James Johnson was a farmer in Nelson County, Virginia. At the time of the 1860 Census, he and his wife, Sarah, had twelve children living at home . Their four oldest sons served in the Confederate Army. Alexander (b. ca. 1839), Samuel (b. ca. 1840), and William (b. ca. 1841) all mustered into service as privates in Co. G, 19th Virginia Infantry on May 20, 1861. Samuel died of typhoid fever at Fairfax, Virginia on October 5, 1861.  Alexander was killed at Gaines Mill on June 27, 1862.  William was taken prisoner at the Battle of Gettysburg.  Frederick Johnson (b. ca. 1843) enlisted as a private in Rive’s Company, Virginia Light Artillery (Nelson Light Artillery) on March 10, 1862 and was present for duty through February 1865.  William and Fred both appear to have survived the war. Part of the August 1861 letter was written by a relative, Alexander Kidd, who served with the Johnson brothers in Co. G, 19^thVirginia Infantry.  He was wounded at Gaines Mill the same day that Alexander Johnson was killed.