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My cause is to keep this town from turning into a living hell for the folks who live here.
Leigh Johnson in "Political Realities in Armadillo"

Marshal Leigh Johnson is a major character in Red Dead Redemption.

With the addition of the Liars and Cheats DLC pack, Marshal Johnson is also a multiplayer character model that may be selected in the 'Redemption' section of the Outfitter.

History[]

Background[]

Leigh Johnson was born circa 1860.[1] In 1897, Johnson became the district Marshal of Armadillo, a settlement in the territory of New Austin. Due to a cholera epidemic afflicting Armadillo in 1907, Marshal Johnson was temporarily absent, along with most of the town's residents. Despite his work and contributions to keep Armadillo from becoming "a living hell", he receives little to no appreciation from the residents, even being rumored to be involved in acts such as corruption, among other things. The Marshal also commands a couple of loyal deputies, Jonah and Eli, as well as an unnamed deputy featured in "The Assault on Fort Mercer".

Events of Red Dead Redemption[]

Marston first comes to meet Marshal Johnson in Armadillo after he has arrived looking for help on where to find Bill Williamson. He tasks Marston with numerous missions throughout New Austin, for which in return he will help in the attempt to capture John's former-brother-in-arms at Fort Mercer.

Marshal Johnson's first mission with John involves them tracking down Walton Lowe, the leader of Walton's gang. They track him down to Pleasance House, and Walton is either killed by Marston, or injured by him, where Johnson will bring him back to Armadillo jail. Soon afterwards, John rides out with the Marshal to Pike's Basin, to deal with the Bollard Twins gang, who are cattle rustlers in the region. Along with Jonah and Eli, Marston and Johnson manage to eliminate the cattle rustlers and retrieve the stolen cattle, where the ranchers are grateful.

A short while later, the Marshal hears about a horrific attack on Ridgewood Farm by Bill Williamson's gang. In the hope of finding Williamson, John rides with the Marshal and two of his deputies. On the way to Ridgewood Farm, and at the place itself, they see dead bodies, many of whom were the victims of sadism. They are attacked by gang members from the central house, leading to a gunfight. They save a number of the residents, before going after other members of the gang. They find Williamson, who sends his men after them and, after another shootout, the Marshal and his accomplices manage to capture Norman Deek, Williamson's second in command, and bring him back to Armadillo jail.

Soon afterward, a member of the Williamson gang calls out to the Marshal from outside the office. He tells Johnson that his gang have kidnapped Bonnie MacFarlane, and will give her back in exchange for Norman Deek, which is to take place in Tumbleweed. The Marshal, John, and two deputies, Jonah and Eli, ride out to Tumbleweed for the exchange. As Marshal Johnson expected, it turns out to be a trap, and Bonnie is hanged, although she is saved by John just in time. Meanwhile, Norman Deek is slain by his own gang and, after clearing out the area from the gang, Marshal Johnson takes Bonnie back to Armadillo.

When Marston returns to Fort Mercer, later on, the Marshal and his deputies, alongside Seth Briars and Nigel West Dickens, come along to help apprehend Williamson. After storming the fort, they learn that Williamson left a few days prior to the attack and that he traveled south across the border and into Nuevo Paraíso, Mexico, with the help of Javier Escuella. Johnson and Marston thank each other for their assistance in their own matters, and part ways as Marston continue his pursuit of Williamson.

Epilogue[]

In 1914, an article in the The Blackwater Ledger states that the "Legendary Marshal Leigh Johnson" stepped down as Marshal of Armadillo after 17 years of service. In addition with crediting him with taking out New Austin's most notorious outlaws, such as Walton's gang and the Bollard Twins, a going-away party was held at the Armadillo Saloon, which resulted in three arrests made by him while additionally leaving him the only participant left standing by the end of the night. When subsequently asked what his next move would be, he stated that he plans to move as far away from the town as possible.

Events of Undead Nightmare[]

Note: The events of Undead Nightmare are not considered part of the same canon as Red Dead Redemption. The following description is therefore not contiguous with the preceding section on Red Dead Redemption.

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In the Undead Nightmare DLC, Marshal Johnson is in the Sheriff's office in Armadillo. When Marston enters the office, Johnson explains the situation of the town. He asks Marston to look for his deputies, whom he sent out into the town. When Marston returns with the news of their demise, Johnson accepts it. He gives Jonah's Sawed-off Shotgun to Marston and is not seen again.

Character[]

Personality[]

Johnson is an old-fashioned lawman with a strict no-nonsense work ethic. He is characterized as tough, straight to the point, and is not afraid to get aggressive, all while remaining fair to the law. Johnson isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, often fighting alongside his men and Marston, and is clearly a skilled shootist. Johnson does his best to maintain law and order in the town of Armadillo and the county of Cholla Springs, while the world around them progresses into the modern age. Leigh holds a grudge against government agents from the east meddling in his affairs. Despite this, he shows respect for John and assists him in ridding New Austin of Bill and his gang.

Despite his rough exterior and background, Leigh himself displays a fairly polite, professional and gentlemanly attitude towards those around him if not provoked. In sharp contrast to his uneducated and inarticulate deputies, Johnson demonstrates a more refined vocabulary and a sharp, dry wit.

Johnson is aware of the moral compromises he can and must make as a marshal, begrudgingly opting to leave one gang alone in order to solve other more pressing matters. Despite this, the marshal keeps cool under the intense pressure and constant threats that blight Armadillo, doing what he can to keep order as efficiently as possible when a myriad of disturbances occur at once.

Appearance[]

Leigh Johnson bears the appearance of a middle-aged man with a beard and gray hair, wearing a well-kept marshal uniform. His beard appears to have a slight yellow tinge. This may be due to streaks of blond in his hair, or it may be caused by consumption of alcohol or chewing tobacco, similar to Uncle.

Johnson carries a pair of nickel-plated Cattleman Revolvers.

Mission appearances[]

Red Dead Redemption
Undead Nightmare

Quotes[]

We don't do deals with outlaws, boy.
Leigh Johnson to Outlaw on Horse
This country is infested with all manner of scum.
Leigh Johnson
Oh! The narcotic and bat piss salesman!
Leigh Johnson describing Nigel West Dickens
It's gonna be a bloody job.
Leigh Johnson to John Marston
You hear that, Marston? We just butchered a gang of thieves and the town is up in arms about a missing snake oil merchant. I'm so glad to be serving such a wise and respectable people.
Leigh Johnson
Cattle rustlin' and bank robbery are at an all time low. While murder, blood drinking, and psychotic episodes seem to be somewhat prevalent. Either that, or I'm dreaming.
Leigh Johnson describing the state of Armadillo in Undead Nightmare
Will you ride with us again Marston?
Leigh Johnson inviting John Marston along
That sarcasm is most unbecoming Eli. It's gonna hold you back in life, even worse than your lazy eye!
Leigh Johnson to Eli
Between Walton's boys and the rustlers, we've been spillin' a lot of blood. A man gets more evil when he's running scared.
Leigh Johnson
Mount up, men. The man that kills the boss of that bunch gets fifty dollars.
Leigh Johnson after discovering the Ridgewood Farm massacre

Trivia[]

  • Despite being a U.S Marshal, Johnson acts more akin to a sheriff. When John asks why he hasn't done anything about Bill Williamson, Johnson says it's in a different county. Being a Marshal, county boundaries shouldn't affect him, but only a sheriff. He also often complains of the interference of the federal government despite being apart of it.
  • In Red Dead Redemption 2, however, Sheriff Palmer is seen in charge of Armadillo. He was either killed by the Del Lobo Gang, or resigned. It is briefly mentioned that Marshal Johnson's absence is due to the cholera outbreak.
  • His outfit is similar to the one worn by Sheriff O'Grady.
  • Baxter Deaton in Armadillo can be heard talking about Johnson, such as how he "buried stolen goods out in Rio Del Lobo" and how "the gang over by Twin Rocks are in cahoots with him". He even talks about Johnson beating the local women. Coincidentally or not, Rio Del Lobo is where the second treasure for the Treasure hunting challenges is located.
  • Despite carrying a pair of revolvers, in gameplay, Johnson will only wield one of these revolvers, dual-wielding them only in cutscenes. Additionally, Marshal Johnson is the only character in Red Dead Redemption, besides Harold Thornton, to have a gun that is customized in some way.
  • NPCs at MacFarlane's Ranch can be heard stating that "he has the whole world on his shoulders".
  • Johnson is a widower. The tombstone of his late wife, Priscilla Johnson, is located in the Coot's Chapel Cemetery, to the left of the front entrance. The grave reveals that she died April 23rd, 1903. The cause of death, however, is not mentioned. The tombstone also reads, 'Forever Smiling In Our Hearts'.
  • As seen in "Political Realities in Armadillo", the Marshal uses a Tersk as his mount. However, during "The Assault on Fort Mercer," he is seen dismounting a Kentucky Saddler.
  • Bonnie MacFarlane, along with Marshal Johnson, can be killed after the mission "Hanging Bonnie MacFarlane". Immediately after the mission, as Marston watches them ride off, if he goes into Dead Eye Mode and kills their horses, Bonnie and the Marshal will fall off.
  • In the DLC Liars and Cheats, one of the Grand Prix race courses is named after him: L. Johnson's Run, which starts and ends in Armadillo.
  • In a promotional picture that can be seen below in the gallery, the Marshal is pictured crumbling a bounty in his hand. If the player looks closely, they can see the bounty target's hideout, Campo Mirada.
  • After his mission in Undead Nightmare and John leaves his office, he can be seen making calls and doing paperwork.
    • It is also possible to kill him.
  • In Red Dead Online, Bonnie MacFarlane mentions to players about Leigh Johnson when beginning a recovery mission for her as she mentions that she is hoping that he can come back due to the fact he is away from the cholera outbreak.
  • Marshal Johnson's gun belt has 2 gun holsters. This is something he has in common with an outlaw, oddly enough. That outlaw is Norman Deek, of the Williamson gang.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. The Blackwater Ledger states that Johnson is fifty-four years old in 1914, making his year of birth 1860. It also states that he had seventeen years of service to Armadillo, and that he was thirty-seven, meaning that he joined in 1897.

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