Transcribed by Barbara
Lewallen
SOLDIER'S APPLICATION
FOR PENSION
I, John F. Smith,
a native of the State of Campbell County, Tennessee
and now a citizen of Tennessee, resident at Careyville
in the County of Campbell in said State of Tennessee,
and who was soldier from the State of Tennessee, in
the war between the United States and the Confederate
States, do hereby apply for aid under the Act of the
General Assembly of Tennessee, entitled "An Act for
the benefit of the indigent and disabled soldiers
of the late war between the States, and to fix the
fees of attorneys or agents for procuring such pensions,
and fixing a penalty for the violation of the same."
And I do solemnly swear that I was a member of 3rd
Tennessee Infantry, commanded by Col. John C. Vaughn;
later served in Col.Rucken? Regiment; while in this
command was captured at Fincastle?Tn,escaped and while
returning ???? news of Lee's ??????????? in Campbell
Co. Tn in the service of the Confederate or United
States, and that by reason of disability and indigence
I am now entitled to receive the benefit of this Act.
I further swear that I do not hold any National, State,
Or County office, nor do I receive aid or pension
from any other State, or from the United States, and
that I am not an inmate of any soldiers' home, and
that I am unable to earn a reasonable support for
myself and family. I do further solemnly swear that
the answers give to the following question are true:
In what County,
State, and year were you born?
Answer: In Campbell
County, state of Tennessee-in the year 1830.
When did you enlist
and in what command? Give the names of the regimental
and company officers under whom you were served:
Answer: Joined 3rd
Regiment as above stated, was detained by Col. Vaughn
to purchase supplies in Campbell & Anderson Counties,
served in this capicity for some 18 or 20 months,
meanwhile the 3rd Regiment went to Virginia but I
remained in ???? nepitism ca?? Missing defeat ??????????
Knoxville- before the Federal agent ????????????????
in rule of 1863- I joined Col. Ruckens command as
stated above; in this later command my captain was
Capt. Hardy of Nashville. My first Lieutenant was
William Hardy-brother of Capt. Hardy.
In what battle or
battles were you engaged, and, if not wounded, state
what disabilities did you receive, if any?
Answer: At Chicamauga
where I was slightly wounded in left ????? and in
a skermish Philadelphia Tn.
What was the precise
nature of you wound or disability, if any?
Answer: only slight
flesh wound
Were you incapacitated
for service by reason of said wound, or disability
incurred?
Answer: No
Were you discharged
from the army by reason of said wound or disability?
Answer: No
If discharged from
the army, where were you and what did you do until
the close of the war?
Answer:_______________________
What was the name
of the surgeon who attended you?
Answer: Don't know
How did you get
out of the army, when and where?
Answer: Was sent
out forgering? and was captured & taken a prisioner
Where you ever in
prision? If so, state what prison and when released.
Answer: No I escaped
the guard, but was unable to get back to my ca?? ????,
because s???? after I got away from guard was taken
down sick and was never able to get back to the Regiment.
Were you paroled?
If so, when and where?
Answer: No
Do you take the
oath of allegiance to the United States Government?
Answer: No
If so, when and
under what circumstances?
Answer:
Are you married,
or have you been married?
Answer: never have
been married
If so, what is the
size of your family living together?
Answer:
What are the respective
ages of your wife and the children living with you?
Answer:
To what sex do your
children belong?
Answer:
Are not some of
your children able to support you?
Answer:
In what business
are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?
Answer: None not
able to do any work
What estate have
you in your own right, real and personal, and what
is its value?
Answer: None
What estate has
your wife in her own right, real and personal, and
what is its value?
Answer:
How have you derived
support for yourself and family for the last five
years?
Answer: from my kin
people
Do you use intoxicants
to any extent?
Answer: no.
How long have you
been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?
Answer: all my life
Have you and attorney
to look after this application?
Answer:
If so give his name
and address?
Answer:
Witness my hand,
this 23rdday of May ,1909
John E Brown, clerk
WITNESSES: ??????
Smith
???????????? Physician.
????????????? Witness
William E. Cannon
Witness
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Campbell County} 1,Geo
W. Ellison Trustee of said county, certify that John
F Smith has no property, nor wife with________acres,
valued at$_____ of personal property.
Witness my hand
this 7 day of June 1909
Geo W. Ellison Trustee
If applicant and
his wife have no property the Trustee must so certify.
State of Tennessee,
Campbell County,}
Personally appeared
before me John E. Brown Clerk of the County Court
of said County, the above named John F. Smith the
applicant, with whom I am personally acquainted, and
having the application read and fully explained to
him, as well as the statements and answers therein
made, made oath that the said statements and answers
are true.
Witness my hand
at office, this 23rd day of May 1909
John E. Brown Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE
Campbell County}
Personally appeared
before me, M D Gleason a Notery Public of said County,
the above named Wm McKee MD one of the subscribing
witnessses to the foregoing application, and who is
a physician of good standing, and begin duly sworn
says that he has carefully and thoroughly examined
John F. Smith the applicant, and finds him laboring
under the following disabilities:
????????? hernia
and ??????????????????????
Witness my hand
at office, this 26th day of May 1909.
M.D.Glesson Notery
Public
(If possible,
the two witnesses as to character should have served
with the applicant in the army, and if so, let them,
or either, state it in their oath; also any other
information regarding applicant's army service.)
STATE OF TENNESSEE
Campbell County}
Personally appeared
before me, John E. Brown Clerk of the County Court
of said County, the above named Robt Dossett and William
E. Cannon two of the subscribing witnesses to the
forgoing application, with whom I am personally acquainted,
and know to me to be citizens of veracity and standing
in this community, and who make oath that they are
personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant,
and that the facts set forth and statements made in
this application are correct and true, to the best
of their knowledge and belief, and that they have
no interest in this claim, and that said applicant's
habits are good and free from dishonor. And _____
further make oath to the following facts touching
the applicant's service in the Confederate army:
That they know from
general reputation of applicants service in the army
and of his return home in winter of 1863-4 after seige
at Knoxville, and we have good reason to believe his
said statements as to his said service and believe
they are true in all respects.
Witness my hand
at office, this 26th day of May 1909.
John E. Brown, Clerk
No.11311A
HEADQUARTERS
Tennessee Board
of Pension Examiners
Nashville, Tenn.
June 11, 1909
Gen. F.C. Ainsworth,
Adjutant General
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
John F. Smith
Who is an applicant
for Pension under the Tennessee Pension law, claims
to have been a member of Company Third (Vaughn's)
Regiment ???????????????????C.S.A., and to have been
later a member of Co. E. Twelf? Batton ???? ????
Please give us the
record of this soldier.
Respectfully,
George B. Guild
President
The County Court
Of Campbell County
#11311
William Allen, Judge
John E. Brown, Clerk
Jacksboro, Tenn.,July
28th 1909
Frank A. Moses,
Special Examiner ?
Dear Sir,
In reply to your
letter of June 26th in relation to pension claim no.
11311 of John F. Smith in Co.E, 12th Batallin(Days)
Tenn Cav. C.S.A. I have to say I have just seen the
clamiant and read your letter to him and he says that
he believes he is the man referred to in your letter,
but that the record is wrong as to oath of allegience,
He says that after the charge on Fort Sanders in Knoxville,
Tenn, he with others was on a _??? Expedition out
towards Andersonville Tenn and was captured and taken
to Provost Marshal Peterson at Jacksboro, Tenn where
an oath was administered to the other two men that
was with him(one named Wheeler) and he asked ??? Peterson
the Provo Marshal if he had to take the same oath
and he said I refused to do so, and after some talk
Peterson allowed him to go to his fathers home about
1 ½ miles distant and remained there without
taking the oath, that he attempted to return to his
company but the conditions were such as to prevent,
and he remained at home, and in fact he says he was
not physically able to make the trip. This is about
the substance of what he says. I have no reason to
doubt his statement(other than the record you give)
as I have heard him boast of refusing to take the
oath of allegience. I have no interest in the matter.
You have the record and the facts. ?? Pro & con.
Respectfully, William
Allen
The County Court
Of Campbell Co.
William Allen, Judge
John E. Brown, Clerk
Jacksboro, Tenn.,
June 7, 1909
Hon. Frank Dibnell?,
Comptroller
Dear Sir,
Some days ago John
F. Smith an old confederate soldier left the enclosed
application with me to get the Trustee to certify
which I have not been able to do until today. And
now send to you. I have know said soldier ever since
he was captured after the Siege at Knoxville. When
he was brought to Jno Peterson then Provo Marshalto
take the oath which he refused to do, and as I am
advised he never took the oath. Peterson being a friend
of Smithsallowed him to go to his father's house here,
without taking any oath. He is now very feeble and
the application appears to be badly executed he could
hardly write his name and Robert Dossett one of his
witnesses is in same fix ?? of this will not as you
cand send him.Send him a new blank with full instructions.
He did not ask me to say this, but I do so because
I believe he is a monthly applicant.
Respectfully,
William Allen
1533493
WAR DEPARTMENT,
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S
OFFICE
Washington, June
15,1909
Respectfully returned
to the
President,
Tennessee Board
of
Pension examiners,
Nashville.
The Records show
that John F. Smith, private, Company C,3d Tennessee
Infantry, Confederate States Army, enlisted August
12, 1861, and was captured July 4, 1863, at Vicksburg
and paroled there July 10, 1863.
The records also
show that John F. Smith, private, Company E, 12th
Battalion (Day's) Tennessee Calvary, Confederate States
Army, enlisted June 15, 1863. On the last company
roll on which his name appears, dated October 31,
1863, he is reported present.
The Union records
show that J.F. Smith, private, Company E, 12th Tennessee
Calvary, was one of a number of deserters who took
the oath of allegiance December 12, 1863.
T C ???????
The Adjutant General
Note: Pension
was denied.
