The New Student's Reference Work/Johnston, Joseph Eggleston
Johnston, Joseph Eggleston, an American general, was born in Virginia, Feb. 3, 1807. His mother was a niece of Patrick Henry. He graduated at West Point in 1829, fought in the Seminole War and served with great bravery in the war with Mexico. In 1861 he entered the Confederate service, and was appointed brigadier-general, with command of the army of the Shenandoah. He came to the help of Beauregard at the first battle of Bull Run. In 1862 he was disabled for months by a wound received at Seven Pines, while opposing McClellan. In 1863 he tried to relieve Vicksburg, but failed, as his command was too weak. He commanded the force sent to oppose Sherman’s march on Atlanta in 1864, and stubbornly resisted the latter’s progress, but was steadily driven back, and was relieved of his command. In February, 1865, Lee placed him again in command, with orders to “drive back Sherman.” But Sherman’s force was four times as great, and, after hearing of Lee’s surrender, he surrendered his own force on April 26. He was elected to Congress in 1877. He received, the appointment of United States commissioner of railroads from President Cleveland, and retained this office until his death at Washington, D. C., on March 21, 1891. He was an able general and a man of wide culture and ability. See his Narrative of Military Operations.