Albert Sidney Johnston
![]() Albert Sidney Johnston (1803-1862) - Born 2 Feb 1803, Washington, Kentucky. Died 6 Apr 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh. Albert Sidney Johnston was a West Point graduate who fought in five major conflicts and lost his life at Shiloh in the U.S. Civil War. Between conflicts he returned to civilian life and his family. He was considered one of the most able Confederate generals in the U.S. Civil War. West PointHe entered the United States Military Academy 1 Jul 1822 and graduated 8th of 41 in the Class of 1826. He was assigned to posts in Sackett's Harbor, New York and with the 6th U.S. Infantry at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and served in the Black Hawk War in 1832 as chief of staff to General Henry Atlinson. In 1834 Johnston resigned his commission to care for his terminally ill wife. TexasHe went to Texas to offer his services to the Texas Army during the Texas War of Independence against the Republic of Mexico in 1836. Enlisting into the revolutionary army as a private, he rose to Senior Brigadier General in command of the Texas Army in 1837. Texas gained its independence from Mexico and became a separate nation, Johnston became Texas Secretary of War on 22 Dec 1838. He resigned in 1840 and returned to civilian life. Mexican WarHe was the commander of the 1st Texas Rifles during the Mexican War and returned to civilian life after the war. U.S. ArmyIn 1849, he rejoined the U.S. Army as a major in the paymaster corps and was assigned to the Texas frontier. In 1855 he was a colonel in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry and went with General William S. Harney to the Great Plains. In 1857, Johnston received a battlefield promotion to brigadier general in the conflict with the Mormons in Utah. In 1860 he became the Commander of the Department of the Pacific in California. U.S. Civil WarHe was in California when the Civil War began. He resigned his commission and made the long trip to Richmond by train. Meeting with Confederate President Jefferson Davis, he joined the rebel army, and was soon the second highest ranking southern officer, with only Robert E. Lee outranking him. The Confederate Army won a morale-boosting victory at First Bull Run in 1861. 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. On 6 Apr 1862, Johnston was killed while leading his forces at the Battle of Shiloh. He was temporarily buried at New Orleans. In Jan 1867, his remains were transferred to Austin, Texas for burial in the State Cemetery. Father: John Johnston (1762-1832) Born 1 Jul 1762, Salisbury, CT. Died 25 Oct 1832. Mother: Abigail Harris (1770-1806) Born 20 Apr 1770, Washington, Mason, Kentucky. Died 29 Nov 1806. Marriage:
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