Johnston, Joseph Eggleston 1807-91
US general

Born near Farnville, Virginia, he fought in the Seminole War, became captain of engineers in 1846, served in the war with Mexico, and in 1860 was quartermaster-general. At the outbreak of the Civil War (1861-65) he entered the Confederate service, and as brigadier-general took command of the army of the Shenandoah. He supported P G T Beauregard at the first Battle of Bull Run, and in 1864 stubbornly contested General Sherman's progress towards Atlanta, but, driven back, was relieved of his command. Reinstated and ordered to 'drive back Sherman', he nevertheless was forced to surrender to Sherman on 26 April 1865. He later engaged in railway and insurance business, was elected to Congress in 1877 and was a US commissioner of railroads.