US Congressional Serial Sets

January 30, 1925 – Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed.

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 3534) to correct the Military record to Thomas C Johnson, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

Case of Thomas C Johnson, Private, Company G, Eighteenth Regiment
Iowa Infantry, Civil War

Records show that a report in the case of the above-named soldier was furnished the House Committee on Military Affairs in connection with bill H R 7618 of June 30, 1898, as follows:

"It is shown by the records that Thomas C Johnson, aged 19 years, was enrolled July 15, 1862, and mustered into service August 6, 1862, a private in Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, to serve three years, and that he was discharged March 9, 1863, at Springfield, Mo., on surgeon's certificate of disability, by reason of gunshot wound of right wrist resulting in partial anchylosis.

"He again enlisted in the same company and regiment and was mustered into service December 22, 1863, to serve three years. He appears to have served faithfully until December 1, 1864, when he is reported as having deserted while on detached service as teamster. He did not rejoin his company, which remained in service until July 20, 1865.

"In an application for removal of the charge of desertion (recieved March 30, 1887) the soldier testified that he was detailed as teamster in July, 1864; that he was on detached service until after his regiment was mustered out and, therefore did not receive a discharge.

"Under date of January 2, 1888, again testifying, he declared that he drove a Government team from Fort Leavenworth, Kans., to Fort Smith, Ark.; that the names of the quartermasters at those posts were, respectively, Wilson and 'Sid Smith'; that they were the only officers he served under from October 31, 1864, to July 20, 1865; that the wagon masters of his train were 'citizens,' named George Gronar and John Boiles.

"It does not appear from the records that the soldier was either at Fort Leavenworth or Fort Smith, subsequently to December 1, 1864; but Capt. M H Insley, stationed at Fort Scott, Kans., reports having paid one Charles Johnson as ox teamster from October 9, 1864, to May 7, 1865, at $60 per month.

"The soldier is not referred to in the reports of the officers stationed at Forts Leavenworth and Smith subsequently to his detail as teamster. Gronar and Boiles, mentioned by him, were civilian employees.

"Capt. Thomas P Wilson, A. Q. M., arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., August 26, 1865, with a wagon train, and in his report he mentions a large number of civilian teamsters and other employees but he makes no reference to a Thomas C Johnson.

"Enos Fogle and Thomas E Miller, in affidavits dated June 11 and 18, 1892, respectively, testified that they were detailed with applicant as teamsters in the supply train; that they returned to the company and were discharged with it, but that he refused to leave the train without direct orders.

"The papers in the pension claim of applicant were obtained from the Pension Bureau and carefully examined, but no testimony other than his own statement bearing upon his desertion was found therein."

Under date of July 13, 1898, application was filed through Harding & Miller, attorneys, of Stillwater, Oklahoma Territory, for a discharge of the soldier. The following testimony was submitted by Thomas C Johnson under date of July 25, 1898:

"I was detailed in the latter part of August or first part of September, 1864, as teamster under George Groner and John Boyle with one Enos Fogle of same company and regiment, and remained with said team train until it was turned over to the United States Government at Fort Leavenworth, Kans. I was never ordered to my company and my orders were not to come in until ordered in. I was at Fort Smith, Ark., when detailed out and run on route from Fort Smith to Fort Leavenworth, Kans., during the entire time up till said trains were turned over to the United States Government at Fort Leavenworth, Kans. And I further state that I received no notice whatever of the mustering out of my regiment and was never discharged from the service. And I further state that I was not a deserter, as is on record of adjutant general's office of Iowa."

James Ralph testified under date of July 29, 1898, as follows:

"I was a member of the above-named company and am well acquainted with Thomas C Johnson late of Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and know that he received a detail about the latter part of August or first part of September, 1864, to drive a Government team under George Groner and John Boyle on the line from Fort Smith, Ark., to Fort Leavenworth, Kans., and I further know that it was the general opinion in said company and company officers that the whereabouts of George Groner and John Boyle's team train was unknown at the time of the mustering out of said regiment, and for that reason I am satisfied that said Thomas C Johnson received no order to report to his company for mustering out, and for that reason I consider him no deserter."

Henry C Farnsworth testified under date of July 30, 1898, as follows:

"I was a member of the above-named company and am well acquainted with Thomas C Johnson, late of Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and know that he received a detail about the latter part of August or first part of September, 1864, to drive a Government team under George Groner and John Boyle on the line from Fort Smith, Ark., to Fort Leavenworth, Kans., and I further know that it was the general opinion in said company and company officers that the whereabouts of George Groner and John Boyle's team train was unknown at the time of the mustering out of the regiment, and for that reason I am satisfied that said Thomas C Johnson received no orders to report to his company for mustering out and for that reason I consider him no deserter."

Enos Fogle, under date of August 4, 1898, testified as follows:

"I was a member of the above-named company, that I am personally acquainted with Thomas C Johnson, of Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and that I know he was detailed at Fort Smith, Ark., to drive Government team under George Groner and John Boyle about the latter part of August or first part of September, 1864, and I know these facts by receiving a detail myself at the same time and for the same service in the same train, and I further know that said Thomas C Johnson received no orders to return to his company for purpose of being mustered out, from the reason that the commander of the company did not know where Groner's train was at that time. And I further know that said Thomas C Johnson had orders to remain with said team train until he received orders to return to his company. And I further know that he was not a deserter. And I further know that there was no better or braver soldier in the regiment that Thomas C Johnson."

William Michael testified under date of August 15, 1898, as follows:

"I was a member of Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and am well acquainted with Thomas C Johnson, late of said Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and know that he received a detail at Fort Smith, Ark., about last of August or 1st September, 1864, to drive a Government team under George Groner and John Boyle on the line from Fort Smith, Ark., to Fort Leavenworth, Kans.,; that I was a commissioned officer about that time of Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and I know that he was not marked a deserter at that time. I was mustered out or resigned before the mustering out of the regiment and knew nothing further of said Thomas C Johnson, but I know that said Thomas C Johnson and Arlo Teed, captain, then commanding said Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, were not at that time on the best of terms."
Respectfully submitted.

J T Kerr,
Adjutant General, in Charge of Office.

It will be seen from the above that Johnson was honorably discharged from his first enlistment after serving for about seven months, because of a gunshot wound which physically disqualified him for service. Some months later he reenlisted, and after about on year's service in his second enlistment he is reported as having deserted. Your committee is of the opinion that there is considerable doubt as to whether Johnson actually did desert. Evidence submitted by those who served with Johnson, and by Johnson himself, is to the effect that he was on detached service at the time of the mustering out of his regiment and that his whereabouts at that time was not known by the officers in his regiment. Your committee is unanimous in its belief that this man should be given the benefit of any doubt which may exist as to his status.