Johnson Kelly Duncan (March 19, 1827 – December 18, 1862) was one of the few generals in the Confederate States Army (CSA) during the American Civil War who was born and raised in the North. An antebellum officer in the U.S. Army, Duncan commanded the Confederate forts defending New Orleans during the Union Navy's successful attacks that led to the fall of the South's largest city.
Duncan was born and raised in rural Chanceford Township in southeastern York County, Pennsylvania, which borders the broad Susquehanna River. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy on July 1, 1845, and graduated from West Point in June 1849.[1] A good student, he ranked 5th in a class of 43 cadets. With his high academic standing, he was breveted as a second lieutenant and assigned to the Second U.S. Artillery in July of that year. Not long afterwards, on October 31, he was given the full rank of second lieutenant and reassigned to the Third Artillery. He saw his first combat action serving in the Florida hostilities against the Seminole Indians.[1]
From 1850 until 1853, he was attached to Forts Sullivan and Preble in Maine, primarily serving on garrison duty. Promotion came relatively slowly in the antebellum army, and officers often resigned to take up civilian pursuits. Duncan Johnson was no exception. On Christmas Eve in 1853, his promotion to first lieutenant came through, but he was frustrated with army life. He was the assistant on the Northern Pacific railroad exploration until December 1854. He tendered his resignation from the U.S. Army on January 31, 1855, and entered private life in Louisiana.
Duncan became the Superintendent of Construction and Repairs in New Orleans, in charge of the branch mint, marine hospital, quarantine warehouse, and the Pas a l'Outre boarding station. Duncan, in collaboration with P.G.T. Beauregard, completed the work on the New Orleans Branch Mint in early 1859. From then until 1860, he was professionally occupied as a civil engineer, surveyor, and architect in New Orleans. In 1861, he became Chief Engineer of the Board of Public Works of the state of Louisiana.[1]
Civil Waredit
When the Southern states began seceding from the Union, Duncan reentered military service for the Confederate States of America. He enlisted in the CSA forces as a colonel of the 1st Louisiana Regular Artillery Regiment and rose in rank and status rather quickly. Promoted to brigadier general of Louisiana troops on January 7, 1862, he was assigned to command the defenses of New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi.[2] He quickly became widely known as one of the finest artillerists in that region. He commanded Forts Jackson and St. Philip at the time of their capture by Flag OfficerDavid Farragut on April 25, 1862.[3] He was taken prisoner. After being exchanged, Duncan was assigned to the staff of GeneralBraxton Bragg, becoming Chief of Staff.[3]
^ abcWarner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN978-0-8071-0823-9. p. 77.
Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN978-0-8160-1055-4.
Strong, Michael J., Keystone Confederate: The Life and Times of General Johnson Kelly Duncan, CSA. York, Pennsylvania: The Historical Society of York County, 1994. ASIN B0006PAUPY.
Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN978-0-8071-0823-9.
johnson, duncan, johnson, kelly, duncan, march, 1827, december, 1862, generals, confederate, states, army, during, american, civil, born, raised, north, antebellum, officer, army, duncan, commanded, confederate, forts, defending, orleans, during, union, navy, . Johnson Kelly Duncan March 19 1827 December 18 1862 was one of the few generals in the Confederate States Army CSA during the American Civil War who was born and raised in the North An antebellum officer in the U S Army Duncan commanded the Confederate forts defending New Orleans during the Union Navy s successful attacks that led to the fall of the South s largest city Johnson Kelly DuncanBorn 1827 03 19 March 19 1827Chanceford Township PennsylvaniaDiedDecember 18 1862 1862 12 18 aged 35 Knoxville TennesseeBuriedMcGavock Confederate CemeteryAllegiance United States of America Confederate States of AmericaService wbr branch United States Army Confederate States ArmyYears of service1845 1855 USA 1861 62 CSA RankFirst Lieutenant USA Brigadier General CSA Battles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Civil War 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesEarly life and career editDuncan was born and raised in rural Chanceford Township in southeastern York County Pennsylvania which borders the broad Susquehanna River He was appointed to the United States Military Academy on July 1 1845 and graduated from West Point in June 1849 1 A good student he ranked 5th in a class of 43 cadets With his high academic standing he was breveted as a second lieutenant and assigned to the Second U S Artillery in July of that year Not long afterwards on October 31 he was given the full rank of second lieutenant and reassigned to the Third Artillery He saw his first combat action serving in the Florida hostilities against the Seminole Indians 1 From 1850 until 1853 he was attached to Forts Sullivan and Preble in Maine primarily serving on garrison duty Promotion came relatively slowly in the antebellum army and officers often resigned to take up civilian pursuits Duncan Johnson was no exception On Christmas Eve in 1853 his promotion to first lieutenant came through but he was frustrated with army life He was the assistant on the Northern Pacific railroad exploration until December 1854 He tendered his resignation from the U S Army on January 31 1855 and entered private life in Louisiana Duncan became the Superintendent of Construction and Repairs in New Orleans in charge of the branch mint marine hospital quarantine warehouse and the Pas a l Outre boarding station Duncan in collaboration with P G T Beauregard completed the work on the New Orleans Branch Mint in early 1859 From then until 1860 he was professionally occupied as a civil engineer surveyor and architect in New Orleans In 1861 he became Chief Engineer of the Board of Public Works of the state of Louisiana 1 Civil War editWhen the Southern states began seceding from the Union Duncan reentered military service for the Confederate States of America He enlisted in the CSA forces as a colonel of the 1st Louisiana Regular Artillery Regiment and rose in rank and status rather quickly Promoted to brigadier general of Louisiana troops on January 7 1862 he was assigned to command the defenses of New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi 2 He quickly became widely known as one of the finest artillerists in that region He commanded Forts Jackson and St Philip at the time of their capture by Flag Officer David Farragut on April 25 1862 3 He was taken prisoner After being exchanged Duncan was assigned to the staff of General Braxton Bragg becoming Chief of Staff 3 Johnson K Duncan contracted a malarial fever and died far from his native York County at Knoxville Tennessee on December 18 1862 at the age of 35 3 He was buried in the McGavock Confederate Cemetery on the Carnton Plantation in Franklin Tennessee 3 See also edit nbsp American Civil War portal nbsp Biography portal List of American Civil War generals Confederate Notes edit a b c Warner Ezra J Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1959 ISBN 978 0 8071 0823 9 p 77 Warner 1959 pp 77 78 a b c d Warner 1959 p 78 References editEicher John H and David J Eicher Civil War High Commands Stanford Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 978 0 8047 3641 1 Sifakis Stewart Who Was Who in the Civil War New York Facts On File 1988 ISBN 978 0 8160 1055 4 Strong Michael J Keystone Confederate The Life and Times of General Johnson Kelly Duncan CSA York Pennsylvania The Historical Society of York County 1994 ASIN B0006PAUPY Warner Ezra J Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1959 ISBN 978 0 8071 0823 9 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Wilson J G Fiske J eds 1891 Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a Missing or empty title help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johnson K Duncan amp oldid 1185354229, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
