Ship's Crew

Philip Carrigan Johnson was born on November 21, 1828 in Fryeburg, Maine. He spent the first part of his life in Washington, D.C. with his father, and there entered the U.S. Navy as midshipman on August 31, 1846. During the Mexican War, he was present at the battles of Veracruz and Tuxpan. Between 1847 and 1848, Johnson served on the ship-of-the-line Ohio of the Pacific squadron. While aboard Ohio, he saved the life of a fellow sailor who had fallen overboard by quickly diving in and pulling him to the ship. For his actions, Johnson received a highly complementary report from his commander. From there he advanced to the U.S. Navy School (the early name for the U.S. Naval Academy). In 1850 he served aboard the frigate Congress in the Brazil squadron before returning to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1852. He was promoted to passed midshipman on June 8, 1852 and was assigned to the store-ship Fredonia, where he served two years before transferring to the Coast Survey. During the period on Coast Survey, on September 16, 1855, Johnson was commissioned as lieutenant. From 1859 to 1861, he was assigned to the steam sloop San Jacinto, in which he served off the coast of Africa. After leaving San Jacinto, Johnson commanded the steamer Tennessee in the Western Gulf squadron until 1863. While on Tennessee, Johnson was present at the battles of Fort Jackson and St. Philip, the decisive engagements to possess New Orleans during the American Civil War.