CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: GEN. ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
10 September 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON.

Where was Gen. A. S. Johnston born and raised? Did he resign his place 
in the United States army when he came to Texas? How long was he in 
Texas service?  When did he re-enter the United States army?-John W. 
Stephens.

Albert Sidney Johnston was born in Washington, Mason county, Ky., 
Feb. 3, 1803; was graduated at the United States Military Academy eighth 
in his class in 1826; assigned to the 2nd Infantry, in which he served 
until his resignation April 24, 1834; farmed for a short while, near St. 
Louis, Mo.; in August, 1863, he joined the Texas patriots as a private, 
but rapidly rose through all the grades to the command of the army; 
served in the Mexican war in the First Texas Ri­fles under Gen. Zachary 
Taylor; regiment disbanded, but he continued in the service and was 
Inspector General of Butler's Division at the battle of Monterey; 
retired to his farm in Brazoria county at the close of the Mexican War; 
in 1849 was made a paymaster in the United States army by Presi­dent 
Taylor; appointed Colonel of the Fifth Cavalry in 1855 by President 
Pierce; remained in command of his regiment and the Department of 
Texas until ordered in 1857 to the command of the expedition to restore 
order in Utah; brevet­ed Brigadier General and retained in command of 
Utah until Feb.29, 1860, ,when he was ordered to California; resigned 
his commission April 9, 1861, as soon as he heard of the se­cession of 
Texas; reached Richmond, Va., Sept 1, and was appointed at once to 
the command of all the country west of the Atlantic States and north 
of the Gulf States; died near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, 
April 6, 1862. - Dallas News.

The morning before the battle of Shiloh, it is said that Gen. Johnston 
sitting in front of his tent, gazing at the green foliage of the forest 
trees surrounding his headquar­ters, while the chirping birds were 
singing their sweetest songs, was heard to say: "Who would not be 
willing to die for such a country as this."  His great mind and 
sympa­thetic heart was wedded to his country; and whether some of the 
near tragic events had impressed his thoughtful mind and generous 
nature or not, may be known on the "Eternal Camping Grounds." One fact 
is patent to the world, and that is he did die for his country. The 
heart ceased to throb on that fateful day, and the heroic spirit 
"returned to the God who gave it," and went to dwell with his former 
associates: Houston, Lamar, Pinkney Hill and other noted pa­triots of 
Texas Independence.