Confederate general (1807–1891) who, when Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, resigned his commission as a brigadier general in the regular army—the highest-ranking US officer to do so. Initially commissioned as a major general in the Virginia militia, he relieved ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s command at Harper’s Ferry and organized the Army of the Shenandoah. War-dated ALS signed “J. E. Johnston,” one page, lightly-lined both sides, 5 x 8, August 16, 1861. Letter to Colonel Ware. In full: “I thank you for the information you communicated in your letter of the 16th, received last evening. You do me great injustice in supposing that I in any way interfered with or prevented the formation of your regiment. At the time I did not exercise authority in the organization of the Va. troops, being an officer in the C.S.A. and the State troops being under State Authority. I made up but one battalion, and that was just before leaving Winchester. We may, perhaps, have differed upon some points connected with the matter in which your regiment, under the orders of the Gov. and Genl. Lee, was to be formed, but there has never been a time since we first met, including the present, when I would not have been rejoiced to have the aid of a regiment commanded by you. But you must consider that I have in this matter no power, except when independent companies join in sufficient numbers to make a battalion, which rarely happens, indeed it has occurred but once. With your social position and influence, there would be, I am sure, no difficulty in raising a regiment of either cavalry or infantry, with your activities I should prefer the former.” Matted and framed, so both sides may be read, with a portrait of Johnston to an overall size of 16 x 13. Intersecting folds, scattered light toning (including a bit over signature), a few brushes to text, and light show-through from writing on reverse, otherwise fine condition. Provenance: Christies Sale 2361, December 3, 2010.
Johnston writes to pacify Josiah W. Ware, a colonel who commanded an artillery regiment in the Virginia militia. Johnston was briefly a major general in the militia, but accepted a brigadier general commission in the Confederate army after Virginia decided only one major general was necessary and chose Robert E. Lee. The letter indicates that he ran afoul of Ware during this period of transition. When the Virginia militia was transferred to the Confederate army in June, Lee became a Confederate general and a close advisor to Jefferson Davis. At the time of this correspondence in August, Johnston was promoted to full general, but resented Davis because three men Johnston had outranked in the U.S. Army now outranked him, including Lee. Following the Battle of Seven Pines in June 1862, Lee would relieve a wounded Johnston and assume command of the Army of Northern Virginia. A fine letter dating to the early days of the war and illustrating the tensions accompanying the rapid organization of Confederate forces. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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