restitution for property lost in New York. He
also fulfilled his father’s dying wish by sup-
planting brother-in-law Guy Johnsonas su-
perintendent of Indian affairs. The bulk of his
activities were civilian and not military, how-
ever, and Johnson thereafter personally or-
chestrated the resettlement of American Loy-
alist refugees at Cataraqui (now Kingston). He
also gained appointment to the Council of
Quebec in 1786 and labored endlessly to meet
the needs of displaced Native Americans loyal
to the Crown, whose lands had been seized by
the United States. Johnson executed his re-
sponsibilities in an exemplary manner and
was widely hailed as one of Canada’s most re-
spected inhabitants. He was therefore se-
verely disappointed in 1791 when governor-
ship of the newly created Upper Canada
(Ontario) went to another distinguished vet-
eran, John Graves Simcoe. So over the next
four decades, Johnston became closely identi-
fied as a leader among the United Empire Loy-
alists and as a champion of the rights of local
Indian tribes. Johnson died in Montreal on
January 4, 1830, and was buried with an ex-
travagant military funeral. A large detachment
of 300 Indians also attended, and they tear-
fully bid farewell to what one orator deemed
their “friend and fellow warrior.” Like John
Butler, another raider-turned-settler, Johnson
is regarded as a significant figure in the early
days of Canada’s founding.See also
Arnold, Benedict; Brant, Joseph; PontiacBibliography
Blakely, P. R., and J. N. Grant. Eleven Exiles: Accounts
of the Loyalists of the American Revolution.
Toronto: Dundern Press, 1987; Callahan, North.
Royal Raiders, the Tories of the American Revolu-
tion.Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1963; Fryer, Mary
B. King’s Men: The Soldier Founders of Ontario.
Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1980; Hamilton, M. W. “An
American Knight in Britain: Sir John Johnson’s Tour,
1765–1767.” New York History42 (1961): 119–144;
Maclachlan, Alan J.John Johnson (1742–1830).
Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1977; Mintz, Max M. Seeds
of Empire: The Revolutionary Conquest of the Iro-
quois.New York: New York University Press, 1999;
Thomas, Earle. “Sir John Johnson and Kingston.”
Historic Kingston33 (1985): 56–58; Thomas, Earle.
Sir John Johnson, Loyalist Baronet.Toronto: Dun-
durn Press, 1986; Watt, Gavin. The Burning of the
Valleys: Daring Raids from Canada Against the
New York Frontier in the Fall of 1780.Toronto:
Dundurn Press, 1997.JOHNSTON, JOSEPHE.
Johnston, Joseph E.
(February 3, 1803–March 21, 1891)
Confederate General
“O
ld Joe” Johnston possessed excel-
lent leadership qualities and was
popular with troops throughout
the Civil War. However, Confederate Presi-
dent Jefferson Davisblamed him for the fall
of Vicksburg and relieved him at a critical
juncture in the Atlanta campaign.
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was born in
Prince Edward County, Virginia, on February
3, 1803. His father, Peter Johnston, was a Rev-
olutionary War veteran who had fought under
Henry Lee in the south. In 1829, Johnston
graduated from the U.S. Military Academy,
ranked thirteenth in a class of 46, and became
a second lieutenant in the Fourth U.S. Ar-
tillery. He fought in the Black Hawk War of
1832 and in Florida’s Second Seminole War as
a first lieutenant with the Corps of Topo-