Richard W. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Richard W. Johnson was an American
soldier, born in Kentucky
.
in 1849 and up to the time of the Civil War
was employed chiefly on frontier service. In 1861 he was commissioned colonel in the 3rd Kentucky Cavalry
and soon afterward became a brigadier general
of volunteers. He took part as a cavalry commander in the western campaigns of 1861 and 1862 and on August 21, 1862, was defeated and captured by Col. John H. Morgan
, whom he had been sent to drive out of Tennessee
.
Johsnson commanded a division on the right flank under Major General
Alexander McCook. Johnson's command was flanked from its position by the initial Confederate attack. At the Chickamauga
, his division of the XIV Corps formed part of the command of General Thomas
. During the battle of Chattanooga
, it was one of the divisions that charged up Missionary Ridge. The next year he commanded a division in the Army of the Cumberland
during the invasion of Georgia and was severely wounded at the battle of New Hope Church
(May 28, 1864).
. He commanded a cavalry division at the battle of Nashville
. On the second day of the battle, Johnson was given the brevet
rank of major general of volunteers, supplemented on March 13, 1865, by the brevet rank of brigadier general in the regular army, and on the same day was brevetted major general in the regular army for "gallant and meritorious services during the war." Johnson was left behind when Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson
began his raid into Alabama in 1865.
(1881).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier, born in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Early career
He graduated at West PointUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1849 and up to the time of the 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...
was employed chiefly on frontier service. In 1861 he was commissioned colonel in the 3rd Kentucky Cavalry
3rd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry
The 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 3rd Kentucky Cavalry was organized at Calhoun, Kentucky and McLean County, Kentucky and mustered in for a three year enlistment on December 13, 1861 under the...
and soon afterward became a brigadier general
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...
of volunteers. He took part as a cavalry commander in the western campaigns of 1861 and 1862 and on August 21, 1862, was defeated and captured by Col. John H. Morgan
John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan was a Confederate general and cavalry officer in the American Civil War.Morgan is best known for Morgan's Raid when, in 1863, he and his men rode over 1,000 miles covering a region from Tennessee, up through Kentucky, into Indiana and on to southern Ohio...
, whom he had been sent to drive out of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
In the Army of the Cumberland
In the Battle of Stones RiverBattle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
Johsnson commanded a division on the right flank under Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Alexander McCook. Johnson's command was flanked from its position by the initial Confederate attack. At the Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, his division of the XIV Corps formed part of the command of General Thomas
George Henry Thomas
George Henry Thomas was a career United States Army officer and a Union General during the American Civil War, one of the principal commanders in the Western Theater....
. During the battle of Chattanooga
Battle of Chattanooga
There were three Battles of Chattanooga fought in or near Chattanooga, Tennessee, during the American Civil War:* First Battle of Chattanooga, minor artillery bombardment by Union Brigadier General James S. Negley against Confederate Maj. Gen...
, it was one of the divisions that charged up Missionary Ridge. The next year he commanded a division in the Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
during the invasion of Georgia and was severely wounded at the battle of New Hope Church
Battle of New Hope Church
The Battle of New Hope Church was fought May 25–26, 1864, between the Union force of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War...
(May 28, 1864).
Cavalry Service
On August 22, 1864 Johnson was made chief of cavalry of the Military Division of the MississippiMilitary Division of the Mississippi
The Military Division of the Mississippi was an administrative division of the United States Army during the American Civil War that controlled all military operations in the Western Theater.-History:...
. He commanded a cavalry division at the battle of Nashville
Battle of Nashville
The Battle of Nashville was a two-day battle in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign that represented the end of large-scale fighting in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought at Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15–16, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Tennessee under...
. On the second day of the battle, Johnson was given the brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
rank of major general of volunteers, supplemented on March 13, 1865, by the brevet rank of brigadier general in the regular army, and on the same day was brevetted major general in the regular army for "gallant and meritorious services during the war." Johnson was left behind when Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson
James H. Wilson
James Harrison Wilson was a United States Army topographic engineer, a Union Army Major General in the American Civil War and later wars, a railroad executive, and author.-Early life and engineering:...
began his raid into Alabama in 1865.
Post war
Johnson was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 15, 1866, and became provost marshal general of the Military Division of the Tennessee, and later acting judge advocate in various military departments. He resigned in 1867 with the rank of major, which grade by an Act of Congress (March 3, 1875) was changed to that of brigadier general. He published A Soldier's Reminiscences in Peace and War (1866) and a Memoir of Major General George H. ThomasGeorge Henry Thomas
George Henry Thomas was a career United States Army officer and a Union General during the American Civil War, one of the principal commanders in the Western Theater....
(1881).
See also
- List of American Civil War generals