Bio: John W. Johnston :Pittsfield, Merrimack Co, New Hampshire

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Submitted by: Rick Giirtman  rickman@worldpath.net
Date: March 17, 2001
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From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893


JOHN W. JOHNSTON

was a son of the above (John Johnston), born in Pittsfield ; by occupation,
previous to enlistment, a travelling salesman. When the Twelfth regiment was
being raised, which was done in ten days' time, Mr. Johnston enlisted in
Company F, August 23, 1862, and was made a corporal September 5, 1862, and a
few months later was made a sergeant. Camp life is always irksome to an
active young fellow, and Johnston applied to his commanding officer for a
vacant clerkship. This was refused on the ground that Johnston was too good
a soldier for a clerk, and that he would be in line of promotion if he
retained his present place.

While the regiment was at Point Lookout, Md., guarding prisoners, Johnston
was discharged, November 22, 1863, to accept promotion as first lieutenant
in his company, where he had served a little over a year before as a
private, and the next day he was mustered as such. Again he was promoted and
mustered, July 24, 1864, as captain of Company D, of the same regiment, and
was finally discharged as such June 21, 1865.

During the summer of 1864 he was on the staff of Brigadier-General J. H.
Potter's provisional brigade, Army of the James, as provost-marshal. He also
served in the same capacity on the staffs of Gen. Chas. K. Graham and
General Freraro, commanding same brigade. He was then detailed as acting
assistant ordinance officer, Army of the James, on the staff of Gen. B. F.
Butler, with headquarters at Jones's landing on the James river. He had
charge of the reserve ammunition of that army. He remained in this capacity
under Gen. E. O. C. Ord, who succeeded General Butler, and on the evacuation
of Richmond he was ordered there, to take charge of the captured ammunition
and to see to the shipping of the same to Washington. This of course was but
a short time before his discharge.

Captain Johnston took part in the following battles : Fredericksburg,
Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Swift Creek, Cold Harbor, Cemetery Hill, and
the siege of Petersburg. At Cold Harbor he had command of a division of his
regiment, consisting of Companies F and D. In that engagement Company F lost
six men killed and eighteen wounded, out of thirty-four who went into the
fight. Captain Johnston never received any wounds during these several
engagements, and never had occasion to go to the hospital from sickness
during his entire term of service. He is now a member of the flour
manufacturing firm of Stratton, Merrill & Co., of Concord, but he resides in
Manchester.