HISTORICAL POST: ADD YOUR COMMENTS IF U WANT JOHNSTON STUDIES ALL THE POLITICAL COMPLEXIONS In determining his line of operations Confederate General A.S Johnston had to consider the typography of the theatre of war in Kentucky in 1861. There are some political complexions to consider as well, as he made decisions to place all his limited military resources. In eastern Kentucky there was a line from the mouth of the Big Sandy River where western Virginia meets Ohio and Kentucky. In central and west Kentucky there were larger considerations for Johnston to consider. He also knew that there would be the matter of political confrontations they would face. He first chose to consider the Cumberland Gap region to begin his campaign. Every circumstance pointed to the Cumberland Gap as the stra- tegic point of the first importance. Here he positioned a fortified camp which would define General Johnston's right line, and also as a barrier to the northern invasion into Tennessee. Beyond all of these concerns the water lines of western Kentucky would be one of the great weaknesses to the Confederacy. Johnston had a lot of work cut out for him in the late summer of 1861. HONORING THE MEMORY OF ALL THESE SOUTHERN GENTLEMEN MEN GIVING THEIR COMMITMENT FOR OUR SOUTHERN HERITAGE