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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

David H. Johnston

Private David H. Johnston, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 22, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private David H. Johnston received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 8th Missouri Infantry. Johnston was 24 years old.

99 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 16, 1884, 21 years after the action.

Johnston was born on August 19, 1838 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Warsaw, Hancock County, Illinois. Johnston died in 1931 in Stanfield, Missouri, at the age of about 93. He is buried at Pierce Chapel Bureau Cemetery in Clarks, Nebraska. His medal is held by Merrick County Historical Society Museum, Central City, NE.

Johnston is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. August 19, 1838
    Born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania
  2. May 22, 1863
    Act of valor — Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age 24. Company K, 8th Missouri Infantry
  3. August 16, 1884
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. 1931
    Died in Stanfield, Missouri
    Age about 93.
  5. Resting place
    Pierce Chapel Bureau Cemetery
    Clarks, Nebraska

Also honored for actions on May 22, 1863

CA Christian Albert Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WA William J. Archinal Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CA Clinton Lycurgus Armstrong Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DA David Ayers Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JA John G. k Ayers Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William H. Barringer Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Matthew Bickford Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 TB Thomas A. Blasdel Private · Army Civil War · 1863 EB Emmer Bowen Private · Army Civil War · 1863 UB Uriah H. Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William P. Brownell Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1863 JB John C. Buckley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 100 recipients for May 22, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

George Henry Palmer Musician · Army Civil War · 1861 GS George Stokes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 MM Michael McCormick Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 Patrick Henry Pentzer Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Orion P. Howe Musician · Army Civil War · 1863 JM John Wade McDonald Private · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.