Johnston, John Jeremiah

(1824 – 1900) was an American Folk Figure who became legendary as a frontier “Mountain Man”. Born in New Jersey. he reportedly joined the United States Navy in 1846 during the Mexican American War but deserted after striking an officer, changing his name to John Johnston and heading west. In Wyoming he made his living as a hunter, trapper and woodhawk. He moved on to Montana in 1862, and in 1864 he joined the Union Army as a sharpshooter. Wounded in 1864 he was honourably discharged and returned to Montana, where he assisted settlers in hostile Indian territory. In 1877 he served under General Nelson A Miles as chief of scouts, participating in more raids than any other Indian fighter.