Landsman William P. Johnston was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 2, 1864 in Harrisonburg, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Fort Hindman. Johnston was 14 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Johnston was born on July 5, 1849 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Johnston died on May 8, 1888 in La Porte, Indiana, at the age of 38. He is buried at Patton Cemetery in La Porte, Indiana. Records also list him as Johnston, Walter P..
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
Served on board the U.S.S. Fort Hindman during the engagement near Harrisonburg, La., 2 March 1864. Badly wounded in the hand during the action, Johnston, despite his wound, took the place of another man to sponge and lead one of the guns throughout the entire action in which the Fort Hindman was raked severely with shot and shell from the enemy guns.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Badly wounded in the hand during the action, Johnston, despite his wound, took the place of another man to sponge and lead one of the guns throughout the entire action in which the Fort Hindman was raked severely with shot and shell from the enemy guns.
- Age at death: 38
- Resting place: Patton Cemetery
Timeline
- July 5, 1849Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
- March 2, 1864Act of valor — Harrisonburg, LouisianaAge 14. U.S.S. Fort Hindman
- May 8, 1888Died in La Porte, IndianaAge 38.
- Resting placePatton CemeteryLa Porte, Indiana
