Only one bit of Civil War information came down to me through Lindsey-Johnson family oral tradition. I was told that Thomas H. Johnson, a confederate sympathizer, an old man, was killed in front of his home by General Sherman's soldiers on the March to the Sea.
I have tried to verify this story. First of all, Sherman is off the hook. He never set foot in Johnson County, and his infamous march was from Lookout Mountain TN to Atlanta GA. A more likely culprit was General Stoneman, who was overseeing the eastern Tennessee operations, including Johnson County. Stoneman's mission was to make raids into Washington, Smyth, and Wythe Counties in Virginia and destroy railroads, iron forges, the lead mines, and salt mines. At the end of the war Stoneman participated in the Battle of Richmond, and gets a mention in the folk song, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". So he also would have marched east almost to the sea after leaving Tennessee. Stoneman and his troops left for Richmond sometime before April 9, 1865.
In late March or early April 1865, Federal troops under Brig. Gen. Davis Tillson, were encamped near Butler in Johnson County. These troops are also likely suspects. They made foraging runs into the Little Doe Valley in Johnson County. Soldiers in this unit were mainly from Carter and Johnson counties and were allowed to visit family and friends for one night. Besides foraging, revenge, or sheer meanness on the part of shell-shocked men, are possible motives for the alleged shooting of Thomas H. Johnson. Two regiments moved from Mouth of Roan Creek up to Taylorsville, and would have passed the Johnson property on Little Doe. [Reference: Cornell "War of the Rebellion" Series I Vol. 49 {Part 1) EXPEDITION INTO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. No. 5. Reports of Brig. Gen. Davis Tillson, U. S. Army, commanding Fourth Division, Department of the Cumberland, of operations March 22-May 17.]
Nothing specifically related to Thomas H. Johnson or his family is mentioned in "The Thrilling Adventures of Daniel Ellis" or the "History of the 13th Tennessee", although the atrocities discussed provide the horrific backdrop for how the war affected the civilians of Johnson County, and make the family legend plausible. Daniel Ellis and his group could have done the deed.
These are some facts about Thomas H. Johnson. He is a son of Thomas Johnson, for whom Johnson County is named. Thomas H. Johnson was on the 1860 census in 7th District, Pandora-Little Doe, widower, age 73 living with his unmarried daughter Mary, age 45. His wife, Elizabeth had died in the late 1850's. Mary was the caregiver for her parents at the end of their lives, as evidenced by court records, where she is given personal property for her service to her parents. Thomas H. Johnson is not on the 1870 census, presumed dead. A Mary Johnson is living in the household of Joseph Robinson in 1870, 7th District, JCT. This is likely the same Mary who was caregiver for Thomas H. Johnson in 1860. She does not appear to be on the 1880 census.
From Weaver, Jeffrey, "The 5th and 7th Battalions NC Cavalry and the 6th NC Cavalry". The source of the information on who was living where was a sketch done by a member of the company in 1897 and published in 1901 in Walter Clark's North Carolina Regiments [per correspondence with Jeffrey Weaver].
Johnson's listed from Company A, 6th NC Cavalry (Confederate). All of these enlisted in Taylorsville (now called Mountain City, Johnson County TN). Any of these may be descendents of Thomas H. Johnson.
J.O. Johnson res. Copper Mines Alleghany Co. NC 1897
Thomas Johnson res. Alleghany Co. NC 1897
Patrick H. Johnson res. Buffalo Carter Co. TN 1897
William Johnson status unknown 1897
From US Census, I have found these Johnson's, who are likely related.
Living next door to Thomas H. Johnson in 1840 and 1850 was John O. Johnson and Mary Ann Johnson with children. It is presumed that John O. was Thomas H. Johnson's son, which yet has to be verified. In 1860 John O. was not in Johnson County, he was in Proctor, Owsley Co. KY, a farmer. In 1870 Census, John O. Johnson was a miner in Miller's Creek, Estill Co., Kentucky. In 1880 he was in Proctor, Lee Co. KY, a farmer. He had 7-8 children, so there should be some descendents left to tell his story. This could be the J.O. Johnson in Alleghany Co. NC in 1897.
Thomas H. Johnson gave land to a granddaughter, Sarah and to Alfred C. Crosswhite. Descendants of Alfred or Sarah may have more information on this Civil War death, if they can be located. Sarah was age 16 in 1850 in the household of Thomas H. & Elizabeth Johnson. From land deeds, we know that her mother was Ann Johnson who died young. Alfred C. Crosswhite was also 16 in 1850.
William E. Johnson resident of 7th District JCT in 1870, age 51, with $5000 Real Estate, $2700 Personal Estate. Wife Orpha A., son Winfield S. age 20, daughter Elizabeth E. age 9. Ed Miller has him as son of Thomas Johnson and Delilah Wilson., and buried in Wilson Cemetery. Given a 7th District connection, I am now wondering if this William Johnson is possibly the son of Thomas H. Johnson and Elizabeth Lindsey. A closer look at land records in 7th District may help.
Known daughter of Thomas H. Johnson, Barbara Johnson/ wife of David M. Lindsey, is on 1850 census with husband and 2 daughters in 7th District JCT. They moved to Marshall Co. AL, near Huntsville, in about 1859 and are on the 1860 census there, now with 5 children, all born in Tennessee. She was disowned by her father at the time they went downriver to Alabama on a houseboat. They sold property given to them by Thomas H. Johnson without his consent (as stipulated in the deed), and registered the sale of the property in Sullivan County, not Johnson County. This deceit on the land sale would be cause for disownment. Barbara is a widow in 1870 living in Cedar County Iowa, and in 1880 she and family are in Adair Co. Iowa. Barbara died in 1891 and is buried near Greenfield Iowa. It is Barbara's descendants who have heard the story of Thomas H. Johnson's Civil War death.
No graves have been found for Thomas H. Johnson and his wife Elizabeth to date, but are probably in Little Doe or Pandora area of Johnson County. I would dearly love to find them and fill in more details on the death of Thomas H. Johnson.
Descendants of Thomas H Johnson pdf
Submitted by Katie Angermeyer
This page updated November 3, 2006
Copyright© 2005,2006 Katie Angermeyer All rights reserved