- DAVID H. JOHNSON, Evansville, Wis., member of G.A.R. Post
No. 41, was born in Greene,
- Chenango Co., New York, July 14, 1821, and is the son of
Nathaniel JOHNSON, whom he supposes to have been born in Ireland,
and who married Rhoda NORTON, a native of this country; she was
the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. She was a mother of
that period and brought up her children with a knowledge of what
the settlers of the country had undergone. She related that she
had heard the story of her father's comrade who, failing to extinguish
his light at "taps," when called to account by his
superior officer, answered that he was writing to his wife. "Is
there more space?" was the inquiry. "Add to your letter
that you will be shot at sunrise for disobedience in camp."
The addition was made and the soldier suffered death at sunrise.
- In about 1825, the senior JOHNSON removed with his family
to Sparta, Erie Co., Pa., where he
- cleared two farms 10 miles apart from a state of nature in
conjunction with his sons. He died on one of them in 1849, his
wife having died the previous year. About 1835 the son went to
Cattaraugus county in his native State, where he engaged with
the corporation building the New York & Erie railroad, then
in its incipiency. The company failed and he lost his six-months'
earnings. In 1840 he contracted for 40 acres of land on which
he worked as a farmer and in 1855 he removed his interests to
Rutland, Dane Co., Wisconsin, where he again engaged in agriculture
and operated there until he entered the army. When the famous
"5th" Wisconsin Infantry was in process of reorganization
he enlisted, his enrollment dating in 1864, and he joined the
700 men under Col. T. S. Allen in front of Petersburg. The recruits
remained two weeks at Soldiers' Home, Washington, for equipments,
and when they arrived at the long bridge, which is a mile long,
their officer halted and spoke to this effect: "Boys, when
you cross this bridge, you will be on the sacred soil of Virginia,
and if you go hungry it will be your own fault if you can find
anything to eat." The command was under orders for the Valley
of the Shenandoah where the "Battalion," the independent
organization formed from the re-enlisted men of the former command,
awaited them at Winchester and whither the "700" under
Colonel Allen marched from Washington and Alexandria. They went
via Martinsburg to Cedar Creek, where Jubal Early was expected
to attack. Before he had been in camp long enough to make coffee,
Mr. JOHNSON was ordered on picket and after his weary marches
he went to take his place, passing through a swamp on his hands
and knees over an old mill-dam to the position where he was placed
as outpost guard. His blistered feet, sore and lame condition,
prevented his standing, but between sitting and lying down he
managed to discharge his duty. The attack of Early occurred the
next day to meet with repulse, and Sheridan drove the rebel force
to within three miles of Lynchburg. The regiment returned to
camp after three days' picket duty and early in December went
to Petersburg via Washington. Mr. JOHNSON was there sent to Judiciary
Square Hospital, ill with bowel disease, diabetes and jaundice.
When recovered he rejoined his command at Petersburg about the
last of February, 1865. He passed the time in camp, forage and
other duty, until the movement known as Fort Fisher, when one
cold night, the rebels dispersed the pickets with firing, yells
and other demonstrations. The pickets lost all their possessions
and saw their blankets flying like banners of defiance in rebel
hands. In the charge proper on the fort, the 5th Wisconsin charged
through a black ash swamp, led by Colonel James M. Bull. Colonel
Allen discovered a flank movement intended to cut off his rear
and halted them; "About face! Forward! Double quick!"
was his order and they were safe from capture, returning to camp
the next morning after passing the night in earth-holes they
dug out for beds. April 1st, the 6th Corps moved forward. The
5th Wisconsin advanced about 2 o'clock in the morning, drove
in the rebel pickets, following them up as they fell back. They
formed within the fortifications and orders to charge were issued.
Mr. JOHNSON and a comrade named James Winters pushed their way
through an embrasure and came up to a rebel with his hand on
the lanyard of a 12-pounder. Winters pressed his cocked rifle
against his breast, saying "Shoot and I will blow your heart
out." The brave man in a bad cause shut his eyes and pulled
the rope, at the cost of his life. The Corps took about 1,400
prisoners that morning. Among the killed was a comrade beside
Mr. JOHNSON who was cut in two by a solid shot which struck him
in the region of the hips. In charge at Fort Henry they were
six times repulsed, but the seventh was a success, the 22d Massachusetts
assisting. They moved to another line of works, where 650 were
captured. When the troops entered Petersburg, (Colonel Allen
claims) the colors of the 5th Wisconsin were the first in position
above the captured works. The chase began on the following morning,
Lee having withdrawn in darkness. About 14 miles out the work
of destruction began, when General Grant promised a furlough
to the man who shot another man in the act of firing property.
A skirmish took place at High Bridge and at Sailors' Creek; the
soldiers charged across on pontoons and pressed forward to a
battery, capturing six pieces. They went into camp next day on
a plantation where a old man of 80 years made his appearance
bearing his breast and asking them to shoot him, as they had
taken "his boys, his crops, his property of every description,
and all the mischief they could do him further was to shoot him."
But they took care that he was made comfortable.
- The day following the surrender of Lee the 6th Corps proceeded
to Burkesville Station,
- preparatory to starting to days later to Danville, where
they expected to go to join the forces of Sherman and aid in
the repression of the final struggles of the confederacy. Their
first march was 112 miles long and their second 125 miles in
extent. After news was received of the surrender of Johnston
the 6th Corps took possession of the printing press, flouring
mills and other property necessary to the comfort and support
of the soldiers, and papers were issued, flour made and matters
placed in as good condition for the Union troops as possible.
After the repairing of the railroad they went to Richmond, whence
the 5th Wisconsin joined in the foot race to Washington, and
after arrival there in the Grand Review. The regiment was mustered
out in July, 1865, at Madison. Mr. JOHNSON left the regiment
at Stoughton to return home, being ill, and on reporting at Madison,
was sent home again and his discharge papers and pay sent to
him. Several years elapsed before he was in any degree recovered
and he has never been in sound health since. He conducted a hotel
at Cooksville two years prior to his removal to Evansville.
- He was married Dec. 10, 1843, to Mary Jane LACY of Cataraugus
Co., N.Y., whence her
- parents removed from Genesee county in the same State. They
had three sons, William L. and Willard, twins, were born Feb.
20, 1845. Duane C. was born Sept. 30, 1848. Willard died Sept.
28, 1846. Both surviving sons are married. William resides on
a farm not far from Evansville, and Duane is in the employ of
the C. & N. W. railroad, residing at Elroy. The latter enlisted
in his father's absence, but did not muster, as his mother refused
her consent. The sons, aged respectively 16 and 19, managed the
farm while their father was in the war. The mother died Feb.
27, 1882. Mr. JOHNSON is sexton of the Evansville cemetery and
has secured a burial plot for the soldiers of that vicinity.
-
- From "Soldiers' and Citizens' Album of Biographical
Record Containing Personal Sketches of Army Men and Citizens
Prominent in Loyalty to the Union" by H.O. & M.A.W.
Brown. Chicago, Grand Army Pub., Co., (c)1890, pp. 255-256.
-
- Courtesy of a transcriber.
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