4th Sergeant John Allison served in 2nd Lieutenant Able Merander's Coast Guard Detachment between July 14, 1861 and September 5, 1861.

Mustered in as “Mate” November 27, 1861 with Captain Henry Mulrenan’s Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25th, 1862 when was enlisted as a 4th Sergeant in Captain Smith’s Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida for a period of 3 years or the war.

He is reported present; on active duty; $50 bounty due for service and clothing money since March 5th, 1862.

He was transferred August 5, 1862, to the Confederate States Navy and assigned to the CSS Chattahoochee as Quartermaster. The vessel sank as a result of a boiler explosion on May 27th, 1863. He was not listed among the killed or injured; there is no further mention of him from this date.