(1803 - 1862) Confederate major general, outnumbered and defeated at Logan Crossroads, Forts Henry and Donelson, wounded and bled to death at Shiloh. Considered by Jefferson Davis to be the South's finest general before the emergence of Robert E. Lee. Very rare, fine association and content A.L.S., 4pp. 8vo., San Francisco, Feb. 25, 1861, to fellow U.S. Army officer FITZ JOHN PORTER (1822-1901), who served under Johnston during the Utah War and would remain with the Union to become a brigadier general. In large part: ‘...I have no news to give you from this far off region, every thing is quiet & the affairs of the Dept. are being conducted quietly and without difficulty from any source, tho’ without any excuse for it the government has allowed every department of the Staff here to fall into a state of pauperism, making the military arm as important for action here as the greatest enemy of the Republic could desire to have it. The district of Oregon owes not less than $200,000 & no money on hand except a few thousand in the Subsistence Dept… Is our government absolutely stupefied on why, overlook the fact that they can protect the public interest here at least. There is abundance of money in the mint to pay all the indebtedness of the Government here & meet any emergency, if the Secy. of Treasury would only recognise the fact & transfer the funds…’ Johnston goes on to report on a recent pro-Union gathering in the city, providing a fine snapshot of the general sentiment of the California populace and his own feelings on the looming issue of secession: ‘...There was a huge union meeting here on the 22d, the weather was beautiful & the day was made a perfect holiday by the whole population who well dress’d & entirely respectable in appearance and deportment seemed to enjoy the fine weather… The resolutions adopted by the meeting were declaratory of the devoted attachment of the people to the union, of their opposition to secession as a right, to their repudiation of the idea of a Pacific Republic as impossible & expressive of fraternal feelings towards all the states & their duty & interest to bring about harmony – I would that there were no other sentiments within the broad expanse of our country…’ He finishes by wishing Porter’s wife and other friends well, and signs ‘ A. S. Johnston’ vertically in black ink across the final page of text. Shows original mailing folds, faintly toned, with a few small stains and a mounting strip remnant to the right side of the final page, otherwise in very good overall condition.