Johannes Halvorsson Johnson (johannsen)

John enlisted at Belvedere, Illinois, on January 18, 1864, for a period of three years. He was mustered into the Company B of the 95th Illinois Infantry on February 22, 1864, at Camp Butler, Illinois. After an apparently very short training period, he was already with his unit when they started the Red River campaign in Louisiana in March 1864. John fought in the bloody battles of Yellow Bayou, Louisiana; Guntown, Mississippi; and Nashville, Tennessee. It was shortly after the Nashville campaign that John was wounded supposedly in Kentucky. Brother Thore was near him when he was hit. The troops were moving forward and Thore saw him fall, but the commanders told him to move on so he couldn’t even stop to help his brother. He was sent to a hospital boat named A. D. January on February 5, 1865. On February 9, 1865 he was sent to the Gayoso U.S.A. General Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. John died of his wounds. He was 21 years old, 5 ft. - 6-1/2 in. tall, blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, and listed as a farmer born in Norway. Randie, his mother, eventually received a pension of $8.00 per month for the loss of her son.

“THE 95th”

“The 95th Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Fuller, Rockford, Illinois, in August 1862, by Colonel Lawrence S. Church, and mustered into the United States service September 4, 1862.

The Regiment moved from camp, November 4, 1862, and proceeded via Cairo and Columbus, to Jackson, Tennessee, and, afterward, to Grand Junction, Tennessee, where it was assigned to General McArthur’s Division, Army of the Tennessee. Took part in General Grant’s campaign in Northern Mississippi in the winter of 1862.

Moved from Memphis to Milliken’s Bend in the spring of 1863. Participated in the march to Grand Gulf, and all the battles between that place and the rear of Vicksburg. Was in the charges of May 19th and 22nd, losing 25 killed, 124 wounded, and 10 missing a much heavier loss than that of any other Regiment in the Division.

In March, 1864, went on Red River expedition under General A. J. Smith, and was engaged at the capture of Fort DeRussey and in the battles of Old River, Cloutierville, Mansouri, Yellow Bayou, and the movements of that advance and retreat.

In May, 1864, returned to Vicksburg, and soon after moved to Memphis and took part in the ill-fated Sturgis expedition. Was in the battle of Guntown, and fought with undaunted bravery, but was overpowered, and, with the whole of Sturgis’s army, retreated in confusion to Memphis. Colonel Thomas W. Humphrey was killed, and nearly the whole Regiment was killed, wounded or made prisoners. The campaign nearly annihilated the Regiment.

After recruiting at Memphis, the command, in August, joined General Mower. Moved up White River, and Marched from Brownsville, through Arkansas, to Missouri in pursuit of Price. The 95th arrived at Benton Barracks, Missouri, November 1, 1864. November 30th, moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Took part in the battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864 and in pursuit of Hood’s defeated army to Tennessee river. January 2, 1865, embarked for New Orleans, arriving February 21st.

On March 14, moved to Dauphin Island, at the mouth of Mobile Bay. On March 18, landed at Cedar Point, with Colonel Moore’s Brigade, and commenced the first offensive operation against Mobile. Took part in General Canby’s movement from Fish river. During the siege of Spanish Fort, carried its trenches to within 30 yards of the fort, April 8, 1865, being the first Regiment to occupy what was known in the rebel line as the “Red Fort”.

After the fall of Mobile, the 95th marched to Montgomery, Alabama arriving April 25th. From thence, moved to Opelika, Alabama.

July 18th, started home. August 3rd arrived at Vicksburg, 10th at St. Louis, and moved to Camp Butler, Illinois, where August 18, 1865, it was mustered out of service.

During the summer of 1864, the Regiment had a detachment of 100 men, with Major Charles B. Loop, Captain James Nish and Captain A. S. Steward, in charge. They participated in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie river, Atlanta, Joensboro and Lovejoy Station. The Regiment has marched 1,800 miles, and moved by rail and water 8,160 miles. Eighty-four men have been killed in battle or died of wounds and 176 died of disease. The total number of men who have belonged to the 95th - 1,355.”