About a month after being wounded in battle, the soldier lost sight in his right eye. Years later his thumb and two fingers were amputated in a Washington, DC hospital for reasons not related to his military service.
Invalid — 152,492 / 325,553
Declaration for an Invalid Pension, Johnson Miles, 1 February 1870
29 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Virginia; post-office address, P.O. Box 172, Norfolk, Virginia
“about six months after enlistment on the Richmond & Petersburg Turnpike while Companies ‘H’ and ‘K’ were going on picket they were first into and returned the fire, afterwards retreating: that while firing a piece of percussion cap, either from his own pistol or that of the man on his right, penetrating the ball of his right eye: that he was sent to hospital at Point of Rocks for attention: that for some time he could see a little with the eye, but after the lapse of a month it became entirely blind and has remained so since, the sight being permanently destroyed: that it is painful and subject to inflammation more than half the time disabling him from labor.”
“That since leaving the said service, the applicant has resided in [Norfolk County, Virginia] and his occupation has been laboring for a wood-chopper … that prior to his entry into the service … farm hand”
“Also personally appeared Albert Jones and Willis Council residents of the City of Portsmouth”
Memo, War Department, Surgeon General’s Office, 10 Feby 1871
“It appears from the records filed in this Office, that Henry Miles, Private, Co I, 1 Reg’t USC Troops was admitted to Base Hospital, Pt. of Rocks, Va. … [The records of that hospital] can furnish no information of Johnson Miles”
Sworn Statement, Johnson Miles, 8 November 1872
“That he lives in the County of Norfolk”
Memo, War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, DC, 11 August 1882
“Nov/65 ‘Absent sick at Hicksville, S. Gen. Hosp (Balto., Md., since June 14, 65;’ Dec/65 and Jany/66 ‘absent sick (same place) since June 13.65′”
Sworn Statement, Mary Johnson, 19 June 1885
“Who being of age and duly sworn deposes and says that she is a resident of the District of Columbia: that she is the widow of Miles Johnson … that she was married to the said Miles Johnson Sept 11th 1877 by the Revd. W. [illegible] Lee, pastor of the 1st Baptist Church of South West Washington, DC: that she never knew her late husband by any other name than Miles Johnson. Deponent further swears that the said Miles Johnson once told her that in his declaration his name was signed as Johnson Miles.”
Letter to Sen. John C. Black, Commissioner of Pensions from H.L. Crawford, Washington, DC, 12 February 1886
“I would respectfully state that the widow of Johnson Miles (Miles Johnson) is well-known to me — her husband having been in my employ for some years prior to his death.
“She is a worthy woman and has a family of five children and although a hard worker finds it impossible to maintain them without the aid of charity.
“She is now ill and wholly dependent — Her case has been before the Office for the past three years but from the frequent change of officers — loss of papers etc. it has been delayed from time to time.
“I should consider it a real charity to have her case acted upon as early as practicable”
Memo, 216 Second St., SE, Washington, DC, 31 March 1886
“This is to certify that Miles Johnson alias Johnson Miles was admitted to Providence Hospital November 17th 1881 with compound [illegible] fracture of hand — it was necessary to amputate two fingers and a thumb which was done
“Dec 4th 81 it was necessary on account of gangrene & sloughing of hand and abscesses forming above wrist to amputate again at the junction of upper and lower third of forearm.
“His arm did well though slowly hearing.
Feb 5th 82 complained of great pain in left side — dullness was found on left side at a latter [sic] date. We aspirated but did not get any fluid.
“Dr. Johnson Eliot was the other physician.
“Respectfully, V.F. [?] Mallon, M.D.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
Leave a Reply