Surgeon’s Discharge of Pvt. William A. Derryberry Co. “H”
Maury Greys/Grays, at Hunterville, VA, Dec. 1861
William Alexander Derryberry of the Lasea community of Maury County, was discharged for illness from Co. “H” of the 1st Tennessee Infantry, was wounded while serving with the 9th Tennessee Cavalry, and wounded again while with Co. “E” of the 48th Tenne ssee Infantry. While with Co. “H,” on that long, cold Virginia campaign in the winter of 1861, William took measles, as many Southern farm boys did during that conflict, not having been exposed to such before. (Many of his comrades died). According to not es in his CSA Pension Application, the measles “settled in his lungs,” and he was dangerously ill for three or four months before recovering enough to return to service.
Following is a transcription of papers discharging him from Confederate service on 3 December 1861 and returning him to his home near Columbia, TN. (After his return to service, he would continue to serve until the surrender of his unit in May 1865):
“I CERTIFY That the within named WILLIAM A. DEREBERRY, a Private 1 Regiment of Tennessee, born in Maury co. in the State of Tennessee, aged eighteen years, five feet, eight inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a Farm er was enlisted by CAPT. WM. R. JOHNSTON at Columbia, Tennessee on the 9th day of May 1861 to serve one year, and is now entitled to discharge by reason of Surgeon’s Certificate of disability.
“The said WM. A. DEREBERRY was last paid by MAJ. REESE to include the 22nd day of July 1861, and has pay due from that date to the present date.
“There is due to him ________ Dollars traveling allowance from _______ the place of discharge to _________ the place of enrolment, transportation not being furnished in kind. “There is due him for clothing not drawn twenty-five dollars.
“He is indebted to the Confederate States Six dollars & \00 Dollars on account of 2 caps, 1 pr. Shoes & Wollen shirt drawn in Tenn.
“Given in duplicate at Hunterville, Va this 3 day of December 1861.”
W. R. JOHNSTON, CAPT.
(Signed) Commanding Company
” For pay from 22nd of July 1861 to 2nd December 1861, being four months and ten days, at (11) Eleven Dollars per month,
For pay for subsistence traveling from in Going from Hunterville, Va to Columbia, Tenn eight – being days @40 c. a day miles at ten cents per mile.
47.66 | |
3.20 | |
For clothing | 25.00 |
Amount | $75.86 |
Deduct for clothing drawn in Tennessee |
6.48 |
Balance paid, | $67.38 |
Received of ____________ CS Army, this 3 day of December 1861 Sixty -seven Dollars and thirty-eight Cents, in full of the above account.”
(Signed duplicate) WILLIAM A. DERRYBERRY
Witness (blank) (Signature)
Note: My great-grandfather was short-changed by two dollars in pay received above!