John Johnston

John was the sixth child born to James Houston and Nancy Rankin Johnston, both of Mercersburg, Franklin Co., and McConnellsburg, Fulton Co., PA. He settled in Kansas Territory prior to the Civil War as did his older sister, Mary Agnes Johnston Houston and her husband, David Watson Houston.

John Johnston's Civil War Service

In 1861, John joined the 2nd Kansas Infantry which was formed in Garnett, Kansas by Kansas State legislator Samuel J. Crawford, who had resigned his seat to participate in the conflict. John entered service as a 1st Lieutenant Cavalry Company A on 15 Nov 1861. He was promoted to Captain on 8 Jan, 1864..

Under Captain Crawford, John participated in the 1861 Southwest Missouri campaign led by General Lyon, and took part in all the engagements, including the crucial Battle of Wilson's Creek. In March 1862. With the 2nd Kansas Cavalry he was with General James G. Blunt in Southwest Missouri, Arkansas, and Indian Territory until early in the fall of 1862. During that time he participated in the battles of Newtonia, Old Fort Wayne, Cane Hill, Bald Peak, Cove Creek, Prairie Grove and Van Buren. In the spring of 1863, with Crawford now in command the 2nd Kansas Cavalry joined Blunt at Fort Gibson for an expedition south through the Choctaw Nation. This campaign ended with the taking of Fort Smith, Arkansas and was instrumental in capturing a number of prisoners, wagons, horses, a Confederate paymaster and $40,000 of Confederate money. .

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1. Name: John Johnston Residence: Garnett, Kansas Side Served: Union State Served: Kansas Service Record: Enlisted as a 1st Lieutenant. Commission in Company A, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Kansas on 8 Jan 1864. Mustered Out Company A, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Kansas on 14 Apr 1865 at Little Rock, AR. Sources: 7 2.
2. John Johnston Residence: Garnett, Kansas Side Served: Union State Served: Kansas Service Record: .
Enlisted as a Captain. Commission in Company A, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Kansas on 8 Jan 1864. Mustered Out Company A, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Kansas on 14 Apr 1865..
. 3. Name: John Johnston Residence: Garnett, Kansas Side Served: Union State Served: Kansas Service Record: Enlisted as a Major. Commission in Company S, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Kansas on 11 May 1865. Mustered Out Company S, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Kansas on 22 Jun 1865 at Fort Gibson, CN. Sources: 7 2