Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson

[jkBluesman]

Maj. Gen. Edward "Alleghany" Johnson (b. 1816, d. 1873). A wound and being captured twice shortened Johnson’s service in the Confederate army in which he rose to one of the best division commanders. Born in Virginia he grew up in Kentucky as his family moved west when he was still a child. Graduating from West Point in 1838 (after repeating one year) he served in the Second Seminole War and on the frontier before the Mexican-American War. In that conflict he won two brevets and served afterwards on the frontier again. 1861 and the secession crisis found him at Governor’s Island, New York. One newspaper article states that he was arrested for strong Confederate sentiments and escaped on a vessel bound for Central America. True or not, he was given command of the 12th Georgia Infantry in July with the rank of colonel and sent to western Virginia. His first fights during the Cheat Mountain campaign the same month which resulted in a Confederate retreat and the rise of the Union Gen. George B. McClellan. In November Johnson and his brigade were stationed at Alleghany Mountain as part of the Army of the Northwest. On December 13 his men repulsed a Federal assault and Johnson was from thereon known as "Alleghany". He was as well promoted to brigadier general dating from the battle date. The campaigning season of 1862 opened for him in May when he cooperated with Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Together they defeated the Northerners at McDowell. But Johnson missed the rest of the famous Valley Campaign, because he was severely wounded in the battle. He spent one year of recovering in Richmond. When the Army of Northern Virginia was reorganized after Jackson's death in May 1863 and was preparing for the Pennsylvania campaign, Johnson was given Jackson's old division in the II corps and rose to major general. He led his men well at Second Winchester, the battle that re-opened the Shenandoah Valley for the South. At Gettysburg his division arrived too late for the fighting on the first day. In the evening of July 2, his division captured parts of the enemy works on Culp's Hill. But they could not take the rest of the trenches the next day and the division lost about one third of its strength. During the Mine Run Campaign in November, Johnson successfully blocked two Union corps from reaching their destined position thus buying time for the Confederates to entrench. The Federals cancelled the operation the next day and withdrew north of the Rappahannock River. The opening battle of the Overland Campaign in the Wilderness in May 1864 showed Johnson’s skills in defensive warfare. His greatest test came a week later at Spotsylvania Court House. Johnson’s division could hold a salient the first day. But when the artillery was withdrawn during the night, the “Mule Shoe” became very vulnerable for attacks. These came the next day and Johnson and great parts of his command were captured in their trenches despite some hand-to-hand combat. Exchanged in late summer, Johnson was sent to Tennessee and got a division in Gen. Stephen D. Lee's corps. He participated in the Franklin-Nashville campaign in fall that ended with the severe defeat at Nashville on December 16. Johnson was captured again. He remained imprisoned for the rest of the war and even longer, as he and fellow-officers had to be cleared of charges in regard to a conspiracy in the assassination of Pres. Abraham Lincoln. Johnson was finally paroled at Fort Warren in July 1865 and returned to Virginia. There he lived as farmer until his death on March 2, 1873. He was buried in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery.

Ldr: 6
Tact: 5
Init: 3
Cmd: 4
Cav: 0

Teaches: Polar Bears, Night Owls, Diggers, Oblique Fire

[jkBluesman]

I laft the ratings as they were and added only "Night Owls" for the fighting at "Culp's Hill". If you think that three abilities are enough "Night Owls" might go to Steuart and Williams, two of his brigadiers at Gettysburg.
In the game he is from Georgia although born in Virginia and raised in Kentucky probably because his first regiment was the 12th Georgia. One website describes him as being a Westerner in character, so it is maybe hard to say where he himself placed his roots.

[Gil R.]

Copied, thanks.