William H. Johnson

WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, was born in Morgan County, Indiana, January 18, 1844, a son of Thomas E. and Lydia (Davis) Johnson. His parents came to Iowa in 1861, and settled in Jackson Township, Clarke County, where his mother died. His father is now a resident of the village of Woodburn.  January 15, 1862, our subject enlisted in the defense of his country, and was assigned to Company I, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. He soon after went to the front, his first battle being Shiloh, where his regiment and company lost heavily. His colonel and captain were wounded, and his Lieutenant, Robert Hamilton, was killed. On account of failing health Mr. Johnson was discharged in the summer of 1862, and returned home. regaining his health he again enlisted, and was assigned to his old company, but was again taken sick, and did not recover in time to take part in any active service. He was discharged May 6, 1865, and has since engaged in agricultural pursuits. He owns a good farm of 120 acres on section 34, Jackson Township, where he has lived since his marriage. He was married in the fall of 1865 to Rebecca Laval, daughter of Joseph Laval, of Wayne County. They have four children – Franklin A., Sylvia, Calvin B. and Robert S. Mr. Johnson is a member of Post No. 385, G.A.R. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 385-6

MT. PLEASANT, Iowa, May 28, 1862.

Editor Hawk-Eye

The Philomathian Literary Society of the Iowa Wesleyan University respectfully ask the publication of the following resolutions, passed at a meeting held in honor of a late deceased member:

WHEREAS, in providence of an all wise God our Friend and Brother Lieut. R. W. HAMILTON formerly a fellow student and member of our literary association, a private in the First Iowa Regiment of Infantry wounded at the battle of Wilson’s Creek and since a Lieutenant in the 15^th Iowa Regiment has fallen in the bloody contest between the Union and Confederate forces at Pittsburgh Landing while bravely defending our country against the attack of a traitorous enemy therefore,

Resolved, That while we acknowledge a Divine Providence ruling all things and the justice of the noble cause in which he was ardently engaged we cannot suppress a deep but resigned sorrow, we lament the loss to society of one so highly esteemed – to ourselves of one whom we shall ever remember as a friend and bother.

Resolved, That we do earnestly sympathize with the friends and relatives of the deceased in this their irreparable loss.

Resolved, That our Hall be decked in mourning for thirty days.

Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the Burlington Hawk-Eye, The Osceola Republican, and that a copy of the same be furnished to the friends of the deceased.

I . N. ELLIOTT,

W. I. BARR,

J. S. CLARK,

Com. Philomathian Society.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 3

From the 15th Regiment

We learn from a private letter that Capt. Hutchcraft was wounded in the arm severely; Capt. Blackman in the back slightly; and Capt. Day in the hip.  Lieutenants Perryman, Hamilton and Fisk were killed, and J. Monroe Reid wounded in neck slightly.  Twenty-five privates were killed.

Col. Reid, Dewey and Belknap arrived at Cairo on the 12th and are probably on the way up.

- Published in The Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, Wednesday, April 16, 1862

Lieut. R. W. Hamilton

Among the names of the officers of the 15^th regiment where were killed at the desperate engagement at Pittsburg we notice the name of Lieut. R. W. HAMILTON, of Company I.  Lieut. Hamilton was a private in the glorious First, and was severely wounded at Springfield; this, however did not dampen his patriotism, as soon as he recovered he became a member of the 15^th and was elected to a lieutenancy.  Previous to his enlistment in the First regiment he was a student at the Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mt. Pleasant, studying for the ministry, and was a classmate with Richard Hingham of this city who fell at Donelson.  While the 15^th was quartered in this place Lt. Hamilton, by his gentlemanly and unassuming manner made many friends, who will regret exceedingly to hear of his sudden death.  He was the youngest officer of the regiment.  His residence was in Osceola, Clark[e] County.

– Published in The Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, Thursday, April 17, 1862

From The 15th

LIEUTENANT LANSTRUM of Company B, 15th Regiment, writes that Adjutant Pomutz of the 15th, was shot in the leg, and thrown from his horse. He states that Lieutenants Hamilton, Fiske and Penniman were killed. We think that Lieutenant FISKE was from Indianola, Warren county. We are not certain, but the impression is pretty strong with us that our old friend Dr. FISKE is the officer to whom Lieutenant LANSTRUM alludes. The following additional names are mentioned among the wounded – Reed Good, Daneson and King.

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday April 19, 1862