Musician William "Willie" Johnston was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 5, 1862 at Seven Day Battle & on the Peninsula Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 3d Vermont Infantry. Johnston was 12 years old.
The medal was presented on September 16, 1863.
Johnston was born on July 5, 1850 in Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont.
Johnston is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 47 credited to Vermont.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantry in Seven Day Battle and Peninsula campaign.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Norwich University
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Vermont →
Timeline
- July 5, 1850Born in Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York
- July 5, 1862Act of valor — Seven Day Battle & on the Peninsula Campaign, VirginiaAge 12. Company D, 3d Vermont Infantry
- September 16, 1863Medal of Honor presented
Biography
William J. Johnston (July 12, 1850 – September 16, 1941) was a drummer boy in Company D of the 3rd Vermont Infantry during the American Civil War. When his division was routed during the Seven Days Battles during the Peninsula Campaign of June to July 1862, he was the only drummer to come away with his instrument. His superiors considered this a meritorious feat, given that the regiment's other soldiers had thrown away their guns and equipment to lighten their loads as they retreated. As a result, he received the Medal of Honor in 1863; at age 13, he remains the youngest recipient of the award.
From the Wikipedia article “Willie Johnston (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Further reading
- 9 Civil War Drummers Who Received the Medal of Honorcmohs.org · 2025
