Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from John Burgess Johnson Letter must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John Burgess Johnson Letter, Ms2011-055, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The John Burgess Johnson Letter purchased by Special Collections in February 2011.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the John Burgess Johnson Letter was completed in June 2011.

Biographical Note

Capt. John Burgess Johnson, son of Rev. Lorenzo Johnson and Mary Johnson was born in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, November 29, 1847. He married Laura Minnie Curtis in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 9, 1873. John and Laura Johnson had three children, Frederick Curtis Johnson (b. 1874), Harold B. Johnson (b.1877), John B., Jr. (b.1887).

Johnson was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the 6th US Colored Infantry in 1863. He fought with the 6th US colored infantry until he was honorably mustered out of service as a 1st Lieutenant with the rest of his regiment September 20, 1865.

He reenlisted as part of the regular army in 1866 and was assigned to the 7th U.S. Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant. He remained in the army until his death on April 5, 1896. At the time of his death he had reached the rank of Captain and was assigned to the 3rd U.S. Calvary.

Sources:

http://www.archive.org/stream/johnsonmemorialj00john/johnsonmemorialj00john_djvu.txt

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2001.05.0233:chapter%3D9:page%3D491

Scope and Content

Letter written by Captain John Burgess Johnson to his family while camped near Yorktown, Virginia. Letter is postmarked January 19. The letter details a march made by the 6th U.S. Colored troops from Glouchester Point to relieve Union calvary troops near the Chickahominy River.

The letter is addressed to "Homefolks," and provides details of the march and describes a skirmish between the 6th CT Infantry, the calvary they came to assist and rebel scouts. The letter gives details about injuries sustained by both sides and rebel prisoners that were taken by the Union calvary. Johnson then describes the march back to Yorktown. Throughout the letter Johnson complains of foot pain as a result of the march; describing his feet as "swollen" and "just like beef" and tells of stopping during the march both on the the way to relieve the calvary and on the way back. Both times he describes sitting and watching the rest of his troops march by so that he could be picked up by the ambulance and ride the rest of the way to camp.

The original envelope is torn and is addressed to Thomas Barrows. The envelope bears a Washington, DC postmark with the date January 19.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865