Johnston, Albert Sidney (1803-1862), was a Confederate general in the American Civil War (1861-1865). He was highly regarded by Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In April 1862, he attacked General Ulysses S. Grant’s forces at Shiloh, Tenn. Grant held a strong position with an army nearly as large as Johnston’s. Yet Johnston drove Grant’s troops from their positions and almost won the battle. But he was wounded and bled to death.
Johnston was born on Feb. 2, 1803, in Washington, Kentucky. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1826. He served in the Black Hawk War and then in Texas’ war for independence from Mexico. He was secretary of war for the Republic of Texas from 1838 to 1840. Johnston fought in the Mexican War (1846-1848), and served in Utah from 1858 to 1860. He died on April 6, 1862.
