SCHLEY COUNTY, GA - MILITARY CIVIL WAR PENSION Wm C. Harris ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Harris Hill http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002514 FOR USE OF APPLICANTS WHO HAVE NOT HERETOFORE DRAWN State of Georgia Schley County Personally appears William C. Harris of Schley County, State of Georgia, who being duly sworn says on oath that he was born on the 8th day of May 1840, that he is a bona fide citizen and resident of Georgia, and has been continuously since the 25th day of July 1881, that he enlisted in the military service of the Confederate States from Alabama during the war between the states, and served as a private in Compnay B of 3rd Regiment of Alabama Volunteers, Battle's Brigade; that whilst engaged in such military service, and in line of duty in the Sate of Virginia, on the 22nd day of Sept. 1864, he was disabled or wounded as follows: Shot through the left thigh and bone broken into, said ball entered nearly in front near where thigh joins hip and passed through the thigh & ranging upwards lodged in the right hip. Said wound caused the left leg to be amputated on 24th Sept. 1864 at Winchester, Va. by Dr. W.R. Hardy, Asst. Surgeon, 3rd Ala. Reg. Deponent was captured by the Federals on 25 Sept. 1864 & was taken to Point Lookout Prison in Maryland and kept there until the war closed. Said wound necessitates deponent to walk with a wooden leg fastened to waist & arm rest on top so as to use as a crutch also. Deponent desires to participate in the benefits of the Act approved October 24th, 1887, and the Acts amendatory thereof, and makes application for the allowance to which he is entitled for the year thereunder, ending October 26th, 1896. William C. Harris Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 3rd day of July 1896. P.E. Taylor, Ordinary. State of Alabama Dallas County This is to certify that I was assistant surgeon of the 3rd Alabama Regiment during the late war and that William C. Harris was a member of Co. B, in the same regiment and that he was wounded and that I amputated his left leg at Winchester, Virginia. The said Harris was a good and faithful soldier and well deserves all the sympathyand aid that he may get. W.R. Hardy, MD Asst. Surg. 3rd Ala. Regt. Pleasant Hill, August 31, 1896 Dallas Co., Ala. P.S. Since Harris was wounded in the fall of 1864. I do not remember the exact date. AFFIDAVIT FOR WITNESSES State of Alabama Loundes County Personally appears before me, the undersigned, Register in Chancery, in and for said County, W.H. May, who being duly sworn according to law, says under oath, that he is personally well acquainted with William C. Harris whose application is herewith presented for a pension, that he served in Company B if the Third (3rd) Regiment of Alabama, Battle's Brigade and from my personal knowledge he was injured by the service as follows: At Fisker's Hill in the valley of Virginia on Sept. 22nd 1864, I was ordered by Col. Chas. Forsyth of 3rd Ala. Infty. to pick two men and find the whereabouts of the enemy, which proceeded to do and picked William C. Harris of Co. B, 3rd Ala. Infty, Battle's Brigade, Rodes old Div. now commanded by Gen. S.D. Rawson (?) Stonewall Jackson's old Confs. (now commanded by Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early) and W.W. Hicks. We entered upon our perilous duty at once and soon found the enemy who fired on us. W.C. Harris fell with left thigh broken and leg amputated above the knee (amputation remarks in margin). Hicks and myself attempted to make our escape but soon Hicks who was in advance of me was shot down and they both fell into the hands of the enemy. Haris lost a leg and is unable to do manual labor. W.W. Hicks spoken of above belonged to my Co. G, 3rd Ala. Infty., same Brigade. I personally know above stated facts. We were with him in the army and have known him ever since. He was honorably discharged or retired from the service on, was captured by the enemy and his leg taken off at Winchester, Va. & was prisoner until the war ended. Applicant is permanently disabled as stated and has been so to our certain knowledge ever since 1864. We have no interest in the recovery of a pension by him. W.H. May, Capt. Co. G, 3rd Ala. Infty. Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 15th day of September 1896. J.D. Reese, Register in Chancery P.S. As this was a special detail as scouts it (is) impossible for anyone else to swear to this statement except myself as I learn that W.W. Hicks is dead. W.H. May Capt. Co. G, 3rd Ala. Infty., Battle's Brigade, S.D. Rawson Div. Farmersville, Ala Sept. 16, 1896 I hereby certify that I know Wm. C. Harris, that he was a member of Co. B, 3rd Ala. Regt., Batt'e's Brigade. Rode's Division, 2nd Army Corps commanded by Gen. Jubal A. early, and that the said Harris lost a leg in one of the battles or combats in the Shenandoah Valley in the fal of 1864. P.J. Rast(?) Co. H, 3rd Ala. Regt. PHYSICIANS AFFIDAVIT State of Georgia Schley County Personally comes before me P.E. Taylor, Ordinary of said County, ____________ and ______________ , both known to me as reputable physicians of said county, who being severally sworn, say on oath, that they have carefully examined William C. Harris and sfter such personal examination, say that the present condition of applicant is as follows: Left leg amputated near hip joint, and that said condition is permanent. We futher say that said condition arises from the following facts: From indication, we are satisfied that leg was hit by a ball and has the appearance of having been done a long time ago. We have never treated the applicant professionally. We have treated applicant professionally for ______________ years, and his condition, as above stated does not arise from any hereditary or congenital cause, nor from any vicious or intemperate habits. J.N.Cheney, MD W.D. Sears, MD Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 21st day of Sept. 1896. P.E. Taylor, Ordinary CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PENSION OFFICE State of Georgia, Executive Office Atlanta 22 Sept. 1896 Hon. P.E. Taylor Ellaville, ga. Dear Sir: Pension claim of Wm C. Harris to (unreadable). I have hstily examined same & it appears to be thathe has a good cause. It will be proper however to show that he is the identical Wm. C. Harris mentioned in the aaffidavits & that he has resided in Georgia since 26 Oct 1886. You will also notice that the witnesses are not certified to be trustworthy. As nothing can be paid on pensions until next winter, he will ample time to get proofs suggested. Yours truly, Rich Johnson QUESTIONS FOR APPLICANT State of Georgia Schley County William C. Harris of said State and County, esiring to avail himself of the Pension Act approved December 15th, 1894, hereby submits his proofs, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, deposes and answers as follows: 1. What is your name and where do you reside? William C. Harris LaCross, Schley Co., Ga 2. Where did you reside on January 1st, 1894, and how long have you been a resident of this State? I resided at LaCrose, Ga. have resided in this (state?) 25 day July, 1881. 3. When and where were you born? May 8th 1840, born in Mobile, Ala. 4. When and where and in what company and regiment did you enlist or serve? enlisted the 2? April 1861 at Mobile, Ala. in Company B, Third Ala. Infantry 5. How long did you remain in such company and regiment? in Company & Regiment until the termin. of the war. 6. For how long a period did you discharge regular military duty? four years 7. When, where and under what circumstances were you discharged from service? discharged from prison the 5 day July 1865 at Point Lookout, Maryland. Discharged a prisoner of war at the time of the (unreadable)/ 8. What is your present occupation? peddling 9. How much can you earn per annum by your own exertions or labor? 25.00 10. What has been your occupation since 1865? merchandising & peddling 11. Upon which of the following grounds do you base your application for pension, viz: first "age and poverty," second "infirmity and poverty" or third "blindness and poverty"? Second 12. If upon the first ground, state how long you have been in such condition that you could not earn your support? If upon the second, give a full and complete history of the infirmity and its extent? If upon the third, state whether you are totally blind and when and where you lost your sight? left leg amputated at the thigh joint, caused by mini ball. Said ball passed through the body causing constant pain, and rendering me unable to do any kind of work. 13. What property, effects or income do you possessand its gross value? none 14. What property, effects or income did you possess in 1894, 1895 and 1896 and waht disposition, if any, did you make of same? owned no property in 1894, 1895 & 1896 15. In what county did youreside during those years and what property did you return for taxation? Schley County returned no property 16. How were you supported during the years 1895 and 1896? by peddling & contributions from my relatives. 17. How much did your support cost for each of those years, and what portion did you contribute thereto by your own labor or income? my support cost 80.00, contributed about 25.00 18. What was your employment during 1895 and 1896? What pay did you receive in each year? peddling, recvd about 20.00 each year. 19. Have you a family? If so, who composes such family? Give their means of support? Have they a homestead? have no family Are you receiving any pension, if so what amount and for what disability? receiving no pension William C. Harris Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 7th day of January 1897. P.E. Taylor, Ordinary of Schley County. HANDWRITTEN STATEMENTS State of Alabama County of Mobile I, William H. Monk, Sr., residing in the state of and county aforesaid and an original member of Co. B, 3rd Ala. Infantry and serving with the same company until the end of the war, hereby and as a witness to the application of Wm C. Harris for pension under the Act approved Dec. 15, 1894, deposes and swears: 1. What is your name and where do you reside? William H. Monk, Mobile Ala. 2. Are you acquainted & c with Wm. C. Harris? I have known him from the time he entered the army in 1861 and afterward her in Mobile up to about 1881. 3. Where does he reside & c? Don't know since he left Mobile 4. Do you know of his having served in the Confederate Army & c? I know of his service in the Confederate Army up to the time he lost his leg. 5. When and in what company did he enlist? Company B, 3rd Alabama Infantry (called tthe Gulf City Guards) 6. Were you a member of the same company and regiment? Yes 7. How long did he perform regular military duty & c? Up to the time he was disabled in the field, Oct. 19th 1864 at Cedar Creek, Va. 15. I have no interest in the pension of this applicant. Wm. H. Monk, Sr. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of January 1897. Price Williams Jr., Judge To the best of my knowledge and belief, W.C. Harris, of Schley County, Ga., who is now applying for a pension in that state is the indentical W.C. Harris who served in Company B, 3rd Alabam Regt., Battle's Brigade, Army of Northern Va. Wm.B. Hall 1st Lieut. Co. H, 3rd Ala. Regt. Also in this massive file for Wm. Harris is his actual oath of alliegence signed at the end of the war and his certificate of release as a prisoner of Point Lookout Prison in Maryland. I transcribe those here, but I can't do justice to the actual documents. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I, W.C. Harris of the County of Mobile, State of Alabama, do solemnly swear that I will protect and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign; that I will bear true faith, allegiance, and loyalty to the same, any ordinance, resolution or laws of any State, Convention, or Legislature, to the contrary notwithstanding; and further, that I will faithfully perform all the duties which may be required of me by the laws of the United States; and I take this oath freely and voluntarily, without any mental reservation or evasion whatever. W.C.Harris Sunscribed and sworn to before me, this 27th day of June A.D. 1865 A.G. Brady Maj. and Provost Marshall The above-named has light complexion, Black hair, and Blue eyes; and is 5 feet 9 1/2 inches high. CERIFICATE OF RELEASE OF PRISONER OF WAR Head Quarters, Point Lookout, Md. Provost Marshal's Office June 27, 1865 I hereby certify, that W.C. Harris , prisoner of war, having this day taken the Oath of Allegiance to the United States is in conformity with the instructions from the War Department, hereby released and discharged. In Witness whereof, I hereunto affix my official signature and stamp. A.G.Brady, Maj. and Provost Marshal OATH AND PAROLE I do solemnly swear, in presence of Almight 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 acts of the Congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repealed, modified or held void by Congress, or by decision of the Supreme Court; and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all proclaimations of the President made during the existing rebellion, having reference to slaves, so long and so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the Supreme Court,--- So help me God; and I give my solemn parole of honor (to be enforced according to military law,) that I will hold no correspondence with, or afford any aid or comfort to any enemies or opposers of the United States, save as an act of humanity, to administer to the necessities of individuals, who are in sickness or distress; annd I solemnly declare that this Oath and Parole is taken and given freely and willingly, without any mental reservation or evasion whatever, and with full intention to keep the same.