Hardcover book titled “GENERAL WASHINGTON” by General Bradley T. Johnson. The volume runs 338 pages.

Covers are green cloth with the title in gold on the front and spine. Front cover also has embossed bust profile of a Roman soldier. Covers are worn at corners and have light to moderate surface dirt as does the spine.

Front signature is partially split but binding is good. First page is slightly chipped on edge. Second page is blank and bears an ink inscription that reads “TO MRS. CORNELIA RINGGOLD POTTS-ROSS WITH THE AFFECTIONATE COMPLIMENTS OF BRADLEY T. JOHNSON, OCT. 29-1894.” There is another inscription in Spanish inside the back cover. It is unsigned but reads “LOVE AS IRRADIATION OF ALL THE DEVINE, I MUST HAVE BEEN BORN FOR YOUR WORLD BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN WOMAN.” This inscription is done in pencil.

Cornelia Ringgold Potts-Ross came from distinguished lineage. Her paternal grandfather was Judge Richard Potts, one of the most distinguished citizens of Maryland during the Revolutionary period and United States Senator from Maryland. Mrs. Ross is also a granddaughter of General Samuel Ringgold who was married to Anna Marie Cadwallander, a member of the well-known family of that name. Cornelia married Charles Worthington Ross on December 12, 1861.

Bradley Tyler Johnson was born in Frederick City, Maryland. He graduated from Princeton in 1849, read law with William Ross of Frederick, and finished his legal degree at Harvard. He was admitted to the bar in 1851.

Johnson was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore in 1860 and joined the majority of his delegation when they withdrew from the convention and united with the Southern wing of the party, which supported Breckenridge and Lane.

When the Civil War began, Johnson organized and equipped a company at his own expense, and he took an active part in forming the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA, of which he became major and subsequently colonel, meanwhile declining a lieutenant colonel's commission in a Virginia regiment because of his belief that his strongest obligation was to his own state.

By early May 1861 around 500 Marylanders had begun to assemble at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, under Johnson's command, forming 8 companies of Maryland infantry. Johnson preferred not to join the newly forming Virginia regiments, arguing that Marylanders should fight under their own flag. However, other former members of the Maryland militia did not agree; many members of the elite Maryland Guard and Independent Greys from Baltimore went to Richmond, where they were mustered into the service of Virginia.

Johnson was eventually made Colonel of the 1^st Maryland Infantry and led them at Front Royal and Winchester.

Johnson saw service in the Seven Days Battles in 1862 and was advanced to the rank of brigadier general of cavalry in 1864.

As commander of the post at Salisbury, N.C., he used his influence to lessen the suffering among the prisoners of war and finally obtained their parole.

After the war, Johnson practiced law in Richmond until 1879, when he moved to Baltimore. After the death of his wife, he moved to Amelia, Virginia, where he died, but his remains were interred back in Baltimore in Loudon Park Cemetery.

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