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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Major · U.S. Army

Ruel M. Johnson

Major Ruel M. Johnson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 25, 1863 in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 25, 1863

Major Ruel M. Johnson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 25, 1863 in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 100th Indiana Infantry. Johnson was 20 years old.

15 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 24, 1896, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Johnson was born on June 5, 1843 in Harbor Creek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana. Johnson died on November 12, 1901 in Goshen, Indiana, at the age of 58. He is buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Goshen, Indiana.

Johnson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While in command of the regiment bravely exposed himself to the fire of the enemy, encouraging and cheering his men.

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

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Battle of Missionary Ridge

Result: Union victory

7 Medal of Honor recipients

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Harborcreek Township — map
  • Died: Goshen — map
  • Buried: Oakridge Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →

Timeline

  1. June 5, 1843
    Born in Harbor Creek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania
  2. November 25, 1863
    Act of valor — Chattanooga, Tennessee
    Age 20. 100th Indiana Infantry
  3. August 24, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 12, 1901
    Died in Goshen, Indiana
    Age 58.
  5. Resting place
    Oak Ridge Cemetery
    Goshen, Indiana

Biography

Ruel Milton Johnson (June 5, 1836 – November 12, 1901) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Johnson received the Medal of Honor, his country's highest award for bravery in combat, for his extraordinary heroism at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863, while a major in temporary command of the 100th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was honored with the award on August 24, 1896. Johnson was later promoted to lieutenant colonel, and commanded the 100th Indiana from May 2, 1865, until it was mustered out on June 8, 1865. After the Civil War, Johnson worked as a lawyer, and died in 1901 in Goshen, Indiana.

From the Wikipedia article “Ruel Milton Johnson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on November 25, 1863

George Lovell Banks Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JB James Bennett Bell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Henry Van ness Boynton Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 CB Charles W. Brouse Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Robert Bruce Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 FD Freeman Davis Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas N. Graham Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 George Green Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Hiram Reese Howard Private · Army Civil War · 1863 SJ Simeon T. Josselyn First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Leverett Mansfield Kelley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 John S. Kountz Musician · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 16 recipients for November 25, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Indiana

TB Thomas A. Blasdel Private · Army Civil War · 1863 CS Charles H. Seston Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ CE Coron D. Evans Private · Army Civil War · 1865 MR Milton F. Russell Captain · Army Civil War · 1862 LB Louis J. Bruner Private · Army Civil War · 1863 AH Aaron R. Hudson Private · Army Civil War · 1865
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.