Willie Johnston was the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor, receiving it at age 13. In 1861, at age 11, he enlisted as a drummer boy for Company D of the 3rd Vermont Infantry. During the Seven Days retreat in the Peninsula Campaign, he was the only drummer in his division to come away with his drum. The Johnston family lived in Salem, Vermont, which was chartered on August 18, 1781 and later annexed to Derby in 1881.