Clarke County Georgia Deed Howell Cobb CSA Pardon File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Laura Stotler LStotler@aol.com Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/clarke.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Howell Cobb, Former Confederate Application for Presidential Pardon, Clarke Co. GA Source: Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons (Amnesty Papers) (National Archives Microcopy M1003, Roll 17) Athens, Georgia 25 Sept 1865 Hon Andrew Johnson President of the U. S. Washington City Sir- In presenting this application under your amnesty proclamation of the 29th May 1865, I proposed to make a brief and frank statement of my case and ask for it your favorable consideration. My residence is Athens, Georgia. Upon the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency in 1860 it was my honest conviction that the future welfare and prosperity of the South demanded a separation of the southern states from the Federal union- and upon that conviction I acted. I was therefore a secessionist and am responsible to the extent of my vote and influence for the action of the state of Georgia. When that action resulted in war, I felt it my duty to go into the military service of the country which I did as Colonel of the 16th Ga regiment of volunteers. I remained in the service during the war, and at its close held the commission of Maj. Genl. I was a member and President of the Provisional Congress that first met at Montgomery, Alabama. I held no other office either civil or military under either the Confederate or State governments during the war. Upon the surrender of Genl Jos. E. Johnston, I regarded the war at an end, and have acted upon that conviction from that date. I have since counseled an unconditional submission to the result of the war, by the adoption of my measure calculated to restore the state of Georgia to her former status in the Union. The institution of slavery I have regarded as abolished and at an end and have ----- upon my people an abandonment of all ideas, looking to its restoration now or hereafter. In adherence to the course I have pursued since the surrender of Genl. Johnston, I refer to you without hesitation to the officers of the United States, whose endorsements accompany this paper- and also to present Maj. Genl. Wilson (?) to whom I surrendered-and by whom I was paroled. In reference to what may be my future course, I refer you to the accompanying affidavit, which I did not take until I had fully determined to keep & abide it in good faith. The foregoing statement shows that my case falls within the first & third exceptions of your proclamation. To avoid all future misapprehensions I also put myself under the thirteenth exception-though my property would not sell for twenty thousand dollars in all probability if put into the market. No other exception applies to me. No proceedings have been instituted against me or my property, as far as I am informed or believed. Nor has any of my property been seized by any civil or military authority of the United States. A house and lot in the City of Macon Ga which I hold as trustee of my wife has been taken and occupied as Head Quarters, by Genl. Grove (?) commanding that military division and a house & lot in Americus, Ga is similarly occupied by Col. Sukley (?) commanding a sub-district, but with no other vice than the occupation of the premises for temporary quarters. With this brief but full statement of my case, I submit it asking for it your favorable consideration. I am very respectfully yours, Howell Cobb (signature) United States of America I, Howell Cobb of the County of Clark, State of Georgia do solemnly swear or affirm, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing Rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves: So help me God. Howell Cobb (Signature) Subscribed and Sworn to before me at Macon, GA this 25th day of September 1865.} Daniel A. Russell Major Provs Marshall, Gen, GA. The above named has light complexion, light hair, and gray eyes; and is 5 feet 7 inches high. ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============