JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON
At Fort Leavenworth as Acting Inspector General of the Utah forces during the Utah/Mormon War.
ALS: "J.E. Johnston/Lt Col 1st Cavalry/Acting Inspr Genl/Utah forces", 1p, 7¾x9¾. Fort Leavenworth, 1858 June 1. To Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters of the Army. In full: "I have the honor to report myself at this place under Genl Ords No. 8 Headquarters of the Army." After receiving brevet rank of Colonel in 1847 following the Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican War, Johnston returned to duty with the topographical engineers and served as chief of that body in the Department of Texas in 1852 and 1853. The Utah War, 1857-1858, was a costly, disruptive and unnecessary confrontation between the Mormon people in Utah Territory and the government and Army of the United States. It resulted from the appointment of a non-Mormon Governor by President Buchanan. Johnston acted as Inspector General on the expedition to Utah in 1858 under Colonel Albert Johnston. On June 14, 1858, two weeks after Johnston wrote this letter, peace commissioners arrived and, with the balance of Colonel Johnston's command, started for Salt Lake City. Johnston was appointed Quartermaster General of the Army with the rank of Brigadier General in June 1860, but resigned his commission when Virginia seceded from the Union in April 1861. He offered his services to the Confederacy in May and was placed in command of the Army of the Shenandoah. During the Civil War, he lost Vicksburg to Grant and surrendered to Sherman on April 26, 1865. Folds. Vertical fold touches the second "o" of Johnston. 1-inch separation at right blank horizontal folds. Mounting strip on verso, light show through at blank left margin. Overall, fine condition.