Richland Parish Louisiana Military Records Joshua P. Bell Civil War Pension Record Submitted for the USGenWeb Archives by: Shawn Martin October 20,2004 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Confederate Pension Records of Joshua Presler Bell The following Confederation Pension Record is for Joshua Presler Bell. Joshua Bell was born in Wilkinson Co, MS August 17, 1848. He was the son of Narsworthy and Sinah Presler Bell. The Bell family migrated to Richland Parish, La in the mid to late 1860’s from Pointe Coupee Parish, La. Junius Bell mentioned in the following documents was also the son of Narsworthy and Sinah Presler Bell. He was born in Wilkinson Co, MS June 29, 1844 and died May 28, 1922. Junius Bell’s widow, Eugneia Hampton Wharton Bell applied and received Confederate Pension allotments in Franklin Parish, La. The following is the 1870 Richland Parish Census record to show the structure of this Bell family. 1870 -- Richland Parish, LA Census, Girard P.O., 5th Ward, HH# 148/147, Page 297, Enum. Jul 8, 1870 Bell, Narsworth 59 M W Farmer 350 MS Bell, Sinah 54 F W Keeping House LA Bell, Joshuway 21 M W Farmer MS Bell, Emily 21 M W W/o Occ. LA Bell, Robert 17 M W At Home MS Next Page, Bell, John 15 M W At Home MS Bell, Thomas 13 M W At Home MS HH# 149/148 Bell, Junius 26 M W Farmer MS Bell, Cynthia 20 F W Keeping House LA Bell, William 4 M W At Home LA Bell, Sarah 8/12 F W At Home LA Oct Missing from these records are two more children of Narsworthy and Sinah Bell: Elizabeth Rebecca and George. Emily Bell, nee Emily Dalton, listed above was the first wife of Joshua Bell. ------------------------------------------------ SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR A PENSION #45869 The Comptroller of Public Accounts reserves the right to call for additional testimony if he deems it necessary. Dead 10-6-33 [NOTE: hand written on front of package] Mort. 30370 issued to W. H. Bell [NOTE: hand written on front of package] Name of Applicant: J. P. Bell, Panola County, Texas P. F. D. No. 2 Post office: Tatum, TX Filed: Aug 25, 1927 Approved: July 20, 1929 Rejected: August 27th, 1928 [NOTE: This date was marked out.] S. H. Terrell, Comptroller of Public Accounts Failure to prove service [NOTE: This line was marked out.] 8-25-27 Form A Soldier’s Application for Confederate Pension THE STATE OF TEXAS County of Panola I, J. P. Bell do hereby make application to the Commissioner of pensions for a pension to be granted me under the Act passed by the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved April 7, 1913, on the following grounds: I enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States and I did not desert the Confederate service, but during the war I was loyal and true to my duty, and never at any time abandoned my post of duty in the said service; or) that I was in the service of the State of Texas during the war, to protect said State against the Indians and Mexicans for more than 6 months). That I was honorably surrendered in the State of Louisiana; was furloughed and was on furlough when war ended; that I have been a bona fide citizen of this State since prior to January 1, AD 1900, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not hold any National, State, city or county office which pays me a salary or fees of $300.00 per annum, nor have I an income from any other employment or other source whatever which amounts to $300.00 per annum, nor do I receive from any source whatever money or other means of support amounting in value to the sum of $300.00 per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does any one hold in trust for my benefit or use, nor does my wife own, nor does any one hold in trust for my wife, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the assessed value of over one thousand dollars, exclusive of a home of the value of not more than $2000.00; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source and I do further state that the answers given to the following questions are true: 1. What is your age? 79 years on August 17th 1927 2. Where were you born? In Mississippi 3. How long have you resided in Texas? 45 years 4. In what county do you reside? Panola 5. How long have you resided in said county? 45 years What is your post office address? Tatum, Texas, Rt. 2 6. Have you applied for a pension under Confederate pension law and been rejected? No 7. What is your occupation, if able to engage in one? No What is your physical condition? Poor 8. In what State was the command in which you served organized? Louisiana 9. How long did you serve? 10 months Give if possible, the date of enlistment and discharge. Feb. 1865 or 1864; under Captain West at first 10. What was the letter of your company, number of battalion, regiment or battery? Flying Artillery; don’t know number 11. If transferred from one command to another, give time of transfer, name of command and time of service: Under Mouton at Mansfield; under Tom Green on Red River; Generals 12. What branch of the service did you enlist in – infantry, cavalry, artillery or navy? Artillery 13. What is the assessed value of your home, if you own a home? $800.00 14. What is the assessed value of your other property? None 15. Have your transferred to others any property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? No Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application for a pension be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law. (Signature of Applicant) J. P. Bell Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 22nd day of August AD 1927. J. G. Strong County Judge, Panola Co., Texas AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES (If possible the two witnesses should have served with the applicant in the army, and if so, let them, or either of them, state in their oath their source of knowledge, also any information regarding applicant’s army service.) THE STATE OF TEXAS, County of Panola Before me, J. A. Crawford, Notary Public, Panola County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared [blank] who are personally known to me to be creditable citizens, who, being by me sworn, on oath state that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and statements made in his application are correct and true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that they have no interest in this claim and said applicant’s habits are good and free from dishonor. And further make oath to the following acts touching the applicant’s service in the Confederate Army; (State fully your source of knowledge): We have often heard him discuss his service record and have no reason to doubt it. (Signature of Witness) J. P. Allen (Signature of Witness) T. H. Allen Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 22 day of August AD, 1927. James A. Crawford Notary Public, Panola Co., Texas AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES [Note.—There must be at least two creditable witnesses.] THE STATE OF TEXAS, County of Panola Before me, J. G. Strong, County Judge of Panola County, State of Texas, on this day personally appeared Jas. A. Crawford and A. M. Lee, who are personally known to me to be creditable citizens, who, being by me duly sworn, on oath state that they personally know J. P. Bell, the above named applicant for pension, and that they personally know that the said J. P. Bell has been a bona fide resident citizen of the State of Texas since prior to January 1, AD 1900, and that they have no interest in this claim. (Signature of Witness) James A. Crawford (Signature of Witness) A. M. Lee Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 22nd day of August, AD 1927. J. G. Strong County Judge, Panola Co., Texas CERTIFICATE OF STATE AND COUNTY ASSESSOR I, Carl Jordan, State and County Assessor in the County of Panola, State of Texas, do certify that J. P. Bell, or his wife, or his trustee, or trustee for his wife, whose name is signed to the foregoing application for a pension, under the Act of the Thirty-third Legislature, approved April 7, 1913, and amended by Regular Session Thirty-eighth Legislature, is charged on the tax rolls of said county with a homestead of the value of --Eight Hundred—Dollars, and of other property, real or personal, or both, of the value of None Dollars Given under my hand, this 22nd day of August AD, 1927. Carl Jordan State and County Assessor Panola County, Texas --------------------------------------------- Comptroller’s Department State of Texas, Austin To the Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: I have the honor to request the Military record of J. P. Bell, who is reported to have enlisted in Company [blank], Regiment [blank]. Louisiana Flying Artillery, First with Capt. West, later Capt. Mouton. In service in the Confederate States Army. Very Respectfully, S. H. Terrell Comptroller of State of Texas [Stamped: Recd. Aug. 29, 1927 --------------------------------------------- War Department The Adjutant General’s Office Washington, D. C. August 30, 1927 Respectfully returned to Comptroller State of Texas Austin, Texas The name J. P. Bell has not been found on the muster rolls of any organization, State of Louisiana, C. S. A. The records show that one Junius Bell, 6th. Field Battery, (Grosse Tete Flying Arty.) La. Light Arty., C.S.A. (For which there are no rolls on file) was paroled June 19, 1865, at Provost Marshall’s Office, Baton Rouge, La., a Private. Date & place of Enlistment not shown. No other record found. John Austin Asbury West was Captain of the Battery. Captain Monton has not been identified. Lutz Wahl, Major General, The Adjutant General --------------------------------------------- September 2, 1927 Mr. J. P. Bell Tatum, Texas Dear Sir: Your application for Confederate Pension cannot be approved at this time on account of the following report which I have received from the Office of the Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., where all Confederate Army and Navy records are kept on file. “The name J. P. Bell has not been found on the muster rolls of any organization, State of Louisiana, C. S. A. The records show that one Junius Bell, 6th. Field Battery, (Grosse Tete Flying Arty.) La. Light Arty., C.S.A. (For which there are no rolls on file) was paroled June 19, 1865, at Provost Marshall’s Office, Baton Rouge, La., a Private. Date & place of Enlistment not shown. No other record found. John Austin Asbury West was Captain of the Battery. Captain Monton has not been identified. Since your name has not been found on the muster rolls of any organization, State of Louisiana, C.S.A., however, this report does show a record of service of Junius Bell, and we are concluding that J. P. Bell and Junius Bell are the same persons. If this should be true you will please furnish affidavits to the fact and on receipt of such affidavits your application for Confederate Pension will receive further attention. Yours very truly, Comptroller of Public Accounts --------------------------------------------- State of Texas Panola County Before me the undersigned authority on this day personally appeared Josh P. Bell and being by me duly Sworne sayes on oath that he served in the Confederate Army. Enlisted at Alexander, La. That he enlisted about Feb. 1st before the Battle of Mansfield. Serving in Captain West Light Art. And fought through the said Battle and Pleasant Hill and followed the Union Army to Yellow Bayou fighting a Hand Artillery dual at Mansfield Prairie also at Old Cain River. Our Battery was attached to Gen Mouton’s Division. I was at home when the Surrender came on a sick leave of absence. My captain was John West – first Lieut. John Yost, Second Lieut. Willie Lions, 3d – Willie Wornen. I name the following Privates Jim Zinn, Henry Smith, Felix Smith, Allen Scarborough, Calvin Clark, Jim Pelion, Ed Mills, Alf Morgan. I can give many others if desired. I have tried to locate some of them, but so far have been able to locate no one yet living. I was Sixteen when I joined the Army and served as a private. Being almost blind, I will sign by mark. Josh P. (his X mark) Bell Sworn to and subscribed by Josh P. Bell this Sept. 8th, 1927. James A. Crawford Notary Public, Panola Co., Texas --------------------------------------------- September 12, 1927 Mr. J. P. Bell Tatum, Texas Dear Sir: We have your letter of September 8th enclosing affidavit of yourself with reference to your military service record, which we believe beyond any question is true, but we are unable to approve this application in its present condition. The Law requires that your service record must be proven by two competent and credible witnesses, or by documentary evidence. The failure of the military service record at Washington to show your services as a Confederate Soldier is not by any means conclusive that you did not render the service, as it is a fact that these records are very incomplete. The witnesses you offer do not testify to a personal knowledge of you having served as a Confederate Soldier. Their statement is as follows: “We have often heard him discuss his war record and have no reason to doubt it.” We are holding up the approval or rejection of this application at this time. Should you be able at any time in the future to make proper proof of this service we will at any time be glad to give your application further consideration. Yours very truly, Comptroller of Public Accounts --------------------------------------------- Livonia, Louisiana August 21, 1928 My dear old comrade, Your letter came today and was glad to hear from you. You asked me how old I am, I am eighty three years old; good sight and good health, don’t feel my age at all. I don’t know Albert Tompson’s address. He lives somewheres on around Boyce. I don’t think it will be hard for you to get a pension. Write to the pension office for a blank, go before the clerk of court or a notary, have it filled out, swear to it; use my name and Pierre’s name. I am sending you his address. Pierre Diagreport Hessmer, Louisiana In the meantime, when I go to Baton Rouge, I will see what I can do for you. Be sure to write for a blank and have it filled. With best wishes and kindest regards, I am Yours sincerely, Earnest Jofferion --------------------------------------------- State of Louisiana Parish of Pointe Coupee Personally came and appeared before, the undersigned authority Ernest Joffrion, well known to me, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he personally knows Josh P. Beel, who is a Confederate Veteran and has served in the Confederate Army with me in West’s Battery as a Private, and was a good soldier, who took active part in the Battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Yellow Bayou. Ernest Joffrion Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 5th day of September, 1928. Henry L. Dreyfus Notary --------------------------------------------- Beckville, Tex 9/7/1928 Hon. S. H. Terrell, Comp. Austin Texas My Dear Mr. Terrell I am handing you Affidavit of Mr. Earnest Jofferion as to my Services in the Confederate Army. I hope this will be Sufficient and Satisfactory to you. Hoping to hear from favorably in Short time as your convenience will permit. I am yours truly, J. P. (his X mark) Bell Post Office address. Tatum, Texas I am Satisfied Mr. Bell is entitled. He knows too much about the Battle of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill not to have been there. James A. Crawford --------------------------------------------- September 11, 1928 Mr. J. P. Bell Route 2 Tatum, Texas Dear Sir: I have your letter of September 7th, enclosing an affidavit signed by Ernest Joffiron in support of your military record as a Confederate Soldier. You are advised that the testimony of Mr. Joffiron does not prove your military service as required by the Statute of this State, notice of which I gave you in my letter of September 12th, 1827. If your military service can be proven as required by the Pension Law of this State, your application will have further consideration. Yours very truly, Comptroller of Public Accounts --------------------------------------------- County of Panola State of Texas Carthage, Texas Feb. 5th 1929 Re: J. P. Bell Dear Mr. Terrell: It seems that in your letter of Sept. 11th 1928 to Mr. J. P. Bell, Tatum, Texas, regarding his pension, there lacks some testimony in his case. Mr. Bell has just been in my office, and he seems to be entitled to this pension. It appears there is one living witness to his service besides himself. Therefore, please write me just the status of this application so that I can go forward with same, and state fully just what will have to yet be done before same is approved. Yours truly, J. G. Strong County Judge --------------------------------------------- February 7, 1929 Hon. J. G. Strong County Judge Carthage, Texas Dear Judge Strong: I have your letter of February 5th, making inquiry regarding the application for pension of Mr. J. P. Bell. You are advised that this application has been on file in this office since August 5, 1927, and same was rejected on August 27, 1928 on account of the failure of Mr. Bell to furnish satisfactory proof of his military service as a confederate soldier. It is true Mr. Bell furnished the testimony of Ernest Joffrion, who states he served in the Army with J. P. Bell and that he made a good soldier, but is has been impossible for us to identify the Company, or officers under whom he served through the War Department, Washington, D. C. If the service rendered by Mr. Bell was in some regularly organized Company of the Confederate States Army, and it can be proven as required by the Statute, the application of Mr. Bell will be reconsidered. Yours very truly, Comptroller of Public Accounts ------------------------------------------------ June 3, 1929 Livonia, La. Mr. J. P. Bell Tatum, Tx. My Dear Friend, Got your letter on Monday. Glad to hear from you. I am well an living well. Hope you are the same. All news glad to hear from you. Yes I will sign any paper for you. Albert is still living. He is on Red River Your good friend, Ernest Joffrion ------------------------------------------------ A. G. Thompson Colfax, Louisiana July 10th 29 Miss M. E. Neal Austin, Texas Dear Miss Neal, Your letter received. On several occasions I heard Mr. Thompson speak of Mr. Bell, once in counting up the dead of his battery, he said he had lost track of him and did not know whether dead or alive. He was first in battery A Pointe Coupee Artillery under Captain A. Bonauchand, then under West, Yoist & Willie Lyons, was in the battle of Mansura, Port Hudson, Port Hudson, Pleasant Hill, Monethe’s Ferry and Mansfield. At his death, Jan 16th 29, there were but two left that we knew of, Judge Bing Clabourne, of New Roads, La. & one other, living in Pointe Coupee, La. For six years he was almost blind, but had a cataract removed in June of 1928, and was able to see everything, but his health was very bad. I hope Mr. Bell will get help. With best wishes, Cordially, Mrs. A. G. Thompson Write if I can be of farther service. Mr. O’Quinn is a grand son of a Confederate Veteran and makes no charge. Can we be of farther service, let us know. You will find a complete record of these battles in Taylor’s “Destruction & Reconstruction”, Pages 148 to 157. ------------------------------------------------ State of Louisiana Parish of Grant Before me the undersigned authority, duly commissioned and qualified in and for the Parish of Grant, State of Louisiana, Personally came and appeared, Mrs. Katie Belle Thompson, Widow of Albert G. Thompson, Also came and appeared Alfred G. Thompson, Son, of Albert G. Thompson. Both, to me well known to be the persons whom they represent themselves to be, who after being duly sworn depose and say: That during the lifetime of their husband and father that He (their husband and father) discussed at length the days of the Civil War, his comrades, battles, Officers, and etc., that these relations were within the family circle and that he related these incidents often and fully never varying in his stories. That he told of his officers, namely, Captain John West, First Lieutenant John Yoist and second Lieutenant Willie Lyons. Also told of the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Monettes Ferry and Old lCane River (Monettes Ferry is on Cane River) also Mansura Prairie. Mr. Albert G. Thompson, deceased, related that he served in West Battery, Light Flying Artillery. That he often related and told of his comrades that were still living and mentioned the ones that he knew were dead, and upon these occasions also mentioned that there was one of whom he had lost sight and that it was Mr. Bell who was a native of Louisiana: He mentioned Mr. Bell in all of his stories. Further swear that Mr. Thompson was a native of Louisiana. Further that Mr. Thompson was successful in obtaining a pension for his service in the Civil War. Further that Mr. Thompson is relating his war stories in most all cases referred to his comrades by their Family name only, such as Mr. Green, Brown, Bell and etc. Mrs. Katie Belle Thompson, Widow of Albert G. Thompson Alfred G. Thompson Sworn to and subscribed to before me this 10th day of July AD 1929. James J. O’Quinn, Jr. My Commission Expires, Dec. 1934. ------------------------------------------------ July 20, 1929 Mr. J. P. Bell Panola County R.F.D. 2 Tatum, Texas Dear Mr. Bell: Your Application for Confederate Pension is today being approved, same being based on additional testimony filed in your behalf. Assuring you it is a pleasure to serve you at any time I am in position to do so, I am, Yours very truly, State Comptroller of Public Accounts ------------------------------------------------ Re: BELL, Josh P. Confederate War Veteran June 15, 1956 Comptroller of Public Accounts State of Texas Austin, Texas Gentlemen: My father the above named Confederate was approved and paid the Confederate Pension, from the State of Texas, from August 1929 to his death which was September, 1933. I am wanting to make application for a headstone for him, form the Quarter Master General, as same is available form him, if I can establish the dates that he served, with what company, and outfit, and his rank. It will be highly appreciated if you will furnish me a statement showing dates he entered service, date of discharge, so that I may apply for the Headstone, that he so rightly deserves. Yours very truly, Willie H. Bell 3451 Fulton Street Shreveport, La. ------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FOR MORTUARY WARRANT THE STATE OF TEXAS County of Panola I, W. H. Bell do hereby certify that I am the person to whom is entrusted the paying of the accounts of indebtedness of the late J. P. Bell, who was a pensioner of the State of Texas, and whose file number was 45869 and whose original county was Panola. The said pensioner J. P. Bell, died on the 26 day of September, 1933, in the town of Beckville, County of Panola, Texas. The pensioner died in the home of W. H. Bell who was related to the pensioner as son. That the warrant, which application is hereby made for, shall be applied to paying all or part of the funeral expenses incurred by the said pensioner J. P. Bell. I further certify that the warrant for the current quarter has not been cashed by the pensioner, to the best of my knowledge and belief. I am related to the pensioner as son that my post office address is Beckville, Texas. Signed, W. H. Bell Sworn to before me this 9th day of Oct 1933 J. B. Carter Notary Public in and for Panola, State of Texas CERTIFICATE OF UNDERTAKER I, M. J. Whitfield, do certify that I am undertaker in the town of Beckville, County of Panola, State of Texas that I had charge of the body of [blank], who died in the town of Beckville, County of Panola, State of Texas on the 26 day of Sept. 1933. That said body was prepared for burial on the 27 day of Sept. 1933, and that I am of the opinion that warrant herein applied for should be issued to the said W. H. Bell who makes the foregoing application. Signed M. J. Whitfield Undertaker CERTIFICATE OF PHYSICIAN I, J. F. Roussean, do certify that I am a practicing physician, and that I attended J. P. Bell in his last illness, and am of the opinion that his ailments were old age. I further certify that I am of the opinion that the Mortuary Warrant above requested should be issued in the name of the aforementioned applicant, in accordance with Act passed by the Thirty-eighth Legislature and approved March 2, 1923. Signed J. F. Roussean Physician Beckville, Texas ------------------------------------------------ June 18, 1856 Mr. Willie H. Bell 3451 Fulton Street Shreveport, Louisiana J. P. Bell, Deceased Confederate Pensioner Pension File No. 45869 Panola County, Texas Dear Mr. Bell: The records of this office show one J. P. Bell, not shown as Josh P. Bell, filed application for Confederate Pension in the State of Texas August 22, 1927 at which time he stated he was 79 years old – born in Mississippi. The application for pension was approved on the affidavits of witnesses. J. P. Bell stated he served in West’s Louisiana Flying Artillery, Confederate States Army A private. Date of enlistment is not given. He claimed to have served 10 months. He claimed he was on furlough when the war ended in 1865. A report from the office of the Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, D. C. reads as follows: “The name J. P. Bell has not been found on the muster rolls of any organization, State of Louisiana, C.S.A. The records show that one Junius Bell, 6th Field Battery, (Grosse Tete Flying Arty) La. Light Artillery, C.S.A. (For which there are no rolls on file) was paroled June 19, 1865, at Provost, Marshal’s Office, Baton Rouge, La. A private. Date & place of enlistment not shown. No other record found. John Austin Asbury West was Captain of the Battery. Captain Monton has not been identified.” The application for pension was approved on the affidavits of witnesses and on the above report from Washington. No serial number given. Since your father probably enlisted from Louisiana, I suggest you write the Louisiana State Archivist, Baton Rouge, La., and will probably have some information on his enlistment in the confederate Army. Very truly your, Robert S. Calvert Comptroller of Public Accounts