Major John Johnson Appointed to Committee to Record the Defense of Fort Sumter and Charleston

From the forward of the Book "Defense of Charleston Harbor, Including Fort Sumter and the Adjacent Islands" by John Johnson.

Understanding the significance of the defense of Charleston even during the war. on April 19, 1864, General Beauregard, in charge of the city's defenses and Confederate commander when the fort was surrendered in 1861, directed that a board be assembled to write the story of the defense of that city.

It was to commence with the Union naval attack on Fort Sumter on April 7, 1863.

He appointed five members to the Board:

Pierre Soule as president
Major W.S. Basinger, Artillery P.A.C.S.
Captain John Johnson, Engineers
Lt. John Ross Key, Engineers, draughtsman
Captain Henry Wemyss Feildon as Recorder of the Board

"Captain Johnson will continue to supervise the defense of Fort Sumter, but will leave an assistant  in immediate charge of that work.  He will be furnished by the chief engineer with a boat and crew, that he may visit the fort whenever necessary."

Important Back Then.  --Old Secesh

Major John Johnson Makes Corrections in Second Printing of His Book "Defense of Charleston..."

The first printing ran out in just six months.

Omissions he wanted to correct:

**  The Confederate transport Marion sunk by a torpedo while placing then in the Ashley River on April 6, 1863.

**  The statement that the finding of the "fish" Confederate torpedo boat, alongside the wreck of her victim, the U.S. sloop of war "Housatonic" is not a certified fact.

**  The captured gunboat "Isaac Smith" afterwards known as the "Stono" by the Confederates,  was lost in attempting to run the blockade.

**  The attack on the Pawnee and Marblehead gunboats  on the Stono River m July 16, 1863,  there were engaged four rifled guns of the siege train (Palmetto Guards) Capt. B.C. Webb, , besides the artillery mentioned.

**  The average range of all (Union) batteries at the reduction of Fort Pulaski, Ga., was 2,559 yards, though the actual breaching was done at  at 1,700 yards.

--Old Secesh

Major John Johnson Obit-- Part 3

Maj. John Johnson was called to his immortal reward Sunday, April 7. 1907.  Ever present in life to cheer and comfort him was the love, esteem, and confidence of all mankind, and in the hour of death those who knew him best have every confidence that the world is better in that he lived.

The father of Dr. Johnson (Major), Joseph Johnson, M.D.,  was a son of William Johnson, one of the Revolutionary patriots of "Liberty Tree" fame and an exile to St. Augustine, and a nephew of Justice William Johnson, of the United States Supreme Court.

General Beauregard said that to Dr. Johnson was due the masterly defense of  Fort Sumter.

--Old Secesh

Major John Johnson Obituary-- Part 2: Sheathed His Confederate Sword and Drew His Sword for the Lord

It is fortunate that the defense of Fort Sumter has had an eminently fair, impartial, unimpassioned  and scientific history from both contestants --  Gilmore writing  as to the attack and Johnson as to the defense.  Major Johnson's most valued historic contribution is remarkable  in its entire accuracy, its completeness of detail, and, above all, for the supreme modesty of its author.

Forever the name of Major John Johnson will be linked with the fame of the historic defense of Fort Sumter.

After sheathing in honor his Confederate sword, he drew bright and fair the sword of the Lord, and for many years the beloved rector of St. Philips Church, Charleston.  Brave in the struggle of life, consistent in every action, persistent in every duty, loving and tender  to all around him, he was in a long life of peace devoted to all that was pure, lofty, and enobling as true as when, amidst war's alarums  (old word for alarm),  he was coolly and skillfully rebuilding the ramparts of Fort Sumter.

--Old Secesh

Major John Johnson, Obituary-- Part 1

From Confederate Vets.com.  From the Confederate Veteran magazine of the United Confederate Veterans.

REV. JOHN JOHNSON D.D.

Tribute by Gen. Cornelius Irvine  Walker, Charleston, S.C.

The most obstinate , prolonged and gallant defense of the whole war was that of Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C. Harbor. There the first Confederate flag was planted in victory, and there almost the last was lowered in disaster.

For two years the vast resources of the United States, its navies and its armies, were in vain expended against the fortress.  Shot and shell from the most powerful armaments of the day were thundered against its ramparts; but it never yielded to a front attack, and was abandoned only when Sherman flanked the Confederates out of Charleston.

The heroic men who so gallantly held the fortress won an imperishable glory.

The man who, by his skill, patience, untiring energy, and superb courage, made possible the prolonged holding of the fort was its chief engineer, Major John Johnson.  His genius converted the crumbling ruins  of Fort Sumter into an impregnable stronghold.

So preeminent and  and well-known were these services that  all unite in yielding him credit.

--Old Secesh

Major John Johnson-- Part 5: Fifteen Months Under Fire

John Johnson was posted to Fort Sumter on April 7, 1863,  in time to witness the U.S. Navy attack on that place and then served for 15 months as engineer-in-charge of the fort's severest bombardment.  Applying his expertise and constant attention to detail, he oversaw daily repairs to damage and reinforcement efforts to sustain the fort throughout the devastating  rain of shellfire  from Union guns.

On July 28, 1864, he received his second and most serious of two wounds which left him a cripple for the rest of his life.

General Beauregard said to Major John Johnson was due  the masterly defense of Fort Sumter:

"It did not end in triumph, but it has left behind a setting of glory as of the western skies, a blazonry of heroism where gold and purple serve to tell of valor  and endurance, and the crimson hue is emblem of self-sacrifice in a cause  believed to be just."

--From the concluding sentence of Major John Johnson's book "The Defense of Charleston Harbor, Including Fort Sumter and Adjacent Islands 1863-1865."

--Old Secesh

Major John Johnson, CSA-- Part 4: Engineering and Divinity

Born in Charleston on December 25, 1829, he received his academic  education in engineering and pursued that for ten years where he was employed in surveys, railroad construction and water-works.  In 1853, under the patronage of the state, he prepared and published a large map of South Carolina.  He continued his academic studies at sessions offered at the University of Virginia 1858-1860.

In addition, he decided to enter the ministry  of the Protestant Episcopal Church and began  preparation at Camden, South Carolina,  under the direction of Bishop Thomas F. Davis until the war broke out.

He entered the engineering corps of the Confederate Army in August 1862 at age 33 with the rank of Lieutenant of Engineers, then Captain in 1863 and Major in 1864.  He was initially engaged in the construction of defenses at several towns (including Wilmington).

--Old Secesh

Major John Johnson of Fort Sumter-- Part 3: Also Saw Service at Wilmington

From the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie NPS.

Joined Confederate Army in 1862 and rose through ranks from lieutenant, captain to major in the Corps of Engineers.  Saw service at Savannah, Wilmington (another Fort Fisher-Wilmington person) and especially noted for his time in Charleston and at Fort Sumter.

He was twice wounded at Fort Sumter  where he served as engineer in charge for the 15th months of the severest Union bombardment of that place.

Survived the war and authored "The Defense of Charleston Harbor, Including  Fort Sumter and Adjacent Islands 1863-1865."  It was published in 1890 and is still considered the one of the best historical and technically detailed accounts of that bombardment.

--Old Secesh

Major John Johnson, Fort Sumter Defender of Charleston-- Part 2: Of Engineers and the Church

The Rev. John Johnson, rector emeritus of St. Philips Episcopal Church in Charleston, Confederate Major of Engineers in charge at Fort Sumter,  and author of "The Defense of Fort Sumter" and other historical works, died last night at the age of 78.

He studied civil engineering, to which for ten years he devoted his energies in railroad constructing and other large engineering work throughout South Carolina.  In 1853, he published the largest map of this state ever undertaken.

In 1860, he studied for the ministry at the Camden University in South Carolina, but at the outbreak of the war, he entered the engineering  corps of the Southern army  with the rank of Lieutenant of Engineers and rose rapidly through the ranks to major of Engineers.

He was mostly engaged  on the fortifications of several towns and was at Fort Sumter for fifteen months of its bombardment.  During this time, he was wounded twice by shells which left him crippled for life.

After the war, he was paroled as senior officer in the engineers and resumed his his ministerial studies, being ordained in 1866.   In 1872, he was appointed rector of St.Philips.

--Old Secesh

Major John Johnson, Fort Sumter Defender of Charleston-- Part 1

In the last post, I mentioned four young ladies who dedicated the Confederate defenders of Charleston statue in 1932.  One of them was Alicia Rhett, who was in the movie "Gone With the Wind" and whose name inspired that of the Rhett Butler character in that movie.

Unfortunately, the site I went to for the statue did not list the names of the four young ladies but I will do some research on their ancestors who were among the defenders.

The granddaughter of this man was one of the four young ladies.  He was listed as a Confederate engineer and author of a book on the defense of Charleston.

From the Find-A-Grave site.

REV. JOHN JOHNSON

BIRTH:  December 25, 1829  Charleston, S.C.

DEATH:  April 7, 1907  Charleston, S.C.

BURIAL:  St. Philip's Episcopal  Church Cemetery,  Charleston, S.C.

Alicia Rhett and her father Edmund Moore Rhett and mother Isobell Murdoch Rhett are buried there as well.  Also, John C. Calhoun is buried there.

--Old Secesh

Confederate Defenders of Charleston-- Part 4: The Four Young Ladies

The monument was unveiled by four young ladies, all descendants of members of the Confederate Defenders of Fort Sumter:

**  The granddaughter of Colonel Alfred Rhett, the first commanding officer of Fort Sumter.  (Alicia Rhett)

**  The granddaughter of Captain Thomas A. Hueguenin,  the last Confederate commander of Fort Sumter

**  The grandniece of Major Stephen Elliott, the second in command under Colonel Rhett

**  The granddaughter of Major John Johnson, a member of the Confederate Engineers and author of "The Defense of Charleston."

Two ushers placed on the monument the last Confederate flag that flew over Fort Sumter.

"The young ladies," the News & Courier reported, "then placed on the base of the monument  two wreaths of red and white carnations."

--Old Secesh