Johnson Family Papers
The papers consist of 26 letters, bulk 1862-1865, from Mortimer Johnson and his son Porter to members of their immediate family. The Johnson family, originally from West Virginia, moved to Brownsburg in Rockbridge County, Virginia, although they maintained close ties to their former home. Topics in Mortimer's letters include civilian life during the war; the animosity between Union and Confederate sympathizers in West Virginia (the letter of April 28, 1863 discusses the Union loyalty of Stonewall Jackson's sister, Laura Jackson Arnold); the Battle of Fredericksburg and its aftermath (Dec 1862); the Jones- Imboden Raid (West Virginia, April 1863). Porter's letters include a discussion of VMI cadet life at the Alms House in Richmond, Virginia, where the Corps was headquartered during the last months of the war.
Dates
- 1858; 1862-1865
Creator
- Johnson, Porter, 1845-1917 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Extent
26 items
Biographical / Historical
Mortimer Howell Johnson, a lawyer was born at Bridgeport, Harrison Co. West Virginia in 1815. He married Eliza Dulaney Kemble, b. Kingwood, Preston Co., West Virginia. The Johnson Family resided in Brownsburg, Rockbridge County, Virginia at beginning of the Civil War, and Mortimer enlisted in April 1864 (at age 48)in the Rockbridge Senior Reserves. He was described as having a dark complexion, dark hair & eyes, 5' 6". He died December 13, 1889, at Charleston, West Virginia and is buried at the High Bridge Presbyterian Church cemetery, Rockbridge Co., Virginia. He was the father of Porter Johnson, Virginia Military Institute Class of 1867.
Porter Johnson was born in 1845 in Taylor County, West Virginia. He matriculated at the Virginia Military Institute on September 1, 1863 and was a cadet private at the Battle of New Market on May 15, 1864. Porter resigned from Corps of Cadets on March 6, 1865 and joined the 8th Confederate Battalion commanded by Col. Garnett Andrews. He was captured at Salisbury, NC on April 12, 1865 and imprisoned, and was paroled June 13, 1865. He returned to Rockbridge County where he was a farmer. He died June 9, 1917.
Physical Location
Online Access
- Arnold, Laura Ann Jackson, 1826-1911
- Fredericksburg (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Fredericksburg (Va.), Battle of, 1862
- Johnson Family
- New Market Cadets
- Railroads -- Virginia -- Siege, 1863
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Home life
- Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1860-1869
- Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life -- 1861-1865
- Virginia Military Institute -- Class of 1867
- Virginia Military Institute -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Creator
- Johnson, Porter, 1845-1917 (Person)
- Johnson, Mortimer H. (Mortimer Howell), 1815-1889 (Person)
- Title
- A Guide to the Johnson Family Papers, 1858, 1862-1865
- Author
- Diane B. Jacob
- Date
- © 2002 Virginia Military Institute Archives
- Language of description
- Description is in English
Repository Details
Part of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Repository