He died by overdose of alcohol and laudanum in the family home in Greeneville, Tennessee, six weeks after the end of President Johnson's term in office.

[1] He is said to have briefly studied at Franklin College in Nashville during the winter of 1850–51,[2] but within short order returned home "for unknown reasons.

[6]Johnson served in the 33rd General Assembly of the Tennessee state legislature, for the term of 1859–1861, representing the "floating district" of Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, and Jefferson counties.

[6] Andrew Johnson was the only member of the U.S. Senate from a secessionist state who stayed loyal to the federal government; like his father, Robert Johnson was a "consistent, fearless and uncompromising Southern Unionist," and he made a notable speech at a courthouse in Nashville in defense of "Union, the Constitution and the Laws" just before the Tennessee ordinance of secession.

[2] During the early months of the American Civil War, Johnson was hidden from Confederates by a Greeneville farmer named Robert Carter,[a] and may have also sheltered with one or more of the Union-aligned guerrilla bands working in the mountains.

[14] Robert Johnson joined the Union Army at Camp Dennison (near Cincinnati, Ohio), in February 1862 for three years' service,[15] being commissioned Colonel of the 4th Tennessee Volunteer Regiment, which he organized.

He nominally commanded said unit, which was eventually mounted and redesignated 1st Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, in the Western theater of the American Civil War.

[17] In summer 1862, "Andrew Johnson exchanged communications with General George W. Morgan, begging him to watch over Robert and to encourage him to do his duty.

"[citation needed] Years later, an Ohio newspaper writer wrote that circa October 1862, as the outnumbered federal army abandoned the Cumberland Gap and retreated to safer ground in Ohio, "between Portland and Gallipolis, the military authorities forbade every doggery keeper on the road letting [Robert Johnson] have any liquor, on account of his violent character when drunk.

[13] Johnson, who was 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m),[3] was said to be known as the "little big man" and during his speech was wearing the "blue jeans" common to the soldiery, but with the yellow stripe on the leg denoting cavalry.

"[19][20] The 34-star American flag, also inscribed Johnson's 1st Tennessee Cavalry and "bound round the edge with yellow silk fringe," was produced by Hamlin of Cincinnati, "the prince of military furnishers in the West.

[6] On April 18, 1863, a New York newspaper published a small blurb stating, "The story about the capture by the rebels of Col. Robert Johnson, son of Gov.

"[3] The regimental history puts the date of Johnson's resignation "for ill health" on May 31, 1863, and includes the remark, "He was a kind officer and good to the men.

In this so far, I have been doomed to deep disappointment.Johnson apparently resigned brigade and regimental duties for good in February 1864, stating that it was "for reasons, purely of a private nature.

[15] After the war Johnson was brevetted Brigadier General with rank from March 13, 1865,[16] apparently despite the fact that he was "rarely in command of his regiment and was never in a battle.

[31] According to a letter from Martha Patterson to Andrew Johnson, at the time of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Robert was "in his usual condition" and apparently so out of it that he was unaware "of the awful calamity.

[32] Johnson arrived in D.C. on Saturday, August 5, 1865 in the company of Patterson, his widowed sister Mary Stover, and her three children, who were 10, eight and five years old.

The choicest viands of Willard's and Welcker's[c] were set before him, miniature rivers were made to float with wine..."[32] A different report asserted that it was in the "corrupt and vicious society" of Washington, where Johnson was "petted and popular," that he first contracted serious "habits of dissipation.

[2] Come February of that year, former ambassador Norman B. Judd wrote chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lyman Trumbull:[2] There is too much whiskey in the White House, and harlots go into the Private Secretary's office unannounced in broad daylight.On September 1, 1866, Johnson wrote in his diary, "Having fully and determinedly made up my mind to abstain in the future from all intoxicating liquors...and putting my trust in God, I hope to finish the remainder of my life, a sober and respected Member of Society.

[2] A Wisconsin newspaper reported that Johnson had returned to work, stating, "He helps his sire sort pardons and taste bourbon.

[49] He vowed in his journal to abstain from alcohol for a year, and wrote in his diary on December 13, 1867, "May God...bring me now out of all my troubles and trials and see me enter life with renewed hope and vigor.

We now perceive that "Col. Robert Johnson, son and private Secretary to the President has been placed in the lunatic asylum of Washington, D.C., to cure him if possible of periodical drunkenness, which in his case amounts to insanity."

[58] About a month later, and two days after his widowed sister Mary's second wedding ceremony, Johnson died of an overdose of alcohol and laudanum.

[61][2] It was reported that "for some time past [Johnson had] become habituated to the use of opiates,"[62] and the laudanum overdose occurred overnight in his bedroom above the dining room in the family home in Greeneville, Tennessee.

"[66] A communication to Laura Holloway (a native Tennessean and biographer of First Ladies) provides this narrative:[67] From a tear-stained letter, we gather these sad particulars.

[2] Robert Johnson was remembered by some as a staunch Southern Unionist, and though flawed, "ever generous and chivalrous, a true friend, an affectionate brother and son.