My name is Elijah Lewis Johnson. Most folks call me
"Lige." I was
born on the Cape Fear River in 1826 in the Old North State (North
Carolina). We migrated to La Fayette County Arkansas before 1850 and soon
settled near Magnolia in Columbia County. My father had a small plantation
there with twenty slaves who were always considered a part of our
family. In 1861, I enlisted in Co. B, 19th Arkansas Infantry. At Corinth,
I was wounded and some boys from the 16th Arkansas took me in. Took
some doin' but the Captains have worked out a transfer while I was
convalescing. I'm proud to be a member of Company G, 16th Arkansas.