Carroll County GaArchives Military Records.....Wiley W. Skinner November 6 1912 Civilwar - Pension Co C 56th regiment ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Gravelle http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00023.html#0005680 August 17, 2003, 4:30 pm Civil War pension applicaton of Wiley W. Skinner Skinner, Wyley W. -- Enlisted as a private in Company A, 4th Regiment, Georgia State Troops October 25, 1861. Mustered out April 25, 1862. Enlisted as a private in Company C, 56th Regiment, Georgia Infantry May 10, 1862. Captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi July 4, 1863, and paroled there July 15, 1863. Excerpts from Wyley Skinner's civil war pension file: Nov 6, 1912 Application for Soldier's Pension Under Act of 1910 State of Georgia, Carroll County Questions for Applicants' to Answer: W. W. Skinner of said state and county hereby applies for the pension provided by Act of 1910 to Confederate Soldiers and submits his sworn statement with his testimony to make out the same, and being duly sworn makes true answers to the questions, as follows to wit: 1. What is your name and where do you reside: W. W. Skinner, Bowdon, GA. R.5, Carroll County 2. How long and since when have you been a continuous resident citizen of this state: writing not legible 3. Did you enlist in the Army of the Confederate States or of the Organized Militia of this State from 1861 to 1865: I did in both. 4. When and where and in what Company and Regiment did you enlist: May 1862, Bowdon, GA., Co. C. 56th GA Reg't Inf. 5. How long did you remain in the actual Military Service with said Company and Regiment: About 3 years from May 1862 to April 26, 1865. 6. When and where was your Company and Regiment surrendered or discharged from service: April 26, 1865 at Greensboro, N.C. 7. Were you actually present with your Command when it was surrendered or discharged: No. 8. If you were not actually present, state specifically and clearly where you were: I was at home in Carroll County, GA. Where was your command when you left it: Opelika, Ala. When did you leave the Command: About Feb 15, 1865. For what cause did you leave: Granted leave first for 10 days pass to go to my home granted by Lieut. Ragan Commanding Co., and approved by Col. Watkins commanding the brigade at that time. For how long was your leave granted: 10 days at first. Why did you not return to your command after leave expired: Was cut off. In what way were you prevented: Couldn't get to my command. What effort did you make to return: When the 10 days was out, I went to Newnan. Were you captured during the war: Yes. If so when and where, in what prison were you held and when were you released: July 4, 1863 in Vicksburg, Miss. Not sent to prison, was paroled for exchange. 9. What property of every description was owned, in the use, possession and control of yourself and wife and it's cash value on the 4th Nov. 1908: 100 acres of land 16 miles west of Carrollton worth $8. per acre, $800. Two old mules both worth $100., one cow $25., one hog $8., household and kitchen furniture $40., Total $973. Wife has 50 acres adjoining worth $400. 10. What property of any kind have you or your wife disposed of and for what purpose since 4 Nov. 1908: Sold none. One of the mules got killed and the cow died. 11. What property of any description of any kind and of any value now owned and in the use, possession and control of yourself and wife and it's cash value: Same 100 acres of land in #9 worth now $10. per acre, $1000. One mule 23 years old, $50., one old carriage $25., three hogs $15., household and kitchen furniture $40., Acct. Cole Cook, $25., Total $1155. wife has same 50 acres. 12. What annual or monthly income or earnings of yourself or wife and the source derived have you? None except small crops. 13. Are you drawing a pension of any amount from this state or the United States: No. 14. Have you ever applied for the Georgia Pension and had it refused: No. Wyley W. Skinner Sworn to and subscribed before W.J. Mullican, Ordinary of Carroll County, State of Georgia, this 6th day of November 1912. November 18, 1912 State of Georgia, County of Haralson Pension Claim of W.W. Skinner Personally appeared, W.W. Ragan, a citizen of said county who is entitled to full credit and who being duly sworn says: My name is W.W. Ragan. My Post Office is Bremen, GA. I am well acquainted with the applicant, W.W. Skinner. He enlisted in Co. C 56th GA Inf. in Carroll County, GA on or about the 15th of May 1862. He served faithfully in said company and regiment till about Feb 15, 1865. At that time he was given a furlough or leave of absence to go home in Carroll County, GA for 10 days from Opelika, Ala. I was in command of Co. C as a Lieut. and gave him the permit or furlough which was duly approved by the higher officers. This was about Feb 15, 1865. Applicant never returned to his command but his failure to do so was accounted for by his commanding offiers by reason of the fact that at the time of the surrender April 26, 1865 and for some time before, it was impossible for one living at Bowdon, GA or in that vicinity to get to his command in the 56th GA Reg't. Sherman's Army covered the whole country and completely blocked every way out for travel. Applicant's absence from the surrender was considered altogether honorable and no hint of disloyalty was ever lodged against him. I can certify that Mr. Skinner was a true Confederate Soldier. W.W. Ragan. Nov 30, 1912 State of Georgia, County of Carroll Affadavit of Witness as to Service of Applicant: Alfred W. Duke of said State and County is hereby presented as a witness in support of the application of W.W. Skinner for the pension provided by the Act of 1910 in said state and after being duly sworn makes true answers to the questions and answers as follows: 1. What is your name and where do you reside: A.W. Duke, Carrollton, GA. 2. How long and since when have you known W.W. Skinner: Since 1861, 50 years or more. 3. Where does he now reside and since when has he been a continuing resident of tis state and how do you know: Carroll County, GA, 50 years. Have known him well all that time. 4. When, where and in what company and regiment did W.W. Skinner enlist during the war from 1861 to 1865: May 1862, Bowdon, Carroll Co., the 56th GA Inft. I knew him well. 6. How long within your own personal knowledge did he perform actual military service with tis Company and Regiment: A little over three years in Co. C. 56th GA. 7. When and where was his Command surrendered or discharged: At Greensboro, NC. April 26, 1865. 8. Were you personally present at the surrender: Yes, I was at the discharge as above. 9. this line left blank 10. Was the applicant present at the surrender: He was not. 11. If not, where was he and how came him there: At home near Bowdon, GA on furlough. 12. When did he leave his command: About last Feb 1865. Where was his command when he left it: Augusta, I think. For what cause did he leave it: Furloughed. By whose authority did he leave: His officer and command granted leave of 10 days. What effort did he make to return to his command: I don't know personally, but learned that we went to Newnan to report when his time was out and that the officer in charge sent him back home. Was applicant ever captured as a prisoner: Yes, at the Fall of Vicksburg. He was paroled and afterwards exchanged. A. W. Duke Oct 31, 1914 Pension Claim of Wiley W. Skinner Georgia, Carroll County Personally appeared, Jas. T. Barnes, who is a citizen of said county and state and worthy of credit, who being duly sworn, says: My post office is Carrollton, GA. I was a member of the same company with W.W. Skinner. We enlisted and served together from enlistment in 1862 till about March 1865 when he was given a ten days' furlough home. I knew him intimately and well. I was Orderly Sergeant of the Co. at the close. I called the last Roll, at the surrender at Greensboro, NC. April 26, 1865. I know that there was not a truer southern soldier than Wiley Skinner. He was in every important engagement of the regiment from Baker's Creek when he was wounded till he was sent home on ten days furlough about the last of February or the first of March 1865. He was always on hand ready and willing to perform any duty required of him, and was not the man to stand back when danger faced us. I personally knew that Wiley Skinner was not absent without leave, that he was on furlough, and that his absence at the surrender was recognized by his superior officers and comrades as unavoidable, as it was generally conceded that from the current reports in circulation and which were believed to be true, that all kinds of transportation from where his command was in West Georgia had been cut off by the enemy and that the railroads had been torn up by Sherman's Army. I believe he would have joined us if he could. I can't think that one so faithful to the cause of Jeff Davis for three years or more would willfully absent himself at the last. He was never and is not now spoken of as anything but a true Condederate Soldier. J. T. Barnes Oct 31, 1914 Letter to Honorable J. W. Lindsey, Atlanta, Georgia written by G.W. Merrell, Notary Public and J.P. in Carrollton, Georgia, regarding the pension application of Wiley W. Skinner: Dear Judge, I want to ask you to file the enclosed evidence with the papers sent yesterday of Wiley W. Skinner. He came today at 12 'oclock, 15 miles, and brought the Orderly Sergeant of his Company and I took the affadavit from each. I was not in the same service with the applicant but know something of his service. He enlisted in Co. C 56th GA in May 1862. I did too. I know that he was a faithful soldier and in many battles. I was present at the surrender. Wiley Skinner was not, but his Captain and officers said they thought he had good reasons for being absent as they knew he would be there if he could, and that they thought that he had been cut off as many others were. I know that his failure to return was recognized as entirely honorable and he was such a good soldier. I think I know that he ought to get a pension. The word came to the company that he went to Newnan to come to us and that he couldn't get transportation as the railroad had been torn up between there and North Carolina where our regiment was. He was present a short time before the surrender. He was given a short furlough, perhaps six or eight weeks before. I am returning herewith W.W. Skinner's application and proofs. I think, with the affadavit of his old comrade A.W. Duke the defects requiring amendment are cured. In the first place, applicant was not absent without leave. He was at home on furlough but it had expired, just a short time before the surrender. He reported to the nearest post, Newnan. The officer in command Col. Griffin whom I have been unable to locate, kept him two weeks, trying to get him transportation, and then sent him home and told him to report to a Lieutenant which he did. This Lieutenant gave him no orders, simply told him to wait til he went back and could go back with him and his squad. The Lieutenant and his squad were captured by the Yankees . This fact goes to show that while he was making every effort to get back, he was cut off from his command by the actual presence of the enemy. Besides this fact, the affadavit of Lieutenant W.W. Ragan shows that he was in command of the company at surrender; that Skinner had a furlough duly approved; that Skinner was a faithful soldier; that his failure to return was accounted for by his commanding officers because for some time before, it was impossible for one living where he did to get to his command because of Sherman's Army covering the whole country, and completely blockaded every route of travel. The applicant's absence was considered entirely honorable. I can certify that Mr. Skinner was a true Confederate soldier. All of his witnesses have sworn to the same, and that no hint of shirking duty was ever made against him. Now, if his commanding officer and his comrades say he was all right, ought that not be sufficient, in the absence of any counter charges or evidence to the contrary. I think and I believe you do, that every presumption should be in favor of the soldier who shows faithful allegience and service for the length of time this man did, and if there is a doubt about it, he should have the benefit of it, the same as a ??? who is charged with robbing a hen roost, don't you? From the objection on the application, it seems that a mistake was made, for W.W Skinner, the applicant, was not a deserter. J.E. Fletcher was at home sick on furlough. A.A. Widener was at home wounded on furlough. Lieut. W.W. Ragan was at the surrender A.W. Duke was present at the surrender Most of them are on the Pension Rolls. I know every one of them well, and know them all to be good men. Pardon me for writing so much. I will rest assured in my own mind that you will do right, and that you will weigh the matter well. Your friend, G.W. Merrell. ************************************************************ Submitted by Candace GravelleAugust 2003 This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 13.5 Kb