Jane Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel notes (circa 1891), part 2

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Michel (aka Mitchell) [at Washington City for Robert Morton Hughes at Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1891.] Box 3, 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.]

[Re: Joseph Eggleston Johnston.]

His first attempt at practical use of his military knowledge was made when he was about ten years old [circa 1817] & had painful results. He had gone out with Father & several of the sons on a hunt in the woods 3 or 4 miles west of Abingdon. He was on horseback with his attendant, a negro boy about his own age, riding behind him. He had been describing to Robert (the darkey) the manner in which cavalry charged infantry. Both of them becoming interested and excited, they resolved on making a trial themselves. Accordingly, Robert dismounted, took the gun, & kneeled down just in front, gun presented, to receive the charge of the cavalry. Joseph dashed bravely forward -- but the horse was not disposed to rush upon the gun -- swerved, gave a great jump, & threw Joseph violently to the ground. 

He rose to his feet, & the bones of his right leg burst through the flesh, & stuck in the ground, making a wound seven inches long. Of course, he had to lie down, which he did quietly, while Robert made off to get help.

Several persons were soon collected, including an ignorant doctor, who set the limb, & sewed up the gash with a darning needle & flax thread. Soon a skillful surgeon came -- when he examined the leg, he found it was set all crooked -- So the stitches had to be cut out, & the bones reset, which was a fearful agony, as the limb had by this time become greatly swollen and inflamed. But the boy endured all without a tear or a moan, & bore the three months of suffering without a murmur -- indeed, was always so pleasant & cheerful, that we all went to his room to pass the time agreeably.

[Compare with the final version from Robert M. Hughes, General Johnston (Great Commanders), New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1893, pages 12-13]:  

He had his first experience in the dangers of military life when he was but ten years of age; and it was brought upon him by his fondness for it. He had gone out with his father and brothers on a hunt a few miles west of Abingdon. He was on horseback, with a colored boy about his own age riding behind him. When they became separated from the others, the conversation turned on warlike themes, and Joseph was describing to the darkey (named Robert) the mode in which cavalry charged infantry and the latter received the shock. Nothing would satisfy him but a practical illustration; so he made Robert dismount, take the gun and place himself in position to receive the assault, kneeling with gun presented. Joseph thereupon withdrew the horse to a sufficient distance to obtain the necessary impetus, and thundered down upon the stationary square. The horse, however, not being equally interested in the experiment, sheered off just before reaching the infantry, and did it so suddenly that his rider was thrown forward. Of course he was wounded — he always was on every available occasion. In the fall his leg was broken, the ends of the bone coming through the flesh; yet he quietly lay down till Robert went for aid and returned with it. The first doctor who came was something of an amateur; he set the limb, however, and sewed up the wound as well as he could. Soon afterward a skillful surgeon arrived, who, on examination, found that the leg had been set crooked. He therefore cut out the stitches and reset it. The manner in which the boy of ten, in a time when anaesthetics were not known, endured the operation without a tear or groan, and his patience under the three months of suffering which followed, showed his fortitude. 

[Robert Morton Hughes (1855-1940).
Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891).
Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
Robert (circa 1807-?), at about age 25, is listed in the 1832 inventory of Peter Johnston' Jr.'s estate here as being valued at $375, or about $10,500 in 2017. What became of him, I'm not sure as of this post.]

[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.]