George W. Johnson (Civil War)
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George W. Johnson (May 27, 1811 – April 8, 1862) was the head of a shadow government of Kentucky formed by secessionists during the American Civil War. He is referred to as one of Kentucky's two Confederate governors, and was the one of the few incumbent governors to be killed in battle in all of American history.
[edit] Early life and career
Johnson was born in Scott County, Kentucky, the son of William and Betsy (Payne) Johnson. He married Ann Viley in 1833 and the couple had ten children. Johnson received three degrees, including one in law, from Transylvania University. He initially practiced law, but soon turned his interests to agriculture. He owned a 300-acre farm near Georgetown, Kentucky, as well as a 1,000-acre plantation in Arkansas.
Johnson was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1838, 1839, and 1840 as a Democrat. He was offered the nominations for lieutenant governor and U. S. Congressman, but declined them both.
[edit] Civil War
On November 18, 1861, a convention of pro-secessionist delegates met in Russellville, Kentucky, to elect a new state government and secede from the Union. Johnson was unanimously chosen governor, and Bowling Green was picked to be the temporary capital of the new Confederate state. At the time, the army of Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston was stationed at Bowling Green and offered protection to the new government.
On December 10, 1861, Kentucky was admitted to the Confederacy. When General Johnston was forced to withdraw his troops from Bowling Green, in the aftermath of the Confederate defeat at Fort Donelson, the Confederate state government moved with them to Tennessee. It travelled with the Kentucky regiments that were fighting for the Confederacy.
Shortly before the battle of Shiloh, Governor Johnson volunteered to serve as a private in Company E, Fourth Kentucky Infantry Regiment. While serving in this humble role, he was seriously wounded in the subsequent fighting and died the next day. He was the only governor to fall in battle during the American Civil War. Johnson was succeeded as governor by Richard Hawes of Bourbon County, Kentucky.
After the war, his remains were reinterred and buried with honors in Frankfort, Kentucky.
[edit] See also
| Governors of Kentucky |  |
|---|---|
| Shelby • Garrard • Greenup • Scott • Shelby • Madison • Slaughter • Adair • Desha • Metcalfe • J. Breathitt • J. Morehead • Clark • Wickliffe • Letcher • Owsley • Crittenden • Helm • Powell • C. Morehead • Magoffin • Robinson • Bramlette • Helm • Stevenson • Leslie • McCreary • Blackburn • Knott • Buckner • Brown • Bradley • Taylor • Goebel • Beckham • Willson • McCreary • Stanley • Black • Morrow • Fields • Sampson • Laffoon • Chandler • Johnson • Willis • Clements • Wetherby • Chandler • Combs • E. Breathitt • Nunn • Ford • Carroll • Brown Jr. • Collins • Wilkinson • Jones • Patton • Fletcher
Kentucky also had two Confederate Governors: George W. Johnson and Richard Hawes. |
