6 June 1864: “We regret to learn that on Thursday afternoon, or evening, Lt. J. L. Johnston, C.S.N., attached to this station, came to his death by drowning…”

Item description: A death notice for Lt. J. L. Johnston of the Confederate States Navy. Lt. Johnston drowned off the North Carolina coast, near Fort Caswell.

18640606_NCC_001

Item Transcription:

DEATH OF LT. J. L. JOHNSTON
We regret to learn that on Thursday afternoon, or evening, Lt. J. L. JOHNSTON, C. S. N., attached to this station, came to his death by drowning below Fort Caswell, and not far from the Western Bar.
We are not in possession of the particulars, but believe that Lt. JOHNSTON, with the small steamer Equator, had been out to the wreck of the steamer Georgina McCall, and was returning, the weather being rough and the steamer near the breakers. When he was about going to his cabin a sudden lurch or roll threw him overboard. Getting among the breakers he could not be rescued.
Lt. JOHNSTON was a native of Virginia, probably about 38 years of age, a clever, gentlemanly officer, high esteemed and much regretted by all who knew him. We believe he had been an officer in the old navy, but resigned to cast his fate with his native section.

Item Citation: The Daily Journal (Wilmington, N.C.), 6 June 1864. Call number C071 Z, North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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