Albert Sidney Johnston: Soldier of Three Republics

Garrison and Fireside

Garrison and Fireside A A CADET, Johnston sometimes dreamed of a career in the west. He had once hoped to join a proposed American expedition to the Oregon country. Even if fortUne should place him in the top five of his class, he said, and thereby in line for the elite Corps of Engineers, he would choose artillery or infantry, as the duties of these combat arms would permit him to lead a more' active life but at the same time give opportunity for reading and improvement.1 Finally he turned to infantry, for he preferred service in the field to the sedentary existence of Old Point Comfort, Virginia , where he would have been ordered for the first two years if an artilleryman. Upon his request, Superintendent Thayer recommended him for infantry, and presently he was assigned to the Second Infantry Regiment as brevet second lieutenant.2 After a few weeks on furlough in Kentucky with his family, Lieutenant Johnston traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit the Josiah 1Johnston to Josiah Stoddard Johnston, January 30, December 29, 1825: June 12, 1826, Josiah Stoddard Johnston Papers. 2 Johnston to "Sir," August 11, 1826, Letters Received, Adjutant General's Office, Records of the War Department. Garrison and Fireside 21 Stoddard Johnstons for a gay interlude in his life. The young lieutenant was the picture of an ideal soldier-stalwart, handsome, and alert. Senator Johnston's position and congeniality united with his wife's charm to admit Albert Sidney into the most favored circles of the nation's capital. He was introduced to President John Quincy Adams and was a guest in the home of Secretary of State Henry Clay:a He met the highest officers of the Army and Navy and the fairest young ladies of Washington society. He met General Winfield Scott, ranking officer of the United States Army. Pleased with the young man's intelligence and bearing, Scott asked'him to become his aide-de-camp-a high honor, as well as an opportunity for gentle living and quick promotion. To the surprise of all, Johnston turned the offer down, saying that he preferred field duty to the inactivity of a city assignment. Senator Johnston would not importune him to change his mind; Mrs. Johnston 's tears and scolding could not move him. Albert Sidney later came to believe that General Scott remembered this incident against him, but, undisturbed at the time, he left the ease and glamor of Washington for active service in camp and field.4 Lieutenant Johnston's first duty was at Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, on Lake Ontario, where he arrived in early November , 1826. Inactive since the close of the War of 1812, the post was lightly manned, its garrison virtually idle. Johnston admired the beauty of water and shore, and enjoyed the company of his associates, ' a "nice, genteel, sort of folks," he said, "though not very refined." Drill and practice in arms took some of his time, but he was left with much leisure. He was the only unmarried officer of the command and lived alone in a block of eight rooms in the quarters. To fill his empty hours he began to read books-a habit that would last his lifetime. As a cadet he had prepared his lessons well, but had not read for pleasure. According to the remaining records of the Military Academy, Johnston did not borrow a single volume from the library during his last two years at West Point, but now he turned to "the Store Houses of literature" for companionship and culture.5 To his 3 Mr. and Mrs. [Henry] Clay to Lieutenant Johnston, October 25, 1826, Johnston Papers. Barret Collection. 4 Eliza Gilpin to William Preston Johnston, April 4. 1870. ibid.; Johnston, Life of Johnston, p. 17. 5 Johnston to Mrs. Josiah Stoddard Johnston, December 15. 1826, Josiah Stod. dard Johnston Papers. Albert Sidney Johnston former roommate Leonidas Polk he wrote that his time was largely spent in. reading. Duty at Sackets Harbor was not demanding. He must soon have wearied of idleness at this obscure post. To help occupy his mind he wrote letters to friends and relativesletters that sometimes rambled in reminiscence, or again, were almost without theme. Once he made a near-maudlin apology to his sister-in-law for having asked her to write to him before he had written to her; "... a thing so contrary to etiquette and...