Johnson keeps history from being history
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What is it about history that drives Dr. Tim Johnson to spend hours searching through old documents and seeking long forgotten letters? Not many people see history as an exciting field where new discoveries are possible or view the task of undertaking extensive historical research as rewarding. In our forward-looking, fast-paced society, what is it about the past that captures the attention of Johnson? What makes him want to breathe new life into events for his readers and his students?
Dr. Johnson, professor of history at Lipscomb University, answers, “It’s all about the story. There are a lot of topics still untapped. The stories you uncover—that’s what makes history fun.” And the stories can be tools that teach students strategy, psychology, sociology, and many other topics critical to a career in any field.
Through his research, Johnson proves that many stories are waiting to be uncovered that are both valuable teaching tools and fascinating reading material. His most recent research centers around the Mexican-American War and on the life of General Winfield Scott, who often goes unrecognized as a great American leader.
According to Johnson, General Scott was a history scholar. Everywhere he went he took with him his five-foot high bookcase and his books. His knowledge of history guided him in his successful military accomplishments the Mexican-American War. Scott had studied the Napoleonic Wars and knew what could happen if an army alienated the citizens of the country it occupied. He knew that he needed to march 10,000 soldiers through a foreign country and face a hostile army along the way. Facing hostile citizens would only compound the problem. Scott worked hard to appease the Mexican citizens along the way so he would not face the same problems France faced on foreign soil.
But Johnson uncovers more than just military strategy in his research. He finds the foundation for our modern military missions. According to Johnson, “Scott created a model that armies have used ever since his time.” Many people don’t realize that the Mexican-American War was the first time an American army had fought on foreign soil. Johnson points out that Congress had never anticipated this occurring and had no built-in policies to govern the troops on foreign soil. The Articles of War at that time did not outlaw rape, theft, or assault. Civil laws covered those crimes when troops fought on American soil. In his writings, Johnson discusses the brilliance with which Scott thought through his strategy for his march through Mexico. Scott declared martial law everywhere his men went so that they could be brought before a military tribunal for crimes against Mexican citizens. This tactic brought discipline to his troops and pacified the people of Mexico as the troops passed through.
So if Scott learned through his knowledge of history how to be successful in his career, who learned from Scott? Over one hundred men who served in the Mexican-American War and studied Scott’s tactics went on to be the great leaders we remember from the Civil War. “To a large extent,” Johnson claims, “this war dictated how the Civil War would be fought.”
So Johnson reminds us of some important names and dates that many historians overlooked. He presents scholarly material that can be used to stump students on exams or trick trivia players. Is that all we do with history? Johnson argues that history is about much more than learning lists of events. He agrees that many students “generally see history as memorizing dates and names and that’s no fun.” But Johnson breathes new life into the events. He tells more than just the facts. He tells the stories behind the facts.
In his book titled Winfield Scott: the Quest for Military Glory, Johnson tells his readers about Jane Storms, a female spying for the Americans during Scott’s military campaign. She served as a spy in Mexico for the Polk administration and rode for days with her information through the Mexican countryside to relay messages to General Scott. (She also supposedly had an affair with Aaron Burr which led to the break up of his marriage.) Johnson tells his readers about the animosity between Scott and Gideon Pillow. The rivalry between the two creates more drama than any fictional novel.
In his newest book This Gallant Little Army: The Mexico City Campaign, 1847 scheduled to be published in 2007, Johnson looks beyond the leaders and details the life of the average soldier on the campaign. Johnson says he writes “from the perspective of the lower ranks. Whenever possible I have allowed the soldiers who did the fighting to tell the story, and to that end I have incorporated many quotes from letters and diaries. That, I believe, is the best way to provide a window through which the reader catches a glimpse of the ideas and attitudes of the participants.”
Johnson’s research brings forth fascinating facts that remind us that history can be thrilling to research and read about and can be a valuable tool to teach us a few things about going forward in this fast-paced world of ours. Johnson concludes that in digging through old papers and letters “we see not just the events of history, but we also get a glimpse of the attitudes and motivations of those who made our history. We learn more about ourselves and our society when we study history.” For Johnson, it is all about the story and the story is worth the telling.
-- Chris Pepple