnpike with his division and sustained the attack of Warren's corps, which opened the bloody fighting of that campaign. On the 12th of May, he held the "bloody angle" at Spottsylvania, and having been weakened by the withdrawal of artillery to meet an anticipated flank movement, was overwhelmed by a morning attack of Hancock's corps, in which he and a large part of his command were captured. After his exchange he was assigned, September, 1864, to command of Anderson's division of the army of Tennessee. In the corps of Gen. S. D. Lee he took part in Hood's Tennessee campaign, commanding the advance and occupying Florence, Ala., October 30th. He led a desperate charge in the battle of Franklin, and fought at Nashville, December 15th and 16th; on the latter day being captured, with a large part of his division, in the general defeat of Hood's army. After the close of the war he retired to his farm in Chesterfield county, Va., and resided there until his death, February 22, 1873.
Brigadier-General John Marshall Jones was born at Charlottesville, Va., July 26, 1820, and was educated for the profession of arms at West Point, graduating and receiving the rank of brevet second lieutenant of infantry in 1841. His first service was at Fort Mackinac, Mich. In 1843-45 he was stationed successively at Detroit, in Florida and in Texas, with the army of occupation; but he did not participate in the Mexican war, during that period and until 1852, being on duty at the military academy as an instructor in infantry tactics. He was promoted first lieutenant, Seventh infantry, in 1847. After this, with the exception of some time spent as a member of a board of revision of tactics, he was on duty in the west, escorting Whipple's topographical party, on the Utah expedition and the march to New Mexico, and in garrison duty, until he was granted leave of absence in 1861. He was promoted captain in 1855, and held this rank when he resigned to enter the Confederate service. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, corps of artillery, C. S. A., and in September was assigned to duty as adjutant-general, on the staff of Maj.-Gen. Richard S. Ewell. Participating in this capacity in the battles of Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys and Port Republic, of the Valley campaign, he was commended in each report of General Ewell for the coolness and efficiency with which he performed his duties. He was with General Ewell through the Seven Days' battles before Richmond, at Cedar mountain, and Groveton, where Ewell was wounded, and subsequently being appointed inspector-general of the division, was commended for gallantry on the field of Fredericksburg by General Early. After participating in the battle of Chancellorsville he was promoted brigadier-general in May, and assigned to the command of the old Second brigade of Jackson's division, now Edward Johnson's division, Ewell's corps. He reached the field of Gettysburg with his brigade about sunset July 1st, and on the following day took part in the assault upon Culp's hill, but fell with a dangerous wound when near the first line of the enemy's intrenchments. The brigade was commanded during the remainder of the battle by Lieut.-Col. R. H. Dungan. Returning to his brigade in September, he commanded it during the operations on the Rappahannock and Rapidan, and led the advance of his division on November 27th, to Payne's farm, where he received a serious wound in the head, early in the fight, while gallantly exposing himself at the front. Notwithstanding his hurt, he reported for duty a few days afterward, when a general engagement was supposed to be imminent. On May 5, 1864, Jones' brigade opened the terrific struggle in the Wilderness, driving back the Federal flanking skirmishers early in the day. He sustained the first attack by Warren's corps, the enemy suddenly striking his right flank and driving his men back in confusion. In a desperate attempt to rally his brigade, the brave commander and his aide-de-camp. Captain R. D. Early, were killed. General Ewell, in his report of the campaign, alluding to the fact that out of his fourteen generals, three had been killed, four wounded and two captured, said of General Jones: "I consider his loss an irreparable one to his brigade."
Brigadier-General John R. Jones entered the Confederate service as captain of a company of the Thirty-third Virginia regiment, Stonewall brigade, and shared the services of that command at First Manassas and in the Valley campaign of May and June, 1862, winning promotion to lieutenant-colonel of his regiment. On June 23, 1862, he was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to the command of the Second brigade of Jackson's division. In this capacity he served at Cold Harbor and Malvern hill, until wounded in the night following the latter battle. His command in this campaign was composed of the Forty-eighth, Forty-second and Twenty-first Virginia regiments, the First Virginia battalion, the Hampton artillery and Jackson's battery. He resumed command of his brigade, which had fought under Bradley T. Johnson at Second Manassas, after it had reached Frederick in the march through Maryland. He then assumed command of Jackson's division, and was in charge of it at Harper's Ferry. After the surrender of that post he marched at 1 o'clock on the morning of the 16th of September to reinforce Lee at Sharpsburg. There he took position on the extreme left. His brigade and Winder's (Stonewall) formed his front line, and the two, numbering less than 400 men, attacked at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 17th, held back the enemy for nearly an hour, then retired to the second line, and after remaining for half an hour under a terrific storm of shot and shell, advanced and repulsed the enemy. Jones, disabled by the explosion of a shell above his head, early in the battle turned over the command to Brig.-Gen. William E. Starke, who fell in the fight, leaving Col. A. J. Grigsby in command of the Stonewall division. Jones' own brigade was successively commanded by Capts. John E. Penn, A. C. Page and R. W. Withers, the first two of whom each lost a leg. The division numbered about 1,600 at the beginning of the fight, and lost about 700 in killed and wounded. He commanded his brigade at Fredericksburg, and at Chancellorsville, on the first day, where the Second and Third brigades, Jackson's division, were the first to charge upon and capture the first line of intrenchments of the enemy, in an open field beyond Wilderness church. On account of his disability the brigade was commanded next day by Col. T. S. Garnett until the latter was killed, when Col. A. S. Vandeventer succeeded him.
Major-General Samuel Jones was born in Virginia in 1820, and was graduated at West Point, with promotion to a lieutenancy in the artillery, in 1841. He served on the Maine frontier, during the boundary dispute, until 1843; in Florida, 1845-46; and from 1846 to 1851 was on duty at the United States military academy, as assistant professor of mathematics and instructor of infantry and of artillery. Then having been promoted first lieutenant First artillery, he was on various duty, at New Orleans, at Fort McHenry, on the Texas frontier, etc., with promotion to captain in 1853, until November, 1858, when he became assistant to the judge-advocate of the army. He remained in that position, at Washington, until April, 1861. On entering the Confederate service he was commissioned major, corps of artillery, C. S. A., and with promotion to lieutenant-colonel, was appointed assistant adjutant-general of the Virginia forces. During the organization of Beauregard's army and the battle of First Manassas, he served as chief of artillery and ordnance, and his services were gratefully acknowledged by the general commanding. Promotion to colonel was accorded him during this service, and he was promoted brigadier-general to date from the day of victory. He was on duty in the Potomac district, in command of a brigade of Georgia regiments subsequently under George T. Anderson, until January, 1862, when he was put in command of the army of Pensacola, relieving General Bragg. On March 3d he assumed command of the department of Alabama and West Florida, with headquarters at Mobile. In April, being promoted brigadier-general, he was assigned to command of a division of the army at Corinth under General Van Dorn, including the brigades of Rust, Maury and Roane, and in June he was put in command of Hindman's division. Later he was in charge at Chattanooga, and in September was stationed at Knoxville in command of the department of East Tennessee. From December 4, 1862, until March 4, 1864, he commanded the department of Western Virginia, with headquarters at Dublin, Va., and in general charge of the operations in defense of the Virginia & Tennessee railroad and the salt mines. Subsequently he was in command of the department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida until succeeded by General Hardee in October. During this period Charleston harbor was defended, and the Federal expedition in Florida was defeated at Olustee. He commanded the district of South Carolina until January, 1865, and the department of South Georgia and Florida until May 10, 1865, when he surrendered at Tallahassee. Then retiring to private life he was engaged in farming, with his residence at Mattoax, Va., from 1866 until 1880, when he was appointed to a position in the office of the adjutant-general at Washington. In 1885 he was transferred to the office of the judge-advocate-general. His death occurred at Bedford Springs, Va., July 31, 1887.
Brigadier-General William E. Jones was born near Glade Spring, Washington county, Va., in May, 1824. He was educated at Emory and Henry college and at West Point, and began service in the United States army with the rank of brevet second lieutenant in the class of 1848. In 1847 he had received from Emory and Henry college the degree of master of arts. His connection with the old army continued until his resignation in 1857, he then having the rank of first lieutenant, mounted rifles. During this period he first served in Missouri and Kansas, marched to Oregon in 1849, remained there and in Washington Territory until 1851, and after that was mainly on duty in Texas. After his retirement he was engaged in farming in his native county until 1861. Upon the passage of the ordinance of secession he had ready a company of cavalry, the Washington Mounted Rifles, with which he joined Stuart in the Valley and took part in the First Manassas campaign. At this time Gen. J. E. Johnston declared that his company was the strongest in the First Virginia cavalry regiment, "not surpassed in discipline and spirit by any in the army," and recommended that Stuart be given brigade command and that Jones, "skillful, brave and zealous in a very high degree," should succeed to the colonelcy, with Fitzhugh Lee as lieutenant-colonel. Consequently he became colonel of the First, upon the organization of Stuart's brigade, and in the spring of 1862 was intrusted by Stuart with important duties in watching the enemy from the Blue ridge to the Potomac. He was watchful and vigorous and made the enemy feel his presence. Soon afterward, being displaced by a regimental election, he was assigned to the Seventh regiment, Robertson's brigade. Rejoining Stuart in August he was distinguished in the Second Manassas campaign, his regiment fighting splendidly at Brandy Station, and winning commendation on several other occasions. He participated in the raid around McClellan's army following the battle of Sharpsburg, and on November 8th, having been promoted brigadier-general, was assigned to command of Robertson's, or the "Laurel brigade," largely composed of the men who followed Ashby in the valley. December 29th he was assigned to command of the Valley district, including his brigade and all other troops operating in that region, being selected for this post by Stonewall Jackson. With the co-operation of General Imboden he made, in April and May, 1863, a very successful raid upon the Baltimore & Ohio railroad west of Cumberland, destroying an immense amount of public and railroad property. Then joining Stuart with his splendid brigade, he bore the first shock, and both in morning and evening the brunt of battle, in the famous cavalry fight of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863, his brigade ending the fight with more horses and more and better small-arms than at the beginning, and capturing two regimental colors, a battery of three pieces and about 250 prisoners. During the advance of Lee into Pennsylvania, Jones, who had been pronounced by Stuart "the best outpost officer" in the cavalry, was depended upon mainly to cover the rear and flank of the army. He defeated a Federal cavalry regiment at Fairfield, Pa., and after the retreat of Lee was begun pushed forward rapidly to protect the wagon trains of Ewell's division. Hurrying on with his staff on the night of July 4th, he found Emack's Maryland company with one gun, holding at bay a Federal division, with only half the train gone by. He joined in the desperate fight in person and with his companions until his command was scattered by a charge of cavalry. Separated from his followers, he made his way alone to Williamsport and organized all the men he could gather in the confusion for the defense of the place before the arrival of Imboden. Then, with half a dozen companies, he made his way through the enemy's lines to his command, and returned with it to participate in the attacks on Kilpatrick at Hagerstown and on Buford at Williamsport. During the campaign, he reported, his brigade fought in three battles and the affair at Boonsboro, and captured over 600 prisoners. Soon afterward an unfortunate break in his relations with General Stuart, which had existed since the fall of 1861, became so intensified as to have serious results. Col. O. R. Funsten was given temporary command of the brigade, and on October 9th General Jones was ordered to report for duty in southwest Virginia. There he organized an excellent cavalry brigade, with which he co-operated with Longstreet in east Tennessee, and in November defeated the enemy near Rogersville. At Saltville, Va., in May, 1864, with Gen. John H. Morgan, he foiled Averell's designs against that post, defeated the Federals at Wytheville, and pursued them to Dublin. On May 23d he was assigned to command of the department of Southwest Virginia in the absence of General Breckinridge. It was at that moment a position of great importance, as the district was in a turmoil on account of the incursions of Averell and Crook and Sigel, and Hunter was preparing to advance on Lynchburg. Early in June three strong columns of the enemy were marching against him, and he made a stand with his own brigade, Imboden's and Vaughn's before Hunter, at Piedmont. In the desperate fight which followed, June 5th, he was killed and his body fell into the hands of the enemy.
Brigadier-General Thomas Jordan was born in Luray valley, Va., September 30, 1819. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1840, and entered the active service as second lieutenant of the Third infantry, in garrison at Fort Snelling, Minn. Taking part in the Seminole Indian war, he was among those who surprised and captured the chief, "Tiger Tail," near Cedar Keys, in November, 1842. Subsequently he served on frontier duty until 1846, when he was promoted first lieutenant. In the Mexican war he served creditably at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, and being promoted captain and quartermaster in 1847, he remained at Vera Cruz for a year after the war. His services from that time, in the United States army, were rendered in the Southern garrisons and on the Pacific coast. May 21, 1861, he resigned and was commissioned captain, corps of infantry, C. S. A. He was with the forces first collected at Manassas Junction as lieutenant-colonel and staff officer, and when Beauregard took command there he was promoted colonel and made chief of staff and adjutant-general of that army. During the battle of July 21st he was intrusted with the important duty of directing from the rear the disposition of reinforcements, and after the fight he accompanied President Davis to the field. His assistance in the organization of the forces there was gratefully acknowledged by Beauregard, whom he subsequently accompanied to the west. He inspected the forces at Columbus, Ky., and advised their withdrawal, and during the advance from Corinth rendered important service in the preparation for the battle of Shiloh. In this famous conflict he was very active along the line, giving orders as occasion required in the name of General Johnston, and at one time having with him and under his direction the chiefs of staff of the different corps commanders. For his invaluable services on this field he was promoted brigadier-general, April 14, 1862. Subsequently he served as chief of staff with General Bragg until after the Kentucky campaign. When Beauregard was called to the defense of Charleston, he joined his old commander as chief of staff of that department. In May, 1864, he was assigned to the command of the Third military district of South Carolina. After the restoration of peace in the United States, General Jordan became chief of the general staff of the Cuban insurgent army. In May, 1869, he landed at Mayari with 300 men, and ammunition and supplies for 6,000, and in December of the same year succeeded to the chief command of the army of independence. He gained a signal victory over superior forces of the enemy at Guaimaro in January, 1870, but on account of a want of supplies he soon resigned and returned to the United States. Of recent years he has resided at New York, and edited the Mining Journal. In 1868 he published, in association with J. B. Pryor, a valuable work on "The Campaigns of Lieutenant-General Forrest," and his minor contributions to Confederate history have been numerous and interesting.