He was born in 1842/43. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 2 (22 in 1865). place: 2]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer, and was living in Catasauqua, [Lehigh County,] Pennsylvania. [sources: 2, 4]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. [sources: 2, 4]
He enlisted for one year, and was mustered into service, at Norristown, Pennsylvania, on 21 January 1865. He was mustered in as a private in company G. His enlistment was credited to Catasauqua, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He was entitled to, but apparently did not receive, $100 in bounty. [sources: 1, 2, 3 (unknown company), 4]
He is listed on a muster-in and descriptive roll of a detachment of US volunteers forwarded for the 91st Regiment of Pennsylvania infantry dated 23 January 1865, Norristown, Pennsylvania, and on another dated 14, 16, 18, and 21 January 1865. [source: 4]
He was not listed on any of the regiment's muster rolls, and was not on the muster-out roll when the regiment mustered out. [sources: 1, 2, 4]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Edward J Johnson)
2 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 10 February 2005 (Edward J Johnson)
3 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Edward J Johnson)
4 compiled service record (Edward J Johnson)
I, Edward J Johnson, born in Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, aged Twenty two years, and by occupation a Laborer, DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this Twenty first day of January, 1865, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of one YEAR, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers. And I, Edward J. Johnson, do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have carefully examined the above-named Volunteer, agreeably to the General Regulations of the Army, and that, in my opinion, he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would in any way disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.
I CERTIFY, ON HONOR, That I have minutely inspected the Volunteer Edw. J. Johnson previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgment and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied soldier, I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service. This soldier has Gray eyes, Brown hair, dark complexion, is five feet five inches high.
I, Edward J. Johnson, desiring to VOLUNTEER as a Soldier in the Army of the United States, for the term of one YEAR, Do Declare, That I am twenty two years and - months of age; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability or by sentence of a court martial, or by order before the expiration of a term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for one years [sic].
GIVEN at Norristown Penna