Albert Sidney Johnston

Albert Sidney Johnston (February 2, 1803 – April 6, 1862) was a career U.S. Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Considered by some to be the finest general in the Confederacy, he was killed early in the war at the Battle of Shiloh.

Civil War

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Johnston was the commander of the U.S. Army Department of the Pacific in California. He was approached by some Californians who urged him to take his forces east to join the Union against the Confederacy. He resigned his commission, April 9, 1861, as soon as he heard of the secession of Texas. He remained in California until June. After a rapid march through the deserts of Arizona and Texas, he reached Richmond, Virginia, on or about September 1, 1861. There Johnston was appointed a general by his friend, President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis. On May 30, 1861, Johnston became the second highest ranking Confederate General (after the little-known Samuel Cooper) as commander of the Western Department. He raised the Army of Mississippi to defend Confederate lines from the Mississippi River to Kentucky and the Allegheny Mountains.

Related Topics:
American Civil War - Department of the Pacific - California - Union - Confederacy - April 9 - Secession - Richmond, Virginia - September 1 - 1861 - Confederate States of America - Jefferson Davis - May 30 - Samuel Cooper - Western Department - Army of Mississippi - Mississippi River - Kentucky - Allegheny Mountains

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Although the Confederate Army won a morale-boosting victory at First Bull Run in the East in 1861, matters in the West turned ugly by early 1862. Johnston's subordinate generals lost Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, and Fort Donelson on February 14, 1862, to Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. And Union Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell captured the vital city of Nashville, Tennessee. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard was sent west to join Johnston and they organized their forces at Corinth, Mississippi, planning to ambush Grant's forces at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.

Related Topics:
Confederate Army - First Bull Run - 1861 - 1862 - Fort Henry - February 6 - Fort Donelson - February 14 - Union - Maj. Gen. - Ulysses S. Grant - Don Carlos Buell - Nashville, Tennessee - P.G.T. Beauregard - Corinth, Mississippi - Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee

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