JOHNSON, LEWIS (ca. 1813-1836). Lewis Johnson, Alamo defender, was born around 1813, one of five known children of James Johnson, Sr., a Virginian who moved to Texas in 1829 with his family. On September 24, 1835, Lewis, from the Trinity jurisdiction, entered service as a volunteer in Capt. Robert M. Coleman's First Company of the revolutionary army. He undoubtedly was one of the thirteen privates in that company at Camp Cibolo on October 17, 1835, and one of the eighteen noncommissioned officers and privates of that company in the First Division of Col. John H. Moore's regiment at Camp Salado on October 21, 1835. He and his brother Frank participated in the siege of Bexar, after which his brother was honorably discharged and returned to his family in the Nacogdoches Municipality. Lewis, who was unmarried, chose on November 24, 1835, to remain at Bexar under the command of Gen. Edward Burleson. On December 14, 1835, he volunteered to garrison Bexar under the command of Lt. Col. James C. Neill. In February 1836 he was one of those at the Alamo who participated in the election ordered by the General Consultation for members of the coming convention. On March 6, 1836, Lewis was killed at the battle of the Alamo.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Audited Military Claims, Republic of Texas, Texas State Archives, Austin. Thomas L. Miller, Bounty and Donation Land Grants of Texas, 1835-1888 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1967 Original Land Grant Collection, Texas General Land Office, Austin. Telegraph and Texas Register, March 24, 1836.
