I am researching James Johnson who served in Company G, Emmet’s Guards, 17th VA Inf. His service record, as best I can tell, varies according to the source. I have listed most of the information I have on this family member, but I would appreciate any advice you might have on sifting through conflicting information. Does anybody on this list recognize this soldier?

1. In George Wise’s 1870 regimental history, the only Johnson in Co. G of the 17th Virginia Infantry (“Emmet’s Guards) is Pvt. James Johnson, who apparently served the entire war with distinction. He is not one of the men who was killed in combat.
“* Johnson, James, with his Company during the war.” [the asterisk designates “distinguished on the field for gallantry”]

(Wise, George, History of the Seventeenth Virginia Infantry, C.S.A., Baltimore: Kelly, Piet & Co., 1870)
Emmet’s Guards were formed around 1 September 1861, largely from men in Alexandria. The Johnson family I am researching has its roots in Alexandria, although by 1861, both parents have died. J.E. Towson was the original Captain of the unit and the entire roster is given on pp 291-294. From that list, I believe that James JOhnson was the only JOhnson in Company G. Evidently, some kind of compiled service card is available for James Johnson because he is not one of the soldiers with a “record unknown” notation.

2. The National Parks Service database for James Johnson of Company G of the 17th VA Inf suggests that the soldier was mustered in as Private and mustered out at the same rank.
a. James Johnson
b. Regiment Name: 17 Virginia Infantry
c. Side: Confederate
d. Company: G
e. Soldier’s Rank IN: Private
f. Soldier’s Rank Out: Private
g. Alternate Name: [Blank]
h. Notes: [Blank}
i. Film Number: M382, Roll 30
(Civil War Soldiers Database, National Park Service, 2007)

2. Another online database at ancestry.com (American Civil War Soldiers) draws its source material on Virginia soldiers from The Virginia Regimental Histories Series. 45 vols. Lynchburg: Howard, 1987. That research gives us an entirely different glimpse of Pvt. James Johnson.
a. Name: James Johnson
b. Occupation: Laborer
c. Enlistment Date: 25 April 1861
d. Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
e. Side Served: Confederate
f. State Served: Virginia
g. Unit Numbers: 766 766
h. Service record: Wounded (Gunshot to Right Shoulder)
Enlisted in Company G, 17th Regiment Virginia as a Private on 25 April 1861 at the age of 36.
Enlisted on 25 April 1861
Died of wounds, Company G, 17th Infantry Regiment, on 11 September 1862 in Petersburg, VA CS Hospl.

This record, which is more detailed, seems to exclude James Johnson of Co G, 17th VA as my ancestor. This soldier would have been born about 1825, some six years before the marriage of the Johnson’s I am researching. However, the record does support the oral family history that William James (or James) Johnson died in the war.

4. From the National Park Service that has posted prisoner records for both Andersonville and Fort McHenry (sources: Baltimore During the Civil War by Scott S. Sheads and Daniel C. Toomey (Toomey Press, 1997) and Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865, Microfilm No. 598, Roll 96, National Archives, I found yet another outcome for James Johnson of Company G, 17th VA Inf.

Type of Prisoner: Prisoner of War

Unit Name: 17 VA Co G

Date of Registration: 02/10/1865

Date of Disposition: 02/20/1865

Place of Disposition: Point Lookout (MD)

Historical Notes: Whiteford Va 11/1/64

I apologize for the length of this message, but I don’t know what resources to check beyond what I’ve detailed here. Thanks in advance for any help.

Steve Balcom
sbalcom@cox.net