The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-27
THE CARVED HEADBoARD.
J. w Johnston,s RenlaIns Removed to Florence, s. c.

stationed in a village called The Barrons, In ST.
Johns Berkeley Co, about SO miles from charleston,
s. c., near the Cooper River. A Sergeant OF the
company accidentally shot himself, and was buried
not 30 yards from where am sitting. One OF his
comrades carved very skillfuy neat headboard,
containing the following inscription surrounded by
ornamental carving: y. w. Johnston, First Ser
geant, Co. C, list Ohio Cav. Died July z, 1865"
The lot was inclosed, and when the fence &c.
cayed exposing the board TO injury, the owner oil
the land. an Confederate soldier, replaced the
fence The headboard is IN state of perfect pres
ervation but under neglect the spot would speedily
become obliterated IL is close beside road and
not near other graves. Thinking that perhaps the
body should be removed TO some one of the Ma
tiona Cemeteries that friend of the soldier
might be interested to hear the above facts take
the liberty of writing you. viii be glad TO know
whether anything comes OF it, II YOU VIII klnuiy
inform me.-ERNEsr ii. RowELI4 Oakley, $. G.
After reading the above / handed the paper
to j. w. Chaplin, in the Adjutant- Generals
Office, who was n member of that regiment,
knowing that he would be interested and take
some action in having the remains of his COM
rsae removed 10 one of the National Cemeteries.
He wrote the Department at Washington, ask
ing if such could be done. This on the 18th OF
October 1856, but no reply came until Dec. i,
which read as follows:
OFFICE OF NATIONAL CEMETERIES,
WASHINGTON. ID. G.. Dec /. 1886.
Mr.. J. w. CHAPIN, care acknowledgements once
Columbus. %.
SIR: Referring 10 your letter Of Oct. 10, 1885, you
are respectfully informed that in accordance win
your request the remains oil j. w. JOnnstoit, htS
Sergeant, Co. G, LIST Ohio Cav, have been removed
from The Barrons, in Berkeley CO., ;. e., TO the
Florence National Cemetery.
The headbOard taken from the soldiers grave ~
now in possession of the Superintendent OF the
National Cemetery, Florence, :. C., subject TO such
disposition ms you may desire.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
r.. n. BACHELOR,
Deputy Quartermnster General, u. =. Army,
in charge of National Cemeteries
Comrade Chaplin then wrote the Superintend-
ant Ia 20 I'D fha rn
Columbus; also TO send the number of grave
and section in cemetery where Johnston was
buried. In reply the Superintendent stated he
had instructions to hold the board until further
orders, and as soon as received would forward.
Number Of grave, 3,99S; location, section A.
The superintendent then asks the place OF
residence before enlistment, married or single,
cause of death, age, etc, that they may be
placed on the records in his Office. All were
answered as near as could be ascertained ut
that time. A few days later the following let
ter was received:
OFFICE OF NATIONAL CEMETERY.
FLORENCE, :. C., Dec Is. SO.
/ j. w. CHAPLIN, Adjuinnt-Generals Office, state OF
SIR: Pursuant 10 request made in your letter of
the 10Th inst, have the honor TO inform you that
/ ! have forwarded 10 your address by express the
headbORrd taken from the grave of j. w. Johnston,
First Sergeant Co. C. LIST Ohio Cav, at Oakley Sta
Trusting the same may arrive in good condition,
| l Rni, very respectfully, your Obedient servant,
WIN. J. ELGIE, Superintendent
The board did arrive safely, and we have it
! in our Reic-room. No questions were asked,
but the remains of Comrade Johnston were re-
moved 10 that beautiful cemetery at Florence,
and then notification that such had been done.
Thus you see how this great Nation cares for its
dead
In my letter published Feb 7th, 1880. giving
! brief sketch of our Relic-room mention was
made Of this headboard. Before the next issue
of THE TRIBUNE i was in receipt Of several
letters from two brothers of Johnston. one
| from Maryland and another from Missouri,
making inquiries, and comrades who were with
him at the time OF his death. The first letter
| was from a brother, A. l.. Johnston, of VOLTS
vile. Frederick Co., Nd, stating that he had q
brother who died in South Carolina about that
time. Having read the letter in THE TRIBUNE,
be thought there must be some mistake in the
middle letter, as he was under the impression
that he used the letter Nj and not w, but that
he had no middle name at all. The company
and regiment were the same, as well as the
date Of death. In the next letter received from
him he states that, on looking over the letters
his mother received during the war. he finds
that one of them instructs her 70 direct 10 j.
w. Johnston, as there was one other John
Johnston in the same company, and they got
eaeh others letters lie also found one from
The Captain Of the company, telling her of the
death Of her son, but giving no Particular
only that he was wounded aud died. The
mother secured pension. after eight years
delay. He also states that John w. Johnston
was born Dec. ], 154i, near Welfsyille, Fred
eTick Co. Md. and was never married.
The letter from Missouri was from half
brother. James X. Bowen, Kansas City. lie
tells Of where he ~. w. Johnston) was born
and that he came 10 Ohio before the war, and
that he located near Piqua.
Other letters were received from Henry
NeargarteT, q comrade who worked on farm
near where Johnston did, aud went with him
10 Springfield and enlisted and was with him
during the entire service and at the time oil
his death. They enlisted under the first three
years call, and Te-eniisted at Stevensburg, w
Va, December, 1863. Johnston's family lived
4 about IL miles from South Mountain. and while
in that vicinity he went TO visit them, but had
70 90 after night, his comrades taking care o.
his horse, as he could get there more safely by
walking. Then his folks had TO keep him hit
while at home, for fear of his being taken pris
oner by skulking rebs Neargarters second
, letter gave q more detailed account Of hii
death. They had been out on a scout near Thu
Barrons, S. G., and Johnston, with others, haG
dismOunted to shoot at some sea-gulls, and OF
attempting 20 remOunt his revolver was dis
charged, the bali entering his groin, causinI
death few days later. He does not tell us
/ hHouEhf WIZ ~ Hhb that SdEfcn Inc uGduuOaft
that was placed at the head of the grave. Ill
; says that Johnston, not being sure Of his mothe
getting his money, sent IL 70 one Mr. Young
near Tippecanoe City, Miami Co., o., 10 kee
for him, but does not know if the mother eve
!, got il after his death.
! It'll nearly cIree years since read the littl
account Of the lonely grave. and by inquir
/ and the use OF the pen we have been able I
give 10 the family and friends OF Conrad
Johnston brief history Of his life and deaf
b as a soldier. and we feel we'll repaid for ia
part We took in so doing. This will also show Oh
e comrades what good THE NATIONAL TRIBUN
I Is doing In a silent way.-SILAg CRowEII
o Flag and Reic-room, Columbus, o.
H-- Ii