Civil War Confederate Major General. Born in Belmont County, Ohio, he graduated from West Point in 1840, was commissioned an Army Engineer Officer and fought in the Seminole and the Mexican Wars. In 1847, he resigned from the Army to teach, first at the Western Military Institute in Georgetown, Kentucky, then at the University of Nashville. With the start of the Civil War, he joined the Confederate cause as a Colonel Chief Engineer of the Provisional Army of Tennessee and was commissioned a Brigadier General in January 1862. On February 6, 1862, he was sent to reinforce Fort Donelson and remained until the fort's surrender to Union forces on February 15, 1862. He managed to slip through the enemy lines and was wounded while commanding the 1st Brigade in General Benjamin F. Cheatam's division at Shiloh. When he recovered, Johnson rejoined the Army for the Kentucky Campaign, commanding the 3rd Brigade at Perryville and Murfreesboro. In May 1864, he was promoted to Major General, commanding a division at Bermuda Hundred and took part in the early defenses at Petersburg. During the retreat to Appomattox his division was badly cut up at Sayler's Creek, Johnson was relieved and he was still with his army when the Confederate forces surrendered. Following the war, he became chancellor at the University of Nashville but funding problems caused the school to close. He relocated to Brighten, Illinois and was a farmer until his death at age 62. In August 1975, his remains were exhumed from Miles Station Cemetery Illinois and re-interred next to his wife Mary at Nashville City Cemetery, Tennessee.
Civil War Confederate Major General. Born in Belmont County, Ohio, he graduated from West Point in 1840, was commissioned an Army Engineer Officer and fought in the Seminole and the Mexican Wars. In 1847, he resigned from the Army to teach, first at the Western Military Institute in Georgetown, Kentucky, then at the University of Nashville. With the start of the Civil War, he joined the Confederate cause as a Colonel Chief Engineer of the Provisional Army of Tennessee and was commissioned a Brigadier General in January 1862. On February 6, 1862, he was sent to reinforce Fort Donelson and remained until the fort's surrender to Union forces on February 15, 1862. He managed to slip through the enemy lines and was wounded while commanding the 1st Brigade in General Benjamin F. Cheatam's division at Shiloh. When he recovered, Johnson rejoined the Army for the Kentucky Campaign, commanding the 3rd Brigade at Perryville and Murfreesboro. In May 1864, he was promoted to Major General, commanding a division at Bermuda Hundred and took part in the early defenses at Petersburg. During the retreat to Appomattox his division was badly cut up at Sayler's Creek, Johnson was relieved and he was still with his army when the Confederate forces surrendered. Following the war, he became chancellor at the University of Nashville but funding problems caused the school to close. He relocated to Brighten, Illinois and was a farmer until his death at age 62. In August 1975, his remains were exhumed from Miles Station Cemetery Illinois and re-interred next to his wife Mary at Nashville City Cemetery, Tennessee.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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