George Doherty Johnson
Encyclopedia
George Doherty Johnston (May 30, 1832 – December 8, 1910) was a brigadier general
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
.
. In 1834, his father moved the family to Greensboro, Alabama
, where he died less than a year later. His mother then moved the family to Marion, Alabama
. Johnston received his education from private tutors before attending Howard College
.
He then studied law
at Cumberland School of Law
at Cumberland University
in Lebanon, Tennessee
. After graduation, he returned home and began his practice in Marion. Johnson was elected mayor of Marion in 1856 and to the state legislature in 1857.
. In January 1862, Johnston was commissioned major
of the 25th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In September 1863 he was promoted to colonel
of the same regiment.
Johnston was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Ezra Church two days after promotion to brigadier general. He was on crutches during the Franklin-Nashville Campaign
and he took command of Brigadier General William Andrew Quarles
' Brigade following the Battle of Franklin
. Johnston took part in every battle of the Army of Tennessee
from the Battle of Shiloh
to the Battle of Bentonville
.
of cadets at the University of Alabama
following the War. He then moved to South Carolina
to serve as superintendent
of the South Carolina Military Academy. He was appointed by President Grover Cleveland
to the position of United States Civil Service Commissioner. He was elected to the state senate after returning to live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
George Doherty Johnston was born in Hillsborough, North CarolinaHillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
. In 1834, his father moved the family to Greensboro, Alabama
Greensboro, Alabama
Greensboro is a city in Hale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,731. The city is the county seat of Hale County. It is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where he died less than a year later. His mother then moved the family to Marion, Alabama
Marion, Alabama
Marion is the county seat of Perry County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion.-Geography:...
. Johnston received his education from private tutors before attending Howard College
Howard College
Howard College is a community college with its main campus in Big Spring, Texas and branch campuses in San Angelo and Lamesa....
.
He then studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Cumberland School of Law
Cumberland School of Law
Cumberland School of Law is an ABA accredited law school at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. The 11th oldest law school in the United States, it is 160 years old and has more than 11,000 graduates. Its alumni include two United States Supreme Court Justices; Nobel Peace Prize recipient...
at Cumberland University
Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1842, though the current campus buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.-History:...
in Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it...
. After graduation, he returned home and began his practice in Marion. Johnson was elected mayor of Marion in 1856 and to the state legislature in 1857.
Civil War
Johnston joined the Confederate Army as second lieutenant of Company G of the 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Johnston fought with this unit at the First Battle of Bull RunFirst Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
. In January 1862, Johnston was commissioned major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
of the 25th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In September 1863 he was promoted to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the same regiment.
Johnston was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Ezra Church two days after promotion to brigadier general. He was on crutches during the Franklin-Nashville Campaign
Franklin-Nashville Campaign
The Franklin-Nashville Campaign, also known as Hood's Tennessee Campaign, was a series of battles in the Western Theater, conducted from September 18 to December 27, 1864, in Alabama, Tennessee, and northwestern Georgia during the American Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lt....
and he took command of Brigadier General William Andrew Quarles
William Andrew Quarles
William Andrew Quarles was a Tennessee lawyer, politician, railroad executive, and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
' Brigade following the Battle of Franklin
Battle of Franklin
Battle of Franklin may refer to three battles of the American Civil War:* Battle of Franklin , a major battle fought November 30, 1864, at Franklin, Tennessee as part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign...
. Johnston took part in every battle of the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
from the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
to the Battle of Bentonville
Battle of Bentonville
At 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...
.
Post-war career
Johnston served as commandantCommandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of cadets at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
following the War. He then moved to South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
to serve as superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of the South Carolina Military Academy. He was appointed by President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
to the position of United States Civil Service Commissioner. He was elected to the state senate after returning to live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
.
Death
Johnston died in Tuscaloosa on December 8, 1910 and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Tuscaloosa.See also
- List of American Civil War generals