13 Replies Latest reply on Dec 10, 2020 11:46 AM by David Layland

Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson

David Layland Dec 4, 2020 7:29 PM

Seeking any information about William Noden, my GGGGrandfather, who served with the 10th USCT as an assistant surgeon. Also looking for information on a John W Johnson, who is believed to have died by his side and gave him his fiddle before he passed away. William Noden was from Canada. I can't seem to find any record thus far to confirm this family story. I have found 4 John Johnson's that served with the 10th USCT, and 2 records of hospitalization, but no records of any John Johnson passing away during the Civil War. Thank you!

*Update* May now have the answer to which John Johnson gave his fiddle to my GGGGrandfather, William Noden. My questions raised now are:

1) Did surgeons or assistant surgeons receive a pension at wars' end?

2) With a serious injury suffered was a soldier put on disability right away and then pension years later?

3) Anyone have ideas on how to track down John Johnson after the war ended? He was 18 when enlisted in 1864, from Baltimore, Maryland. Would love to know how he made out after.

Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson

Elliot Schneider Dec 3, 2020 11:57 AM (in response to David Layland)

Hello David,

John W. Johnson like you mentioned was able to find him in the 111th US Colored Troop pension please see below. Do you happen to know William Nodens wife? Found a Women named Sarah Mather Noden, "Mather" was here maiden name. Can you confirm? Plus I'm not seeing any of these men registered as the 10th USCT I see a many William Nodens in the 64th USCT. Do you know were William lived after being born in Canada? I'm seeing Louisiana. Plus all the William Nodens I see were listed as PVTs and not Asst Surgeons.

Thanks,

Elliot Schneider
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- Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
  
  David Layland Dec 3, 2020 12:28 PM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
  
  Thanks for your reply Elliot!
  Yes, Sarah Mather was William Noden's wife!
  
  This link is confirmation that William served with the 10th USCT :
  https://archive.org/details/228701664.5978.emory.eqdu/page/n309/mode/2up?q=noden
  
  So, the hole in the story is to confirm that a John Johnson (with or without the initial "W" - it is possible that his records didn't include a middle initial) passed away in the war (with the 10th USCT) I would assume that William Noden spent the whole time with the 10th USCT probably in Virginia?
  Thanks again!
  -David
  
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- Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
  
  David Layland Dec 3, 2020 12:24 PM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
  
  also,
  William Noden returned to Canada to the Peterborough, Ontario region after the war.
  
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  - Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
    
    Elliot Schneider Dec 3, 2020 9:55 PM (in response to David Layland)
    
    David,
    
    Here is some John Johnson information: Also note that the place filled at the bottom says Canada, Ontario
    
    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63456004/john-johnson
    
    Here is some additional information on Wm. Noden, please copy and paste any links into your web browser. Found a picture of the family.
    
    http://lestweforget.hamptonu.edu/page.cfm?uuid=9FEC3F4B-D343-50E2-F4AF2923E3794C5D
    
    https://books.google.com/books?id=9fCbZujcLEwC&pg=PA160&lpg=PA160&dq=Wm+Noden+10th+Infantry&source=bl&ots=xpbjJ3v5TS&sig…
    
    A number of British North American doctors of European descent likewise found service in USCT regiments. William Clunie of Toronto and William Noden of Hampton, both towns in Canada West, were assistant surgeons in the 10th USCT. William S. Tremaine, born in the British North American province of Prince Edward Island, was promoted from assistant surgeon in the 24th Massachusetts Infantry to surgeon in the 31st USCT. Charles M. Wight of Canada West was surgeon in the 32nd USCT, and Anselm Achim, Montreal born, saw service as an assistant surgeon in the 41st USCT.
    
    Plus here is a script on John Johnson from the same article.
    
    Of the remaining four, John Johnson, William W. Hull, William Parritt, and William Davis, no place of birth is given except to say ‘Canada’. Their occupations included those of cook, labourer, glass maker, and waiter.
    
    Upper Keene Cemetery, Otonabee Township, Ontario, Canada
    
    Port Hope, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
    Photo back says taken about 1865, but since one child is missing, presumably George, who died in1867, I suggest the photo was taken shortly after 1867.
    
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    - Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
      
      David Layland Dec 4, 2020 11:07 AM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
      
      wow. Thank you Elliot! Going to take a really close study at all of this! The John Johnson who served in 1863 served on the 10th USCT? If so, this likely is the man!
      
      Thanks very much!
      -David
      
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Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson

David Layland Dec 3, 2020 8:29 PM (in response to David Layland)

Just to be more specific - I can't find a death record of one of the four John Johnson's that served with the 10th USCT. Hope that narrows it down. If all four survived then the family story passed down is not quite correct; however, if I can find a death record of a John Johnson who passed away while in service then he may well likely be the one who passed away while with my ggggrandfather, William Noden.
Thanks everyone!
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- Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
  
  Elliot Schneider Dec 4, 2020 9:47 AM (in response to David Layland)
  
  David,
  
  Here is some unit information on the 10th USCT Infantry
  
  Organized in Virginia November 18, 1863. Attached to Drummondstown, Va., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, December, 1863, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, Hincks' Colored Division, 18th Corps, Army James, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, to July, 1864. Unattached, 18th Corps, to August, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, to December, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 25th Corps, to January, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 25th Corps, January, 1865. Attached Brigade, 1st Division, 25th Corps, to June, 1865. Dept. of Texas to May, 1866.
  
  SERVICE: Camp near Crany Island till January 12, 1864. Moved to Drummonds town, eastern shore of Virginia, and duty there till April. At Yorktown, Va., till May. Butler's operations on south side of James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4 to June 15. Capture of Fort Powhatan May 5. Wilson's Wharf May 24 (Detachment). At Fort Powhatan till July 6. On Bermuda front in operations against Petersburg and Richmond till August 27. At City Point, Va., till April 2, 1865. Moved to Bermuda Hundred, thence to Richmond April 2-3. Return to City Point April 6, and duty there till June 1. Moved to Texas, and duty at various points on the Rio Grande till May, 1866. Mustered out May 17, 1866. (A detachment at Plymouth, N. C., November 26, 1863, to April 20, 1864, participated in the siege of Plymouth April 17-20, 1864, and surrender April 20, 1864.)
  
  Also found your guy John Johnson Who appears to have been wounded by a musket ball and was in Hicks General Hospital in Bal, Md this may also be were the Wm Noden was an Assistant Surgeon with. Please also note Johnson Surgeons Certificate for disability. It reads G.S Wound R. Elbow and partial paralysis of the right leg. According to all the documents it looks like he did survive. I did not read that he was deceased at the time of discharge.
  
  Hope this helps,
  
  Elliot Schneider
  
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  - Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
    
    Elliot Schneider Dec 4, 2020 9:59 AM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
    
    Here is some additional items
    
    Thanks,
    
    Elliot Schneider
    
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  - Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
    
    David Layland Dec 4, 2020 12:17 PM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
    
    Thanks Elliot, it's a lot to soak in but look forward to reading it over!
    -David
    
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Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson

Jason Atkinson Dec 9, 2020 3:20 PM (in response to David Layland)

Dear Mr. Layland,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located Carded Records Relating to Civil War Staff Officers in the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 -1917 (Record Group 94) that includes a file for Noden, William -- Acting Assistant Surgeon. Additionally, we located Property Account Records of Civil War Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons, 1861 - 1865; Papers Relating to Civil War Surgeons, 1861 - 1865; Station Cards of Acting Assistant Surgeons, 1862 - 1901; and Records of Civil War Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons, 1861 - 1865 in Record Group 94 that may have records relating to him. Plus, we located Military Service Cards of Medical Officers, 1860 - 1917; Name and Subject Indexes to Letters Received, 1862 - 1889; List of Officers, 1818? - 1892; and Registers of Military Service of Medical Officers, 1806 - 1902 in the Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army) (Record Group 112) that may mention him. These records have not been digitized and are not available online. For access to these non-digitized records, please contact the National Archives at Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RDT1) at Archives1reference@nara.gov.

Next, we located Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War in Record Group 94 that includes 4 records for soldiers named John Johnson in the 10th US Colored Infantry Regiment. These records have been digitized and may be viewed online using the Catalog.

Further, we located Carded Medical Records of Volunteer Soldiers in the Mexican and Civil Wars, 1846 - 1865 in Record Group 94 that may have records concerning these soldiers. These records have not been digitized and are not available online. Please contact RDT1 for access.

Then we located the Register of U.S. Colored Troop Deaths During the Civil War, 1861 - 1865 in Record Group 94 that lists four soldiers named John Johnson. None of these were from the 10th US Colored Infantry Regiment. It may have been that Noden was treating a soldier from another regiment. These records have been digitized and may be viewed using the National Archives Catalog. They also are available as a name searchable database on Ancestry at U.S., Register of Colored Troop Deaths During the Civil War, 1861-1865. There may be a fee for accessing the records through Ancestry. Some libraries provide free access to their patrons.

In regards to your questions about pensions, the laws regarding eligibility for pensions relating to Civil War service changed several times over the course of the years. Please see Civil War Pensions by Kathleen L. Gorman; Civil War Pension Application Processing, 1861–1885 by Claire Prechtel-Kluskens; and Civil War Pension Files: Understanding Pension Law by Melissa Johnson for information about the various laws and procedures governing pensions for this time period. Pensions were never automatically given to soldiers. Veterans or their surviving dependents needed to apply for pensions and have their applications approved by the relevant authorities. Surgeons could potentially qualify for pensions using the same criteria as other soldiers. Pension applications sometimes include some information about a veteran’s life after the war. The National Archives has numerous records series containing pension applications relating to Civil War service. The bulk of these records have not been digitized.

For more information about non-digitized Civil War-related military mentioned above and military pension records, please contact the National Archives at Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RDT1) at Archives1reference@nara.gov.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT1. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

The National Museum of Civil War Medicine and the U.S. Army Medical Department, Office of Medical History may be able to assist you in researching persons and topics related to Civil War military medicine.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!
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- Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
  
  David Layland Dec 9, 2020 8:51 PM (in response to Jason Atkinson)
  
  Thanks very much Jason, I will take a look!
  It's too bad the record of US Colored Troops deaths does not include the 10th USCT. Perhaps those records are no more?
  -David
  
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  - Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
    
    Jason Atkinson Dec 10, 2020 8:38 AM (in response to David Layland)
    
    Dear Mr. Layland,
    
    Thank you for posting your follow-up request on History Hu!
    
    To clarify our previous response, when we said that the “Register of U.S. Colored Troop Deaths During the Civil War, 1861 - 1865 in Record Group 94 that lists four soldiers named John Johnson. None of these were from the 10th US Colored Infantry Regiment” we meant that none of the four soldiers named John Johnson were from the 10th US Colored Infantry Regiment, not that none of the soldiers on the register were from the 10th US Colored Infantry Regiment. We searched by name using the copies available on Ancestry. Although regiments are listed with each entry, because these records are not arranged by regiment and Ancestry did not index these records by regiment, so there is no easy way to search by regiment.
    
    There are additional records arranged by regiment, which are not available online. There may be records concerning casualties of the 10th US Colored Infantry Regiment in the Civil War Regimental Casualty Lists, 1861 - 1865; the Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations During the Civil War, Mexican War, Creek War, Cherokee Removal, and Other Wars, 1836 - 1866; and the Regimental and Company Books of the 10th U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiment in Record Group 94. These records are not available online. For more information, please contact RDT1 using the previously provided email address. As mentioned in our previous reply, precautions taken in response to the current health crises may delay their response to you.
    
    We hope this is helpful.
    
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    - Re: Seeking records of William Noden & John Johnson
      
      David Layland Dec 10, 2020 11:46 AM (in response to Jason Atkinson)
      
      thank you Jason! I think that gives me alot to work with!
      -David
      
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