WI 2nd Inf Co A. Residence: Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin. Born 25 Mar 1842 in Toten, Norway. Civil War: Age 18. Laborer. Unmarried. Blue eyes, light brown hair, fair complexion, 5’4½”. Enlisted for three years on 20 Apr 1861 at Janesville. Mustered 11 Jun 1861 at Madison, Wisconsin. Private. Later entries show him in Company D. Private Johnson was in these battles: Bull Run 21 Jul 1861; Rappahanock Station 21, 22, 23 Aug 1862; White Sulpher Springs, Virginia, 26 Aug 1862; Gainesville, Virginia, 28 Aug 1862; Bull Run, Virginia, 29, 30 Aug 1862; South Mountain, Virginia, 14 Sep 1862; Antietam, 17 Sep 1862; and Fredericksburg, Virginia 13 Dec 1862. He lost his right arm at Fredericksburg. Discharged from the service for disability, 10 Apr 1863, at Belle Plain, Virginia. Post war: Lived in Rochester, Minnesota. On 28 Aug 1893, he was issued the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry in battle of Antietam at Fredericksburg, the battle in which he was wounded. “While serving as cannoneer, he manned the positions of fallen gunners”. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 6; red book vol 8) (“America’s Medal of Honor Recipients”. Publ. 1977, pp 131, 1015) (Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1994”, publ by Facts on File, Inc., 1995, vol 1 no 690) (Quiner p 456)
