b. 08/02/1844 Pen Yan, New York. d. 20/01/1920 Washington DC.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 21/10/1876 Cedar Creek, Montana.
Edward Johnston was born in Penn Yan, New York on February 8, 1844. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in Chicago, Illinois and joined the 5th U.S. Cavalry where he eventually became a sergeant. Assigned to frontier duty in the Montana Territory, Johnston took part in General Nelson A. Miles winter campaign against the Sioux from October 21, 1876, to January 8, 1877. He fought at several major engagements during this time, most notably, at the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 21, 1876. He was one of the thirty-one men in his regiment who received the Medal of Honor for “gallantry in action”.
He received his Medal on July 18, 1877 at a Cantonment at the Yellowstone and Tongue Rivers, Montana from General William T. Sherman. After leaving the military, Johnston returned to his hometown where he died on January 20, 1920, at the age of 75. He was interred at Lakeview Cemetery.
MOH CITATION:
Gallantry in action.
BURIAL LOCATION: LAKEVIEW CEMETERY, PEN YAN, NEW YORK.
PURCHASE SECTION SOUTH 4, LOT 377, GRAVE 4.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
