A Closer Look at Joseph E. Johnston, CSA-- Part 1: The Man

From the March 2015 Our State Magazine (North Carolina) "Johnston's Last Stand" by Philip Gerard.

Last week I was writing about the Peninsula Campaign discussion group of the McHenry County Civil War Round Table and part of it centered around Confederate General Joseph Johnston.

This article gave a good account of what made the general tick.

Described as being 58 years-old, slight stature and with a high forehead crowned with thinning gray hair, favoring side whiskers and a wispy goatee.  "He is naturally reticent, even aloof.... He pursues any objective with single-minded intensity.  He does not like to lose."

"Many of his fellow officers consider him the best fighting soldier of his generation.

"But two flaws of character sabotage his career.  He is often prickly and irritable, and he is oversensitive about matters of personal honor."

--Old Secesh