2022-07 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/15/2022
JOHNSTON, Joseph Eggleston (1807-1891) was an American career army officer, serving with distinction in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848) and the Seminole Wars. After Virginia seceded from the Union, he entered the Confederate States Army as one of its most senior general officers. Autograph Letter Signed “J.E. Johnston”, 3pp., written to Major Gen. Stuart, datelined Richmond, Nov. 26th 1862. In large part, “My dear Stuart, ... What do you mean by the Army of my choice? Does any one suppose that I can serve cheerfully with any but the troops that became an army in the full sense of the word, with us? Or, that I prefer fighting on any other solil than that of Va. .... A report seems to have got into circulation here that the command of the Army of Northern Va. was offered to me & refused.It is untrue unfounded. My most earnest wish since myself approaching a condition for service, has been to return to that army. Do you suppose that I can sleep soundly near the enemy when I know that you have not arranged & trained the pickets? Or, that I can feel I know his positions when you have not reported them? Be assured that nothing could have happened more to be regretted by me than this removal from my old associates. I have few friends out of that army and can not expect to find such soldiers elsewhere, certianly not such friends. .... My love to Longstreet. It was the 1st day of the battle of Seven Pines that Johnston was wounded in his shoulder and chest by an artillery shell fragment near the end of the first day of the battle. Johnston was prematurely discharged from hospital on November 24, 1862, and appointed to command the Department of the West. General Robert E. Lee replaced him a commanding the Army of Northern Virginia.
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