Lincoln County, Tennessee - Pension File Letters

There are many interesting letters in the Pension Files from the soldiers and from people who knew them. These letters show the hard times these brave soldiers went through, not only during the war, but trying to get approved for a pension. I have corrected the spelling and grammar in some, and in others, I have transcribed them exactly how they were written.

Pension File Letter written by  B F Smith March 13, 1922, Fayetteville, Tennessee

Gentlemen,

I received your reply dated March 9, 1922. I note "it seems I taken the oath at Chattanooga Oct 23, 1863. I was forced to take the oath at Williamsburg, Ky about 200 miles from Chatanooga. Note the date of my parole filed with my application, it bears the date Oct 15, 1863, at that time I was about 225 miles from Chattanooga. It was impossible to have walked that distance in 8 days crippled. You can also note filed with the application the oath dated Oct 23, 1863, date of parole Oct 15 1863, from Oct 15, 1863 to Oct 23 1863 gives me 8 days crippled and barefooted to walk 225 miles a straight line from Perrysville to Chatanooga. The oath was forced by a drinking set of Bushwhackers. The word Chatanooga appeared on the oath. I suppose the blanks were printed at Chatanooga but I was not there. Sirs, you will note in my application "I was captured by the enemy and placed in prison 8 days then. I was given an honorable parole and carried outside the Federal lines and dumped between the two armies, captured again" by about 25 men wearing citizens clothes. I knew they were not officers, hence I called them Yankey bushwhackers and forced by them to sign the oath or be shot 8 days after I was paroled Oct 23, 1863. At Harrodsville near Perrysville, Ky. I was paroled Oct 15, 1863. They "Federal officers" me through the Federal lines between the two armies and turned me loose. The first night I stopped at Camp Dick Robinson. Next morning when I got up I found a rope made me a bridle caught a loose horse being unable to walk, I rode said horse until I caught up with the guard of the southern army. The guard wanted to dismount me the off "boys you can't do that he is a cripple and brought that horse from the rear, they looked at my parole and let me pass on. Late that evening I came near London, I left the main road about 100 yards to a house, I called the man told him I was crippled, no money and asked to stop over night, he gave me something to eat, fed the horse. Next morning he wanted to buy the horse. I showed my barefoot all swollen that I could hardly walk on my toes, could not wear a show if I had one, when he saw we could not trade, he directed me to ride around his field and come back in the main road which proved a decoy to get the horse. I left him and about 1/2 mile some one in the bushes said "halt" the party came out of the bushes, gun cocked and said I want that horse, he said to me my finger was on the trigger and I could killed you but saw I could get the horse without that, he took the horse. I limped on about one mile and was captured by about one dozen men dressed in Federal uniforms. I showed my parole and the head man told me to go on. I crossed a small stream where they were building a mill, they cussed me, they cussed and called me a damned rebel. I passed a few yards and a man in a wagon over taken me and spoke and asked me dram? I refused said he had a keg of brandy under the straw in the wagon, he said I am the best friend you have got in this world and told me the danger I was in but to get in the wagon. I did he covered me with straw and carried me to his house about 15 miles near Williamsburg and wanted me to stay with him but on the morning of the 23rd of Oct, 1863 he said if you will go you can't take your knap-sack. I left it and he gave me a pillow slip he said they would kill me if I carried the knap sack. I left him I passed on about one mile and came to a small house where it looked like a saloon where there was about 25 men dressed in citizens clothes, not officers where they forced me to sign the oath under pain of death on Oct 23rd, 1863. Now gentlemen I have given you the facts minutely at length. If I am not worthy or entitled to a pension I do not want it. I know I have not misrepresented anything. On account of my cripple I was incapasitated for service many years, not entirely well yet besides my parole shows I were to be exchanged I never received a notice of such. Never heard of my command nowhere at no time not even one of them never.

Respt

B F Smith

(B F Smith lived in Fayetteville, Tennessee at the time he filed his application. He was born in Coosa County, Alabama, October 10, 1841)