"Almost forgotten among several Confederate generals named Johnson or Johnston, Edward Johnson never married, left no descendants and few personal papers, and died during the Reconstruction virtually unnoticed. He was interred in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery in March of 1873, but his last bivouac has never been found. In 1948, the Virginia Conservation Commission, embarrassed at losing a Confederate major general, decided to place a memorial marker in the Confederate Officers' section of Hollywood Cemetery.

Author Gregg S. Clemmer has chosed Ed Johnson, not the most widely known Confederate Army officer as the subject of this conprehensive, well-researched, and thoroughly enjoyable biography. Clemmer vowed to avoid the typical Confederate officer's biography that deals with his life before the War Between the States in a few words or chapters, and devotes four hundred pages to the battles, then wraps up his final years briefly, if he survived the War. The author has kept his word. Old Alleghany: The Life and Wars of General Ed Johnson begins with Johnson's grandparents and follows his life in meticulous detail.

Many descriptions and references to Ed Johnson appear in contemporary battle accounts and personal papers of other Confederate officers and soldiers. Remembered almost as a caricature, he was descirbed as "a large and rather rough-looking man on horseback" who "always carried a big hickory club or cane, and when he got mad could works his ears like a mule."

Author Clemmer begins the life of Ed Johnson in boyhood and his years at West Point. Johnson accepted his appointment in April of 1833, but required five years to graduate, as he had difficulty passing several subjects. Clemmer makes an interesting observation of those West Point years--even in the 1830's, sectional differences, opposite cultures, and animosities had already polarized Northern and Southern cadets.

Upon graduation from West Point, Johnston served first in the relocation of the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina on the Trail of Tears. He was then ordered to Florida to take Indian lands for white settlers. Johnson expressed horror and distaste as Native Americans were killed and survivors herded like captive animals to implement this inhuman US Government policy of genocide. Later, Johnson served with bravery and distinction in the Mexican War and also in California before "the winds of the coming storm" forced him to choose the Confederate Army.

Every Southerner who appreciates War Between the States history will relish reading the many chapters devoted to Old Alleghany's Confederate battles. Author Clemmer provides a wealth of detail about these battles, including many maps and copious historical citations, and writes forcefully about General Johnson's participation during the War. During Jackson's Valley campaign, he took part in Stonewall Jackson's first victory in the Shenandoah Valley and was grievously wounded in the ankle. Johnson also fought at Gettysburg and Spotsylvania, in addition to many other Confederate battles.

In author Clemmer's excellent biography, Old Alleghany emerges as an admirable Southern man. Johnson possesses integrity and character and is much more than the laughable, uncouth, and profane soldier descirbe by many contemporaries. Jackson praised Johnson's "high qualities as a soldier." But his highest praise comes form the writings of subordinates who followed his command in battle.

Old Alleghany: The Life and Wars of General Ed Johnson is well worth the many hours required to read this superb biography by Clemmer. This volume will be a treasured addition to bookshelves of Southerners wishing to acquaint themselves with all facets of Confederae history. Major General Ed Johnson exemplifies the men and women of our beloved Confederacy, whom we Southern Confederates of today hold in sincere reverence and fond remembrance."

Ann Rives Zappa, Confederate Veteran

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