Edward William Johnston to John Warfield Johnston, January 2, 1848

[Edward William Johnston at Washington, D.C., to John Warfield Johnston, Virginia Senate, at Richmond, January 2, 1848. Box 26, folder 9, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough, annotated transcription from a copy graciously provided by William Myers.]                 

                                   Washington D.C. Jan’y 2, 1848

My dear John,

Robert McLane (now M.C. from the Baltimore district) whose statement of Joseph’s services I send you, was himself Joseph’s comrade in the Florida war, a graduate of West Point, and a lieutenant of Artillery, in the reinforcement which came to the relief of Powell’s detachment, after its narrow escape at Jupiter Inlet. He speaks of that affair, therefore, from a personal knowledge of the particulars. Yet he has by no means stated them in their whole reality, as I have heard them from Joseph himself. Possibly McLane never did; for Master Jo., as you are probably aware, is not the most communicative gentleman alive; and is apt to be utterly restive about his own performances. I drew the details of this one from him, by a course of Interrogations.

When, in the course of their retreat, the Marines had given way and made pell-mell for the boats, the little body of Regulars was all that was left to save the entire party from being either cut off while regaining their boats, or destroyed as they were making their way down the narrow inlet. These Regulars were covering the escape as well as they could, when the fall of their last officer left them without any leader. It was there that Joseph assumed the command of (I think) the 28 men left. Perceiving at once that a resolute stand must be made, or that they would be completely if they over-powered if they waited until the gathering rush of the Indians was poured upon them just as they reached the boats in confusion, he at once formed his handfull [handful] of men around; brought them into line within some thirty yards of the cover from which the Indians (ten times their number & arriving in additional parties every moment) were pouring their fire and preparing to burst; and, confronting them, with fixed bayonets, determined in this way to hold back their charge (which would else be fatal) until the Marines could rally, or the boats be regained. You may see that nothing but his high reputation through the Army for soldiership could have induced the men to execute a maneuver so daring. It was done, however, with the greatest coolness & steadiness: not a man flinched from the bold piece of work; and they thus stood close up to the Seminole rifle, long enough to secure the retreat of the rest, and then fight their own way, inch by inch, backwards to the boats,

While making this first stand, Joseph stood on the left of his men, the mark of God knows how many guns, at half what may be considered point blank. He received seven balls through his clothes & hat. One raked all the hair off the top of his head & knocked him down; while two others just touched his body above the waist, one on the right side and the other on the left, besides which, a sapling against which he leant his right arm, merely to support himself (for it was too small to be thought of for its shelter & moreover stood out of the line of the main firing) happened to cover the center of his body from a marksman at one side, who shot at him repeatedly, and hit the tree several times. I have seldom heard of such an escape from deliberate close firing.

As to his previous withdrawal from the Service, it was induced by discouraged professional pride. He saw repeated civil appointments into the Army, and men advanced as politicians & intriguers; and seeming all promotion to be got in that way and despairing of all honour or soundness in an army administered by favouritism or controlled by party-influence, not merit, he coolly made up his mind, without any individual injustice or affront, to betake himself to the occupation of a Civil Engineer, for which he was excellently qualified. He had hardly taken this step, however, when Mr. Poinsett, of whose character & abilities Joseph had a high idea, was placed at the head of the War Department. Auguring a better state of things under him, Joseph sought to return to his profession; and had no difficulty in getting himself sent back to Florida, in the staff service where the affair at Jupiter Inlet found him.

On Scott’s return from Florida, he told me that no young officer in the Army exceeded Joseph as a capable & useful man; and that he had served him with the highest efficiency. He had previously been of his Staff, in the Black Hawk war.

As a Topographical Engineer also, he has been much employed; in the reconnaissances made with a view to ascertain the true Maine boundary; afterwards  in running, under Major Graham, the line of the Ashburton treaty; and for two successive years on the Coast Survey. He also conducted a part of the Survey of the line between us & Texas. I do not believe that any officer of his years has performed in greater quantity or variety of active & important duty, or labored more to make himself, as he is considered, the master of every branch of his profession. He has equally applied himself to the whole theory & history of the Military Art; and is I think, the best-read soldier that I know, of every thing that can throw a light upon Strategy, from the campaigns of Hannibal down to those of Napoleon.

I should have gotten Powell to give a statement of the Jupiter Inlet business; but reasons of delicacy forbade it. He would have done it, I am sure, with great pleasure.

You must not allow either of these papers to be used for that inconsiderate machine the Press; which, provided it can get something “exclusive”,  cares for nobody’s feelings.

                                              Ever affectionately,

                                                    Yours

                                              Edward Wm. Johnston

[Edward William Johnston (1799-1867).
John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889).
Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891).
Robert Milligan McLane  (1815-1898).
Powell = Levin Minn Powell (1803-1885). 
Jupiter Inlet = Janary 15, 1838, during the Second Seminole War.
Poinsett = Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851). 
Scott - Winfield Scott (1786-1866).]

[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration; in this case, specifically to William for providing a scanned copy of the original document.]