American military officer (1803–1862) who fought with distinction in the Mexican-American War. Upon hearing of the secession of Texas in 1861, he resigned his Army commission and became Confederate commander of Western Department, making him the second-highest-ranking general in the CSA. On April 6, 1862, as he led the fierce Confederate charge at Shiloh, he took a bullet to the knee; though the wound did not appear serious, the bullet had struck a major artery, and Johnston bled to death, becoming the highest-ranking casualty of the war. Rare ALS signed “A. Sidney Johnston, Paymaster U.S.A.,” one page, lightly-lined, 7.75 x 9.75, November 1, 1857. Letter to Colonel Benjamin F. Larned, Paymaster General. In full: “I have the honor herewith to transmit a statement of money’s received, infunded and balance on hand for the month of October 1851. I will leave here tomorrow to pay the troops of this district and be absent twenty days. I will close the payment of the Volunteers for 48–9 on my return. This additional time is necessary to enable some of the claimants to identify their names with the pay roll.” In fine condition, with some faint toning along both horizontal mailing folds.
At the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in 1846, Johnston helped form the 1st Texas Rifle Volunteers, who participated in Zachary Taylor's campaign in northeastern Mexico. After Taylor was elected president, he appointed Johnston paymaster for all the forts in Texas in 1849. He was one of a few Texan soldiers rewarded with a regular service job and saw this position as a stepping stone for career advancement. He visited New Orleans from May-August 1851, securing the extra funds to pay off the Texas Volunteers and was able to "close the payment of the Volunteers for 48-49." He continued as paymaster until 1854 and traveled over 4000 miles in a covered ambulance carrying a chest of gold to pay the troops, accompanied by a forage wagon and a dragoon escort.
In 1855, Johnston accepted a commission in the US Army where he was twice promoted, but resigned his command and joined the Confederate States Army after the succession of Texas. Considered by Jefferson Davis to be one of the army's finest officers, he died during his greatest military moment, The Battle of Shiloh, in which the Confederates launched a surprise attack against Grant's forces on April 6, 1862. RRAuction COA.
