48th Regiment, Virginia Infantry
48th Infantry Regiment, organized at Big Spring, near Abingdon, Virginia, in September, 1861, contained men from Scott, Washington, Smyth, Lee, and Russell counties. It fought in Jackson's Valley Campaign and later was assigned to General J.R. Jones' and W. Terry's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The 48th participated in many conflicts from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, then was involved in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations and the Appomattox Campaign. It was organized with 912 officers and men and had a force of 800 in May, 1862. The unit reported 17 casualties at Cross Keys and Port Republic, 62 at Cedar Mountain, 24 at Second Manassas, 7 at Fredericksburg, and 103 at Chancellorsville. Of the 265 engaged at Gettysburg more than twenty-five percent were disabled. Only 4 officers and 38 men surrendered. The field officers were Colonels John A. Campbell, Robert H. Dungan, and Thomas S. Garnett; Lieutenant Colonel Oscar White; and Majors James C. Campbell, Wilson Faris, and D. Boston Stewart.

The following men named "JOHNSON" were in this unit:
Soldier Name
Company Rank In Rank Out

Johnson, Alfred
G Private Private Lee County Guards, Lee County

Johnson, Andrew
A Private Private Stock Creek Greys, Scott County

Johnson, Ira
G Private Private Lee County Guards, Lee County

Johnson, J.
H Private Private Clinch Mountain Boomers, Scott County

Johnson, John
A Private Private Stock Creek Greys, Scott County

Johnson, John F.
I Private Private Mountain Marksmen, Washington County

Johnson, John W.
F Corporal Corporal Holston Foresters, Washington County

Johnson, William K.
C Private Private Osborne Ford Independents, Scott County

Name: John F. Johnson
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Virginia
Regiment Name: 48 Virginia Infantry.
Regiment Name Expanded: 48th Regiment, Virginia Infantry
COMPANY: I
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M382 roll 30

Name: John F Johnson
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Virginia
Regiment Name: 22 Virginia Cavalry. (Bowen's Reg't Va. Mounted Riflemen.)
Regiment Name Expanded: 22nd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Bowen's Virginia Mounted Riflemen)
COMPANY: C
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M382 roll 30

Name: John F Johnson
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Virginia
Regiment Name: 31 Virginia Infantry.
Regiment Name Expanded: 31st Regiment, Virginia Infantry
COMPANY: I
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M382 roll 30

His compiled military service records should be able to tell you what occurred. You can click on the box at the top of the page to order these records.

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: John F Johnson
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1833
Age in 1870: 37
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1870: Big Creek, McDowell, West Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: View Image
Post Office: Tugriver
Household Members: Name Age
John F Johnson 37 w/m Farmer
Marinda J Johnson 16 w/f Keeps House
Spice Gibson 30 w/f Works in House
Lucinda Gibson 12 w/f ?

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: John F. Johnson
Home in 1880: Big Creek, McDowell, West Virginia
Age: 48
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's Name: Marinda J.
Father's birthplace: Virginia
Mother's birthplace: Virginia
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Clerk Cir.Court
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
John F. Johnson 48 Clerk Circuit Court b. VA - Parents b. VA
Marinda J. Johnson 25 wife Keeping House b. VA - Parents b. VA abt 1855
Mary F. Johnson 23 daughter without occupation b. VA abt 1857
James N. Johnson 19 son deputy clerk b. VA abt 1861
Alice Johnson 8 daughter b. WVA abt 1872
Frank Johnson 6 son b. WVA abt 1874
Nannie Johnson 3 daughter b. WVA abt 1877
Walter Johnson 4M son b. WVA
Sarah Compton 16 niece without occupation b. VA abt 1864

Looking at the 1880 Federal Census tells some interesting information.
Marinda J. Johnson is obviously John F. Johnson's 2nd wife [she can not be the mother of either Mary F. Johnson or James N. Johnson ---- so who was?]
They probably got married in 1871 --- but where?
If the census information is correct, they were living in West Virginia by 1870, without children -- but I can't seem to find where they were prior to that and where did all the children come from, where had they been living?

JR