Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from A Guide to the Elliott Johnston Correspondence must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Elliott Johnston Correspondence, Ms2016-017, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Elliott Johnston Correspondence was purchased by Special Collections in 2015.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the A Guide to the Elliott Johnston Correspondence was completed in October 2016.

Biographical Note

Elliott Waters Johnston was born 21 June 1840 to David S. Johnston and Julia Ann Bodwell (Ursuila?). He had four siblings: Lydia M Johnston, Edgar N. Johnston, Silas A. Johnston, David M. Johnston born between 1837 and 1848 based on data from the 1850 United States Census. Johnston and his siblings were raised in Sidney, Deleware, New York.

On 14 August 1862, Johnston enlisted in the Union Military. By 27 September 1862, Johnston was a member of Company I, New York 144th Infantry Regiment. He was later promoted to Full First Sergeant on 1 April, 1865. Johnston was mustered out of the military on 25 June 1865 at Hilton Head, South Carolina.

In 1869 Johnston married Emily J. Clark. They had three children: Edith L. Johnston, Charles E. Johnston, and Leslie W. Johnston. All were born between 1871 and 1876.

Johnston died 7 May 1909. Johnston was burried in Westmoreland Union Cemetary, Oneida County New York.

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Scope and Content

The Elliott Johnston Correspondence includes three letters from Sergeant Elliott Johnston to Col. John S. Mosby. Only one is clearly dated (1897), but the others are most likely from around the same time and exchange of letters. Although written more than 30 years later, the correspondence seems to be a request by Mosby for information on Johnston's activities during the Civil War, apparently while he was in the service of General Richard S. Ewell.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War
• Correspondence
• Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894
• Ewell, Richard Stoddert, 1817-1872
• Mosby, John Singleton, 1833-1916
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865