Lowndes County AlArchives Biographies.....Johnston, Bill 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carolyn Golowka http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002972 
February 1, 2005, 3:00 pm


Source:  Confederate Veteran Vol. XXX (1922)


BILL JOHNSTON

A Tribute by Posey Hamilton, Pleasant Hill, Ala.

When I joined the Confederate army, I found Bill Johnston a member of the same 
company – viz., Company D, 10th Confederate Cavalry Regiment.  Thomas A. Knight 
was captain.  Bill Johnston was then about thirty-five years old, of a sallow 
complexion, thin visaged, with an eagle gray eye.  He did not appear to have 
good health, but was always ready for duty.  I have been on duty with him in the 
most dangerous places, and I never saw him shirk or falter.  I never saw a gamer 
or braver soldier.  ON one occasion there was a call for four volunteers to go 
on the firing line from our company.  As soon as the call was made, he stepped 
out as game as any game cock ever went into a pit.  The manner and the brave 
spirit he manifested was so grand that I could not resist stepping out and 
taking my place beside him.  We were the only volunteers.  The others were 
detailed.  The skirmish line was put under Lieutenant McKinnon, and we moved 
forward.  We did not go far before we came in sight of the enemy's picket line.  
The undergrowth of timber was so thick we could not see far ahead, but Bill 
Johnston's eagle eye saw his man and he threw his gun to his shoulder, and was 
pulling the trigger when our lieutenant called out: "Don't shoot."  The Yank 
heard the order and lost no time in getting away.  Old Bill was sure mad when 
not allowed to shout.  I never knew why our lieutenant did not allow him to 
shoot, unless the aim was to capture the picket.  Well, that mistake of our 
lieutenant produced the wildest commotion in the Yankee camp – nothing short of 
a stampede of wagons, ambulances, artillery, and cavalry.  You could hear them 
getting away for miles.  The whole thing was panic stricken.  If Bill Johnston 
had been allowed to fire his gun, there would have been one less of the Yankee 
army, as he was taking deliberate aim at a distance of about fifty yards.  

Bill Johnston died several years ago near Fort Deposit, Ala.  He was one of the 
bravest of the brave soldiers that Lowndes County furnished to the Confederacy.  
Rest to his soul.