Albert Sidney Johnston #105, Austin, Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy
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In 1839 Johnston led a successful expedition against the Cherokee Indians in East Texas.
From 1840 to the outbreak of the Mexican War he lived in retirement on his farm. During this time he married his second wife Eliza Griffin Johnston in 1843.
As a Colonel in the Texas volunteer regiment Johnston commanded the 1st Texas Rifles, and fought at Monterrey in the Mexican War (1846-1848). In Monterrey he had three horses shot under him.
Johnston was reappointed to the U.S. Army in 1849 as a Major and paymaster, and was assigned to the Texas frontier. In 1855 he became Colonel of the 2nd (old) Calvary – afterwards the 5th. His Lieutenant Colonel was Robert E. Lee, and his majors were Hardee and Thomas.
In 1857 he commanded the expedition sent against the Mormons, and performed his difficult and dangerous mission so successfully that the objects of the expedition were attained without bloodshed. He was rewarded with the Brevet of Brigadier-General.
He remained there until 1860, commanding the Pacific Department and stationed at San Francisco. He resigned his commission on April 10, 1861 refusing the federal government’s offer of command, but did not quit his post on the West Coast until his successor arrived.
From 1840 to the outbreak of the Mexican War he lived in retirement on his farm. During this time he married his second wife Eliza Griffin Johnston in 1843.
As a Colonel in the Texas volunteer regiment Johnston commanded the 1st Texas Rifles, and fought at Monterrey in the Mexican War (1846-1848). In Monterrey he had three horses shot under him.
Johnston was reappointed to the U.S. Army in 1849 as a Major and paymaster, and was assigned to the Texas frontier. In 1855 he became Colonel of the 2nd (old) Calvary – afterwards the 5th. His Lieutenant Colonel was Robert E. Lee, and his majors were Hardee and Thomas.
In 1857 he commanded the expedition sent against the Mormons, and performed his difficult and dangerous mission so successfully that the objects of the expedition were attained without bloodshed. He was rewarded with the Brevet of Brigadier-General.
He remained there until 1860, commanding the Pacific Department and stationed at San Francisco. He resigned his commission on April 10, 1861 refusing the federal government’s offer of command, but did not quit his post on the West Coast until his successor arrived.
He began the long trek to Richmond overland. Meeting with Jefferson Davis (whom he had known at Westpoint), he entered Confederate service where his assignments included: General, CSA (August 30, 1861 – to date from May 30, 1861); commanding Department No. 2 (September 15, 1861 – April 6, 1862); and in immediate command of the Central Army of Kentucky, Department No. 2 (October 28 – December 5, 1861 and February 23 – March 29, 1862).
As the second ranking general in the Southern army he was in command of all Confederate troops west of the Alleghenies. Establishing a line of defense in Kentucky from the Mississippi River to the Appalacians, he held it until it was broken at Mills Spring in January and at Forts Henry and Donelson in February 1862. Abandoning Kentucky and most of Tennessee, he fell back into northern Mississippi where he concentrated his previously scattered forces.
Albert Sidney Johnston Biography continued - page 2