William Johnston

In 1860 he was a 31 year old overseer, probably on the Rev. Joseph H Stockton plantation (19 slaves), and owned 6 slaves of his own, at Eubanks in Columbia County, GA. He enrolled on 11 May 1861 in Thompson, GA and was Captain of the Thomson Guard when they organized for war service at Jonesboro, GA on June 1861 and became Company F, 10th Georgia Infantry.

He was assisted by Captain P.H. Loud of Company H in commanding the regiment during the battle at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862. Loud later reported that both he and Captain Johnston were wounded and had to leave the field before the fighting ended there.

He was in a Richmond, VA hospital in October 1862 and tendered his resignation. There was no official response, and, having recovered, he returned to duty. In February 1863 he petitioned the Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon for appointment as Major of the regiment, although Captain Loud, junior to Johnson in seniority, had been appointed Major during Johnston's absence in October 1862. In March 1863 Johnston wrote a letter of protest to the Secretary of War because he was not commissioned Major. He was in a Richmond hospital again in April 1863 and again resigned, on 14 May on grounds of disability, which resignation was recommended to the War Department by General RE Lee on 23 May.

He may have had later service in the Confederate Commissary Department.

By 1870 he was a lumber merchant in Thomson, Columbia (later McDuffie) County, GA. He was appointed County Court judge in 1873 and in 1880 was a miller at Thompson, GA.

His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 online from fold3. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1880. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Martha Ann Frances Stone (1831-1919) in May 1855 and they had 5 daughters, then a son.

07/20/1829; Lincoln County, GA

01/29/1887; Thomson, GA; burial in Thomson City Cemetery, Thomson, GA