Albert Johnston Biography (Written and Submitted by Mr. Gabe Weaver)
General Albert Johnston was born on February 3, 1803 in Washington, Kentucky. He went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1826. At the beginning of the Civil War
President Jefferson Davis appointed him to the rank of full general in the Confederate Army where he took command of the Department of Kentucky. He was in charge of a long and weak line from the Mississippi to the Allegheny Mountains which was protecting friendly territory. He was forced back by a major Federal charge,
and he was greatly criticized for falling back. Johnston took the criticism of his own countrymen even though they greatly denounced him. He then met General
Beauregard in
Corinth, Mississippi, and they began an offensive against
Grant's army at Pittsburgh Landing. The
Battle of Shiloh was fought on April 6th and 7th 1862. The Federals were falling back when Johnston was mortally wounded.
General Johnston was buried in
New Orleans. After the war his remains were taken to his adopted state of Texas where he was laid to rest in a hero's grave on the lawn of the State Capitol in Austin, Texas. Many thanks to Mr. Gabe Weaver for Writing and Submitting this Biography. |