It all begins with a natural curiosity to discover One's beginnings. Roots.

I mentioned in the page prior to this one I had completed a page in tribute 
to Confederate Memorial Day.  In researching  information and having lengthy 
conversations with family members I discovered much to my surprise that my
family boasted Albert Sidney Johnston as one of the branches on my family tree. 

The connection it seems is with the name Roxie Johnston Coleman.  I am hoping that through various documentation that my Great Aunt is mailing to me that I will be able to pinpoint the connection of myself to Albert Sidney.I know that she [Roxie Coleman] had a son named DC Coleman...as this name appears several times on old land deeds in connection with her.

Quite surprising , really, since I am not a geneology buff...I was not particularly searching where I came from.  Nonetheless, this was a pleasant surprise and a feeling of Southern Pride when I discovered about the life and death of this man. Below are  some of the intersting things I found about him...and in tribute to him I dedicate this page.


The Battle of Shiloh

Setting the scene

After bad weather, inexperience, and several delays Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston fulfilled his promise to "water our horses in the Tennessee River". 

On  April 5, 1862 General Johnston with the 
excitement of sporadic gunfire reached Pittsburg Landing.
The General was advised to cancel the attack because the element of surprise was believed to have been thwarted. General Johnston refused and said, "I would fight them if they were a million."

Daybreak on the sixth saw the confederates advancing.  Surprise was the order of the day for the Union under Grant. General Grant and Brigadier General W T Sherman were very much surprised when advancing Rebel armies began to attack.  General Grant thought that he would be advancing on Corinth , but the reverse was true... the Rebs had caught the Union army totally off guard.  This element of surprise was very deceiving to General Grant because the hordes of advancing Rebels appeared to number 100,000 soldiers.

General Johnston, riding his magnificent horse, Fire-Eater, was riding behind his battle line.  Speculation has it that he was unsure of his subordinates ability to execute orders and chose to ride behind them hoping his prescence would correct the problem.

By noon...the Rebels had driven to within a few yards of Pittsburg Landing.  Here the battered union troops consistently fought off the advancing Rebels...and each time turned them back.  Charge after charge, the union held their stance and the fighting Rebels began to feel the pressure.
This Union stronghold on the battlefield became known as the "Hornets' Nest".

A Tennessee regiment was reported to be 'holding back'.  General Johnston felt that he should urge the regiment on.  Riding to the front of the unit he urged the troops to use their bayonets.  Shouting above the den General Johnston could be heard to say "I will lead You!!!!" At the point of the union's retreat against the Tennessee unit General Johnston,satisfied that he had won this objective retreated, turned around and headed toward the back lines again.  His horse had been shot twice and he had narrowly escaped a bullet to his left foot. Upon realization of this he began to sway in his saddle and Govenor of Tennesse, Isham B Harris asked him if he had been shot.  Johnston replied "Yes, and I fear seriously".  The Govenor gave Johnston a swallow of brandy...and with another breath his heart beat no more.

On the morning of the 7th Grant took the offensive and began pushing the outnumbered confederates.  In retreat the weary Rebels disengaged and retreated back to Corinth.  Thus ended the Battle of Shiloh.


ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON
By C. E. Merrill

Honor to him who only drew
In Freedom's cause his battle blade,
And 'round our Southern banners threw
A halo that can never fade.
Honor to him, whose name sublime,
Shall be the watchword of the free,
When yet the latest wave of time
Shall break on far eternity.

In artless truth, a simple child;
In valor, first of godlike men;
Who, tho' his countrymen reviled,
Did ne'er revile again.
Like some lone rock, 'gainst which the flow
Of Fickle passions foam and fret,
Unmoved our dear dead Captain stood,
Firm-planted in his purpose yet.

What tho' detraction grieved the heart
That bled but for his country's woe!
He recked but of his country's part
To shield her weakness from the foe.
He gave his bosom to the storm,
That rose in curses on the air,
Courting the shafts that might not harm
His country, while they rankled there.

Slow falling back from Bowling Green,
His crippled columns move along,
While flanking every side were seen
The myriad hosts of human wrong.
Curtained beneath his clear, calm eye,
The heroic impulse held in sway,
Till, turning in his path to die,
The wounded lion stands at bay!

Ah! how he stood. and where he stood,
Where strong men perished in their strength,
On Shiloh's field of death and blood
His bolted thunders fell at length!
The fires of vengeance, hot and red,
Far flashed where rode his knightly form
And wreck, and rout, and ruin spread
Where swept that day his battle storm.

Oh, peace to him who slumbers now
Beneath the soil he died to save;
The wreath that decks his clay-cold brow,
Shall blossom in the martyr's grave;
Shall blossom where, in after time,
Our children's children bless the mold
Where Sidney Johnston sleeps sublime,
Like some great mastodon of old.

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