CIVIL WAR PENSION APP. - GEORGE SMITH, INDIAN RIVER CO., FL

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Application No. 22112
Pensioner No. 8667

Soldier's Pension Claim
Under The Act Of 1909

(FORM A)

State of Florida}
County of St. Lucie}

On this 22 day of July, A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and 21 personally appeared 
before me, a Geoge Smith [sic] in and for the county and State aforesaid, ____ who,
being duly sworn according to law declares that he is 74 years of age, having been 
born on the 13 day of January, 1847 in the county of Highland in the State of Virginia.  
That he is a bona fide citizen of the county of St. Lucie, State of Florida.  That 
he has resided in the State of Florida continuously since the 20 day of June, 1893.

That he is the identical person who enlisted at Winchester, Va., under the name of 
George Smith, on the 5 day of July 1861 in Company H, Regiment 31st of the State of 
Virginia in the service of the Confederate States of America and who was HONORABLY 
paroled at Culpepper C. H. in the State of Virginia, on the 20 day of April, 1865, 
on account prisoner of war.

(Here state fully any other military service performed by the applicant.)

Was wounded with part of a shell in the side in knee at Shiloh, April 7, 1862.  Was 
transferred to the artillery as ammunition wagon driver in June 1863 and served 
continuously as wagon driver until paroled, April 1865.  

(Here give date and place of capture, imprisonment, exchange or parole.)

Was paroled at the surrender of the detached artillery Capt. Balthis in command.

That I served faithfully until paroled from the service of the Confederacy in the 
year 1865, and did not desert the service of the Confederate Army nor take the oath 
of allegiance to the United States until after the surrender of the Confederate 
Armies.

(Here state whereabouts at close of Civil War.)

That I was captured and paroled at Culpepper Courthouse at the surrender of the 
Battery of Capt. Balthis artillery on detached service.

That I do not own property, including real estate, personal property, stocks, bonds,
mortgages or other collateral securities of any kind in this or any other State, 
nor does my wife own with me jointly or separately, property to exceed in value the 
sum of five thousand dollars.

That the following is a true and correct statement of all the property owned by me 
or by my wife, jointly and separately in this or any other State.

Real estate, located near Vero  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,300.00
Cattle, horses and other livestock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $   60.00
Personal property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $  350.00
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,710.00

That I have heretofore applied for a pension from the State of Florida and refer to 
Claim No. ____ for the proof contained therein.

(Here state any disabilities, physical or mental.)

wound in side, unable to continuously labor.

(Here state any wounds received, or loss of limbs and eyesight.)

Wounded in side at Chickamauga, Sept. 20, 1863.

That my postoffice address is Vero, County of St. Lucie, State of Florida.

His X mark:  George Smith

Attest:

(1) E. E. Sauderson
(2) Ewyn Thomas

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 26th day of June, A. D. 1921; and I hereby 
certify that the above declaration, etc., were fully made known and explained to 
the applicant before swearing, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in 
the prosecution of this claim.

E. E. Sauderson
Notary Public, State of Florida at Large

(FORM B)

State of Florida,}
County of St. Lucie}

We, the undersigned citizens of St. Lucie County, State of Florida, do hereby 
certify that we personally know George Smith, who is an applicant for a pension 
under the laws of Florida, and that from our own personal knowledge, and from the 
best information available, we believe that the applicant does not own property 
(including the property of his wife) to exceed in value the sum of $5,000, and that 
the statements made by him relative to the value of his property are true and correct.

H. L. Hagy
R. T. Carter

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 2nd day of August, 1921.

Ewyn Thomas
Notary Public

(FORM C)

Physician's Affidavit

State of Florida,}
County of St. Lucie}

Before me personally came R. C. Boothe, who being duly sworn, deposes and says, that
he is a physician; that he is a resident of the State and County aforesaid; that he 
personally knows George Smith the applicant named in the foregoing application for 
a pension.  This deponent further says that he has carefully examined the said 
applicant's physical condition and finds:

(Here state nature, character and extent of wounds, disease or disability.  Please 
avoid technical terms.)

Has large scar on right knee showing old injury and enlargement on left lower 
border of ribs, also being 74 yrs. old I would consider him entirely unfit for 
manual labor.

This deponent further says that the said George Smith is permanently ____ disabled 
by reason of such ____ from earning a livelihood for himself by manual labor.

R. C. Boothe, Physician

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 26th day of July , A. D. 1921.

E. E. Sauderson
Notary Public

(FORM D)

Affidavit to be Made by a Commissioned Officer

State of Florida}
County of St. Lucie}

Before me, a notary public in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally 
came H. L. Hagy who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he was a 
commissioned officer with the rank of 1st Lieut. in Company "A", 5th Regiment of 
the State of Arkansas during the War between the States of the United States; that 
he was enlisted at Tullahoma in the State of Tenn. on the 10th day of July, 1861, 
and that he was commissioned 3rd Lieut. in the above company and regiment on the 
1st day of January, 1863, and that he was HONORABLY paroled at Raleigh, NC on the 
28 day of May, 1865, by reason of expiration service.

That he personally knew George A. Smith, who is an applicant for a pension under 
the Laws of Florida; that he knows that all of the officers of applicant's battery 
are deceased that he believes applicant served faithfully until HONORABLY DISCHARGED
on the 20th day of April, 1865, on account of expiration service, at Culpepper Court
House, State of Virginia, and that he believes the said applicant did not desert the
service of the Confederate States nor did he take the oath of allegiance to the 
United States before the close of the war. 

H. G. Hagy
Late Lieut. of Company A, 5th Regt.

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 2nd day of August, 1921; and I hereby certify 
that the above declaration was fully made known to the affiant before swearing, and 
that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the foregoing for any purpose.

Ewyn Thomas
Notary Public

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Report of County Commissioners

We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of St. Lucie, Florida,
do hereby report that at a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this 
day, the foregoing application of  George Smith for a pension under the Laws of 
Florida, was investigated by us; that we are satisfied that the applicant does not 
own property (including the property of his wife) to exceed the value of $5,000, 
and that the representations made in the petition and affidavits are true, and that 
a pension should be granted to the applicant.

Witness our hands this 2nd day of August, A. D. 1921.

(1) W. R. Hardee, Chairman, Protem
(2) D. C. Cox
(3) A. D. ?
County Commissioners

By the County Commissioners.  Attest:

P. B. Eldred
Clerk Circuit Court

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War Department
The Adjutant General's Office
Washington

July 15, 1921

Reply To:  A. G. 201 (Smith, George)

Hon. Duncan A. Fletcher,
United States Senate

My dear Senator:

In returning herewith, the letter of H. L. Hagy, Box 162, Vero, Florida, received 
by your reference, in which he requests the military record of George Smith, age 
sixteen years, as of the Confederate States Army, who it is stated, participated in 
several battles and was transferred to Imboden's Artillery from the 31st Virginia 
Infantry, and in response to your communication of the 13th instant in which you 
request to be furnished the same, I have the honor to advise you as follows:

The records of this office show George Smith, private, Company H, 31st Virginia 
Militia, C.S.A., enlisted July 5, 1861, at Winchester.  Muster roll for October 31, 
1861 to March 24, 1862, dated September 1, 1863, the only roll on file of this 
organization, shows him absent, with the remark, has not served since former muster.
The Regimental Returns for the months of October, November and December, 1861, show 
him absent without leave.  No later record of him has been found.  There is no 
record of any other George Smith as of any 31st Virginia organization C.S.A.  The 
name George Smith has not been found on the rolls of Captain Garber's Company, 
Virginia Light Artillery (Staunton Artillery), which was formerly Captain Balthis' 
Company and Captain Imboden's Company, Virginia Light Artillery, which cover the 
periods of June 30, 1861 to February 30, 1865.

It is proper to add, however, that the collection of Confederate records on file in 
this Department is far from complete and failure to find the complete record of any 
person thereon is by no means conclusive proof that the person who bore that name 
did not serve as alleged during some period not covered by the records on file in 
this Department.

Very respectfully,

P. C. Harris
The Adjutant General

1 incl. 

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State Board Of Pensions                                  No. 21999
Governor
Comptroller
Treasurer

Department of Pensions,
State of Florida,
Tallahassee, Fla.

August 6, 1921

The Adjutant General,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

George Smith, who is applying for a pension under the Laws of Florida.  Claims to 
have been a member of Company H 31st Va. Regiment (Quebadens Art.), Confederate 
States Army.

Please furnish me with the record of this soldier.

Yours very truly,

Ernest Amos
Comptroller

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War Department
The Adjutant General's Office
Washington

Aug. 23, 1921

Respectfully returned to Dept. of Pensions, State of Florida, Tallahassee, Fla.

With the information that George Smith, Pvt. Co. H 31 Va. Mil. C. S. A. enlisted 
July 5, 1861 at Winchester and on muster roll Oct. 31, 1861 to Mar 24, 1862, dated 
Sept. 1, 1863 (only roll on file) he is shown absent.  No capture, parole or later 
record has been found.

P. C. Harris
The Adjutant General

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Application No. 21999

Claim For Pension
By
George Smith
Of Vero, St. Lucie County
Late Of Co. H, 31st VA. Company
? Art.
Filed In Pension Department
Aug. 3, 1921

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Soldier's Pension Claim
Under The Act Of 1909

(FORM A)

State of Florida}
County of St. Lucie}

On this 25th day of November, A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and twenty-one 
personally appeared before me, a County Judge in and for the county and State 
aforesaid, George Smith who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 
76 years of age, having been born on the 13th day of January 1844, in the county of 
Hiland, in the State of Virginia.  That he is a bona fide citizen of the county of 
St. Lucie, State of Florida.  That he has resided in the State of Florida continuously
since the 4th day of March, 1893.

That he is the identical person who enlisted at Winchester, Va., under the name of 
George Smith, on the 15th day of June 1861, in Company H, Regiment 31st of the 
State of Virginia in the service of the Confederate States Army and who was 
HONORABLY DISCHARGED at Culpepper Courthouse, in the State of Virginia, on the 28 
day of May, 1865, on account of the surrender - the end of the war.

That I served faithfully until HONORABLY DISCHARGED from the service of the 
Confederate States Army in the year 1865, and did not desert the service of the 
Confederate States Army nor take the oath of allegiance to the United States until 
after the surrender of the Confederate Armies.

(Here state whereabouts at close of Civil War.)

That I was at Culpepper, Virginia.

That the following is a true and correct statement of all the property owned by me 
or by my wife, jointly and separately in this or any other State:

Real estate, located near Vero, St. Lucie County, Florida . . . . . . $2,000.00
Cattle, horses and other livestock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $  150.00
Personal property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $   25.00
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,175.00

That I have heretofore applied for a pension from the State of Florida and refer to 
Claim No. (no number received) for the proof contained therein.

(Here state any disabilities, physical or mental.)

Defect in right leg and defect in left side.

(Here state any wounds received, or loss of limbs and eyesight.)

Wound in right leg and in left side.

That my postoffice address is Vero County of St. Lucie, State of Florida.

His X mark:  George Smith

Attest:

(1) F. V. Hemmings
(2) W. C. Baggett

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 25th day of November, A. D. 1921; and I hereby 
certify that the above declaration, etc., were fully made known and explained to 
the applicant before swearing, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in 
the prosecution of this claim.

J. R. Johnson
County Judge of St. Lucie County, Florida

(FORM B)

Blank

(FORM C)

Physician's Affidavit

State of Florida,}
County of St. Lucie}

Before me personally came R. C. Boothe, M. D., who being duly sworn, deposes and 
says, that he is a physician; that he is a resident of the State and County aforesaid; 
that he personally knows George Smith the applicant named in the foregoing 
application for a pension.  This deponent further says that he has carefully 
examined the said applicant's physical condition and finds:

(Here state nature, character and extent of wounds, disease or disability.  Please 
avoid technical terms.)

Injured right knee and left side at margin of ribs.

This deponent further says that the said injury is permanently ____ disabled by 
reason of such it prevents him from earning a livelihood for himself by manual 
labor.

R. C. Boothe, M. D.

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 6th day of December, A. D. 1921.

E. L. Payne
Notary Public

(FORM F)

Affidavit to be Made by Comrade

State of Florida}
County of St. Lucie}

Before me, a notary public in and for the State and County aforesaid, personally 
came William Anderson, of Vero County of St. Lucie, State of Florida, who, being 
duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical person who enlisted 
at Winchester, in the State of Virginia, on the 8 day of March 1862, in Company A 
31st Regiment of the State of Virginia, which organization was regularly mustered 
into the service of the Confederate States of America; that he knows of his own 
personal knowledge that George Smith enlisted in Company H, 31st Regiment of the 
State of Virginia, at Winchester, in the State of Virginia on the 5 day of June, 
1861; that he served faithfully in the said organization until the 28 day of May, 
1865, when he was HONORABLY DISCHARGED on account of ending of war, in the State of 
Virginia, and did not desert the Confederate States service nor take the oath of 
allegiance to the United States before the close of the war.

(Here state whether the soldier was transferred to another organization, or not, 
and if captured or imprisoned, state when and where.)

Transferred June 15 to Quebadens artillery.

I know personally of the above stated service, because I served with George Smith, 
in Company H, Regiment 31, of the State of Virginia, and was HONORABLY DISCHARGED 
at Bentonville in the State of No. Carolina, on the 8 day of April, 1865, by reason
of ending of war, and I did not desert the Confederate States service nor take the 
oath of allegiance to the United States before the close of the war.

Wm. Anderson
Late of Company H, 31st Regt.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 5 day of December, 1921, and I hereby certify 
that the above declaration was fully made known to the affiant before swearing, and 
that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the pension claim sought to be 
established by this declaration.

Chas. D. Toole
Notary Public

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Report of County Commissioners

We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of ____, Florida, 
do hereby report that at a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this 
day, the foregoing application of ____ for a pension under the Laws of Florida, was 
investigated by us; that we are satisfied that the applicant does not own property 
(including the property of his wife) to exceed the value of $5,000, and that the 
representations made in the petition and affidavits are true, and that a pension 
should be granted to the applicant.

Witness our hands this 6 day of Dec., A. D. 1921.

(1) C. F Raulerson, Chairman
(2) W. R. Hardee
(3) A. B. Michael
(4) A. D. ?
(5) D. C. Cox
County Commissioners

By the County Commissioners.  Attest:

P. B. Eldred
Clerk Circuit Court

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Jan. 4th, 1922

Mr. George Smith
Vero, Florida

Dear Sir:

Your application for pension was considered by the Board a few days ago and denied.

You claim in your application to have been discharged at Culpepper Court House, 
Virginia, in 1865.  You have furnished the affidavit of one comrade, Mr. Wm. 
Anderson who claims to have been transferred in 1863 and who surrendered at 
Bentonville, N. C. when the war ended.

I wrote to the War Department at Washington for an official record of your service 
and reply shows you to have been absent from your Command as shown by muster roll 
dated September 1st, 1863.  As a matter of fact the proof that you have furnished 
is very incomplete.

The first application you filed included affidavit of a Commissioned Officer of a 
Ark. Regiment.  The other application included the affidavit of a soldier that was 
transferred from your Command to another Command and was surrendered in one State 
at the time you was [sic] surrendered in another.

Yours very truly,

Secretary, State Board of Pensions

W/B

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April 5th, 1923

Hon. A. W. Young,
House of Representatives,
Tallahassee, Fla.

Dear Mr. Young:

Your request that I furnish you with full particulars in the matter of Mr. Geo. 
Smith's application for pension is duly acknowledge, and in compliance will say that
this case has been already presented to the Pension Board and denied on account of 
insufficient proof of war service.

The law prescribes certain ways of making proof of service, viz.:  By affidavit of 
commissioned officer under whom the soldier served, or transcript from the company 
muster rolls at Washington, or other documentary proof satisfactory to the Pension 
Board.  The first three mentioned are self-explanatory, but the last "other documentary 
proof" might be explained by stating that it should consist of - actual and original
discharge paper, furloughs and the like.

Mr. Smith filed his application on August 3rd, 1921 furnishing affidavit of Lieut. 
Hagy of the 5th Ark. Regt.  Lieut. Hagy testifies to knowing Mr. Smith personally 
and states that all of his comrades are dead.  This affidavit is of no use as the 
affiant has no personal knowledge whatever of the service rendered and not only did 
not serve in the same command but was in a different State.

Mr. Smith filed his second application on Dec. 7th, 1921, submitting the affidavit 
of one comrade who testifies to the fact that he served in the same company and 
regiment with him, but that Mr. Smith was transferred in 1863 to another command.  
This witness was discharged at Bentonville, N. C. at the close of the war, and Mr. 
Smith was surrendered at Culpepper Courthouse, Va. at the close of the war, in 
different States.  Now, this is good proof as far as it goes, but the last two years
of the war are not covered at all in the affidavit.  

So much for proof by comrades; affidavit of one who cannot testify to the service 
for the last two years of the war.  The official transcript from the muster rolls 
at Washington have a record of his enlistment on July 5th, 1861 and service to March 
24th, 1862, dated Sept. 1st, 1863, and reports him absent.  No further record at 
Washington can be located.

The above is absolutely all the proof on file and falls way short of what is 
required under the law.

Trusting that I have explained the situation clearly, and with kind regards, I am

Yours very truly,

Sec'y State Board of Pensions

W/J

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Application No. 22112
Pensioner No. 8667

Claim For Pension
By
George Smith
Of Vero, St. Lucie County
Filed In Pension Department
Dec. 7. 1921
Approved:  Special Act of the Legislature