Wayne County, NC - James R. Dail Civil War Pension Record

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                                                Goldsboro, NC
                                                Mar. 25, 1923

Supt. & Directors of Soldiers Home

Dear Sirs:

I am writing to give you the facts concerning my honorable discharge
from the service of the War between the States.

I was in hospital at Smithville (now Sadleport) perfectly paralized
in my right side & had just recovered from a long spell of rheumatism
when they evacuated the forts down there, just before the fall of
Fort Fisher.

I then fell in hands of the Yankees and I was removed from there to
Sugar Loaf & remained there a short time then carried to Wilmington
NC to a Marine Hospital.

Every prisoner of whom I knew that was captured took the oath except
myself and drew afterwards a United States pension. 

They (the Yankees) worked mighty hard to get me to take the oath & they
asked me a question concerning the Confederate States & while I was
considering my answer not to give them any hold on the Confederacy, 
they said to me you think you won't answer our questions but we will
show you whether you will or not! 

I didn't know what the result would be by my not answering. These private
Yankees took me down in my weak condition and gouged me awhile trying
my principle & I told them if they would lay a razor against my throat
I would not betray my country and people.

I was true & faithful and no deserter. They kept me in the Marine
Hospital at Wilmington without putting a guard over me until about the
last of June they let me go home after Lee's surrender. I surely would 
have suffered death before I would have deserted my country or people. 

I stated here in the Court House before a deserter who was getting out
his papers for a deserter's pension that I would rather live from hand
to mouth than live grandly on a deserter's pension.

Mr. Denmark gave me the hint that the deserter was still present. I
told him I had no apology to make that I meant what I said.

I am truly yours in hope of eternal life.

                                           Jas. R. Dale
                                           R-3
                                           Goldsboro, NC

I affirm these to be facts just as though they were sworn.


Source:
NC Archives & History
James R. Dail Civil War Pension File
Accompanied his application to the Soldier's Home

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Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Guy Potts - gpotts1@nc.rr.com
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