John Johnson

John Johnson joined the Confederate army in 1862 and passed through the grades of lieutenant, captain and major of engineers, while performing active service at Savannah, Wilmington and Charleston. He was twice wounded at Fort Sumter, where he served as engineer in charge during fifteen months of its severest bombardment. After surviving the war, he authored The Defense of Charleston Harbor, Including Fort Sumter and Adjacent Islands 1863-1865. Published in July 1890, it is considered one of the best historical and technically detailed accounts of the 1863-65 bombardment and siege of Fort Sumter by Union forces.

Born in Charleston on December 25, 1829, he received an academic education in civil engineering and pursued this occupation for ten years where he was employed in the surveys and construction of railroads and water-works. In 1853, under the patronage of the state, he prepared and published a large map of South Carolina, considered to be the best of the time. He continued his academic studies by attending the sessions of 1858-1860 at the University of Virginia. He next decided to enter the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church and began such preparation at Camden, South Carolina under the direction of Bishop Thomas F. Davis until the war broke out.

He entered the engineering corps of the Confederate army in August 1862 at age 33 with the rank of Lieutenant of Engineers. He was promoted to Captain in October 1863 and to Major of Engineers in October 1864. He was initially engaged in preparing the fortifications of several towns. He was posted to Fort Sumter on April 7, 1863, in time to witness the US Navy ironclad attack. He served as engineer-in-charge during fifteen months of the fort’s severest bombardment. Applying his expertise and constant attention to detail, he oversaw the daily repairs to damage and reinforcement efforts to sustain the fort throughout the devastating rain of shellfire from Union guns. On July 28, 1864, he received the second and most serious of two shell wounds, which left him permanently incapacitated. General Beauregard said that to Major Johnson was due the masterly defense of Fort Sumter.

"It did not end in triumph, but it has left behind a setting glory as of the western skies, a blazonry of heroism where gold and purple serve to tell of valor and endurance, and the crimson hue is emblem of self-sacrifice in a cause believed to be just." - Major John Johnson's concluding sentence from The Defense of Charleston Harbor, Including Fort Sumter and Adjacent Islands 1863-1865

He was promoted to Major of Engineers in October 1864. Upon recovering from his wounds, he joined General Joseph E. Johnston's army in eastern North Carolina. He took part in the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville, North Carolina. He was paroled as senior officer of engineers at the surrender of that army at Greensboro, North Carolina in April 1865.

After the war, he resumed his ministerial studies, and in January 1866, he was ordained to the ministry and assumed charge of Grace Church, Camden, South Carolina. In 1871 he returned to Charleston to become assistant minister of St. Philip's Episcopal Church. He was made rector the year following at age 43 and served in that capacity for the next 34 years. In July 1890, he published a work of great historical and technical importance: The Defense of Charleston Harbor, Including Fort Sumter and Adjacent Islands 1863-1865. This book received high commendation from the best literary and military critics, and has passed through two editions. In the summer of 1891 the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred on him by the trustees of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, and a few years later the College of Charleston conferred upon him the degree of LL.D.

The Rev. John Johnson, D.D., LL.D. died in Charleston at age 78 on April 7, 1907, the 44th anniversary of his posting to Fort Sumter. He was survived by his wife of 42 years, Floride Cantey and eight children. He is buried in the St. Philip’s church cemetery.