Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Joseph Esrey Johnson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1864 at Fort Harrison, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 58th Pennsylvania Infantry. Johnson was 21 years old.
37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 1, 1898, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major.
Johnson was born on February 5, 1843 in Lower Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Johnson died on April 30, 1911 in Longdale, Virginia, at the age of 68. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Johnson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Though twice severely wounded while advancing in the assault, he disregarded his injuries and was among the first to enter the fort, where he was wounded for the third time.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Though twice severely wounded while advancing in the assault, he disregarded his injuries and was among the first to enter the fort, where he was wounded for the third time.
- Age at death: 68
- Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery
Places
- Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- February 5, 1843Born in Lower Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
- September 29, 1864Act of valor — Fort Harrison, VirginiaAge 21. Company A, 58th Pennsylvania Infantry
- April 1, 1898Medal of Honor presented
- April 30, 1911Died in Longdale, VirginiaAge 68.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Joseph Esrey Johnson (February 5, 1843 – April 30, 1911) was an American soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor who earned the award for his actions in the American Civil War. He later worked as a manager and director in an iron company in Virginia. He is grandfather of Joseph Esrey Johnson III, a notable American diplomat.
From the Wikipedia article “Joseph E. Johnson (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
