William Henry JOHNSTON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1900, Living with parents in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: Was in Company K, 8th Missouri volunteers, for three years
• Census: 1850, Living with parents in Armstrong, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania
• Census: 1860, Living with parents in Armstrong, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania
• Census: 1880, Living in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska
• Census: 1900, Living in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska
• Census: 1910, Living in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska
• Census: 1920, Living in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska
• Census: 1930, Living in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska

Notes:

Name:
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, he served as a Private in Company K, 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in Warsaw County, Illinois. He would go on to be awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Vicksburg, Mississippi on May 22, 1863. His citation simply reads "Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party." On the day in question 150 men were called to volunteer to make a "forlorn hope" diversionary charge on the Confederate position known as the Stockade Redan ? a charge that was intended to draw fire away from the real planned attack, and a charge no one was expected to return from (to this end, only unmarried men were accepted as volunteers). After charging an open plain in full view of the Confederates, the withering fire was such that most of the volunteers were cut down, and those that made it through the fire sought shelter in a ravine under the Redan. There they stayed and fought until nightfall, when the survivors made their way to return to the Union lines, Private Johnson being one of them (85 percent of the men who made the charge did not make it back). He was awarded his Medal on August 16, 1884, twenty one years after he played his part at Vicksburg.

Bio by: RPD2

David married Nancy J. MCWILLIAMS about 1871. Nancy (daughter of Robert MCWILLIAMS and Elizabeth Ann BOTHELL) was born in Feb 1849 in Pennsylvania; died in 1934; was buried in Bureau Cemetery, Clarks, Merrick Co., Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Living with parents in Pine, Armstrong Co., Pennsylvania
• Census: 1870, Living with mother in Washington, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania
• Census: 1880, Living with husband in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska
• Census: 1900, Living with husband in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska
• Census: 1910, Living with husband in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska
• Census: 1920, Living with husband in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska
• Census: 1930, Living with husband in Mead, Merrick Co., Nebraska