JOSEPH R LEE FORCED TO JOIN CONFEDERATE ARMY AT POINT OF GUN contributed by his
great great grandson Dean Sartain.
DEPOSITION OF Joseph R. Lee
On this 15 day of July, 1896, at Boma, County of Putnam, State of Tenn, before me, L.J. Taylor, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Jos. R. Lee, who being by one first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: I am 62 yrs old: Farmer: Boma, Tenn. I was a pvt. Co. C 1 Tenn. Mtd. Inf. I enlisted in this service in March 1864, and was discharged in Aug, 1865. That is all the service I had in the U.S. Army.
I served a while in the Confederate Army. I was conscripted and taken into the Confederate army. I went into the Confederate army in June, 1863, as well as I now recollect.
I served in the Rebel army about 6 or 7 weeks. I served in what was generally known as Hamilton’s Battn. Of Confederate Calvary. I think it was called the 37 Ky. Regt of Cav. C.S.A. I understood that Dick Morgan was Col. Of the Regt, but he was not with it while I was there and it was then commanded by Lt. Col. Oliver Hamilton.
I was first in a company commanded by Capt. Norris but I do not know the letter of it. There was another Co. commanded by Jos. Shaw. Jink Helms, Jordon Perkins, and Luke Gillens were in Hamilton Battn. while I was there.
How did you come to go into the Confederate Army?
Sometime before they took me off they had been mustering us around here and had notified a lot of us to report to McMinnville for the purpose, we supposed, of going into the Confederate Army. That notice was given by the officers where we were mustering and drilling. They would have us all to meet at Cookeville and muster and drill and they called us home guards I think. And it was there that we were ordered to report to McMinnville. After they ordered us to report to McMinnville I began laying out in the woods, and lay out until they caught me. I had come in hom to kill a hog for my wife the day they came and captured me.
Myself and my brother and Wm. Shaulks who lives some place out West, had it arranged to run off and go to Ky. when they caught myself and my brother.
They kept me under guard after they caught me until we got to camps which was 2 or 3 days. The night we got to camps there were several men said they would answer for me not running away, and they did not keep me in the Guard House that night. The next day we were all sworn into the service, and given a few days furlough to come home, and instructed to report back to the same place at the expiration of our furlough.
I came home and stayed until my furlough was up and then went back. I went back of my own accord, and was not taken back. I may have been home and back a twice or two after that before I finally left them, I cannot tell now.
Q. Why did you finally leave Hamilton’s Battn?
A. They were starting on a raid up about Hillham, and I was sick and not able to go and Lt. Col. Hamilton ordered me to go to a mans house in the neighborhood and I staid aroud there a while and then I sent word to my wife and she sent after me and I came home and staid a while, and after I had been at home a while Luke Gillam came after me and started to take me back to the army, but I was still not well and Gillam allowed me to go back home and stay and I went back and never joined the Rebel army any more.
Q. Why did not not you run ofnd go to Ky. when you came home on furlough while in the Confederate Army?
A. Well the country was so full here of Rebels that I was
afraid to try to go off.
Q. At time you went into the Rebel army would you have rather gone to the U.S.
Army?
A. Yes I would, but after they got me I was afraid to try to run off. We just could not do any better around here than to go into the Rebel Army.
Once before I went into the Rebel army. I had enlisted to go into it, because I did not think I could do any better, but that company never went out. That was before the conscript was passed and a man came around making up a Co. and I enlisted but the Co. never organized and went out.
Q. What ailed you when you were sick in the Rebel Army?
A. Well I had a pain in my left side and a cough like a bad cold. I had no doctor to treat me but I just supposed it was a bad cold. Yes I threw up some, but my bowels were not running off. I had no rheumatism while in the Rebel army.
That is all the service I had in the Revel army. I did not vote on the question of secession.
Q. Give me names of some men who lived near you and knew you well right after discharge?
A. W.N. & R.L. Gentry and Cravin Shauks were my nearest neighbors right after discharge. I do not desire to be present or represented by an atty, during the further examination of my claim.
I was never in a battle while in the Confederate Army, and did not get a uniform. They gave me an old . . . . to use while standing on camp guard around camps. I never was in a battle while in the Rebel army.
No I never went before the Conscript examining board to be examined before going into the Rebel army. They sent me and my brother and Jink Helms to McMinnville one time to load a wagon and I would have run away that time but I was afraid to try it. I have understood questions and my answers are correctly recorded.
J.R. Lee
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15 day of July, 1896, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
L.J. Taylor
Special Examiner
DEPOSITION OF Wm. B. Lee
On this 27 day of March, 1896, at Ogden, County of Weber, State of Utah, before me Sherman Williams a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Wm. B. Lee, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: My age is 69, past occupation farmer, PO address Uintah, Utah.
I served during the late war in Co. I, 1 Tenn. Mtd. Inf., being enlisted about Nov. 1, 1864, served till Aug 1866. I am the uncle of the claimant, have known him from boyhood, lived right by him before the war and the same since up to 1890 when I moved here.
When he was 10 or 12 yrs old he had winter fever, but after that had no other sickness before the war. During the service we were together from Nov. 1864 to about May 1865. We bunked together most of this time. When I first joined the Regt. He was not very well and had what Dr. Sawyer called "varaloid." He got over that so he could do duty. At Livingstall Tenn about Jan 1865, he had what Sawyer called rheumatism. This laid him up and I’m not sure that he ever did any more duty. I don’t remember of having seen him on duty anymore. He was lame and lame and walked with a stick. I don’t think I ever saw him after the war that he didn’t complain of something, more I think of rheumatism & diarrhea than anything else.
About 10 or 15 years ago I learned that he was a little deaf in his right ear. I don’t know whether or not he was deaf in service. He was having trouble with his feet from frostbite when I went into the service & has had ever since.
Yes, I knew about his getting his right ring finger hurt and of having a rising in it. It has probably been 8 years. Yes he has some trouble now from rheumatisms and pain in his head. No I don’t think diarrhea troubles him now. He sometimes complains of smothering spells mostly at night. Yes, he works on the farm. I don’t think he could make over ½ hand if he worked all the time, but he can’t work all the time.
Up to 1890, I know that he has had no sickness except that due to above disabilities.
The foregoing I have heard & it is correct.
William B. Lee.
Despondent
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27 day of March, 1896, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
Sherman Williams
Special Examiner
DEPOSITION OF William B. Lee
In the matter for invalid pension No. 65591 of Joseph R. Lee late of Co. C 1st Regt Tenn Mtd Inf. Vols on this 18th day of Feb 1892, personally appeared before me a Notary Public in & for said county & state Wm. B. Lee late a private Co. "I" 1st Rgt Tenn Mtd Inf. And who I certify to be reputable & entitled to full faith & credit. That he is to me personally known. Being duly sworn states, that he . . . . enlisted at Carthage Tenn in Nov or Dec 1864. When I went there to enlist I found there the claimant being a nephew I enquired as to how he was getting along. I found him sick complaining & suffering with dysentery & rheumatism he then and there alleged to me that he had previously contracted said troubles and also said that the cause of these was from hardship & exposure to cold & wet weather. We stayed together continuously from then until May 1865 & he continuously suffered & complained with said troubles.
We removed from Carthage to Livingston Tenn about Feb 1865 and some time in the spring we went to Muffreesboro Tenn & then the claimant was still suffering and complaining with said troubles. I never saw the claimant any more until Aug or Sept 1865 at our home’s in Putnam County Tenn and he was still suffering & complaining with said troubles. I have lived a near neighbor to him continuously since our discharge & he has to my certain knowledge suffered & complained with said dysentery & rheumatism which in my opinion has an on average rendered him at least one half unable for manual labor year by year and month by month from discharge to date. He during service & since had a pale sallow color, swollen ankles & wrists, pains in the hips & back. My information is that he went once or twice on furlough but I have no personal knowledge of that. My information was at the time we were together that the claimant was on detached service most of the time while we were together. I make these statements from personal knowledge observations & I have no interest in this case except as a kinsman & make these statements from personal knowledge. That I am not concerned in its prosecution.
William B. Lee
Sworn to & subscribed before me on the above day & date and I certify that the foregoing affidavit was fully read and explained to the affiant before he executed the same. I am in nowise interested in this case & am not concerned in its prosecution.
J. S. Mitchell. NP
for said county
DEPOSITION OF Eliza M. Lee
State of Tennessee. Putnam County. In the matter of pension certificate No. 619.249 of Joseph R. Lee Co. "C" 1st Regt Tenn Mtd Vols Inf on this Oct 12th 1896 personally appeared before me a notary public within & for the aforesaid county & state Eliza M. Lee age about 42 years first duly sworn states in relation to the aforesaid case as follows:
My post office is Boma, Putnam County, Tenn. I am a daughter of the claimant and lived with him here in Putnam County, Tenn. when the rebel forces or at least those who was said to be rebels captured him. It was in the latter part of of 1862 or the first part of 1863 as well as I now remember. I know it was hog killing time. He had just killed & hung a hot and came in to eat dinner when they run in and captured him taken him off as a prisoner. He had been laying out to keep from being forced into the confederate and had slipped into kill the family a hog. Before that time I often heard him say that he never intended to go into the rebel army unless forced in. Often said if had to go into any army at all he intended to join the union army for that was the side he was in favor of.
When he got away from the rebels he came back by home and said he intended to go and join the union army and in a short time left house again and said he had then started or was going and join the union army. I personally know that he all ways before and after the rebels captured him as before stated that he was in favor of the union. The family in a short time after Pa’s return from said capture left Putnam County Tenn and went to rowering river and I well remember that Pa said he was then on his way to the union army and I know personally that Ma and no children would go the road & that Pa would take through the woods in order as he and Ma said to keep the rebels from getting him again.
These statements I make from personal knowledge and I have no interest in this matter except my felling as a child and a desire that justice be done. These statements was reduced to writing by John Tucker at the house Sam Myers near Boma Tenn on Oct. 12th 1896 in my presence and from my oral statements made to him & that in making the same I did not use or was not aided or prompted by any written or printed statements or recitals prepared or dictatated by any other person & not attached as an exhibit to this affidavit.
Eliza M. X (her mark) Lee
Attest: John Tucker
Samuel Myers
Sworn to & subscribed before me on the above day & date & I certify that I have no interest one way or another in this case & am not concerned in its prosecution & that said witness is personally well known to me & that she is a credible person and that I am not related to the claimant.
R.L. Gentry, N.P.
For said county
DEPOSITION OF M. B. Jared
On this 15th day of July, 1896, at Buffalo Valley, County of Putnam, State of Tenn, before me, L. J. Taylor, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared M. B. Jared, who, being by me duly sworn to answer duly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:
I am 62 years old: Farmer: Buffalo Valley, Tenn. I knew Jos. R. Lee for several years before he went into the army. I lived 5 or 6 miles from him there. Knew him tolerably well then, but knew of nothing ailing him before he enlisted in the army.
I never served in the army on either side. He served a while in the Confederate army. He was a member of Hamiltons Battery of Confederate Army. I saw them taking him to the Rebel army. I saw them where they had him arrested and were taking him off. They brought him by my fathers house and I was there then and they then had him under arrest and were taking him as I understood to the Rebel army. Columbus Craft was one of the men who had him but I forget who else was along.
My understanding was that he was a Union man in principal, and that he did not want to go into the Rebel army, and never went there until he was taken. At that time, a man might have gone from here to the Union lines. Some people went through while others got caught, and others staid here and lay out.
After he was taken to Hamiltons Battery, I was with it some. I had friends there, and would go there and stay a while at times. When I was there with Hamiltons Battary, he was just staying around there like the rest of them. I do not know how long he staid in Hamiltons Battery. I don’t know why he left them, but my understanding has always been that they forced him into the Rebel army.
It was in the fall of winter when he was taken to the Rebel army. Don’t think he was there long. Don’t know of his having any sickness while there. I have lived 3 or 4 miles from him ever since the war, have seen him I suppose several times a year, but not very often.
He has complained of the rheumatism since the war. I don’t know how long it was after the war when I first heard him complain of the rheumatism. I do not know how the rheumatism effects him. Don’t recollect ever hearing of his having a bad spell of rheumatism at anytime, and being confined to his house with it. I have just him him speak at times along of having rheumatism.
I don’t recollect hearing him complain of piles, sore eyes, deafness, sore feet or other trouble at anytime. I am not related and have no interest. I have understood questions and my answers are correctly recorded.
M. B. Jared
Deponent
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15 day of July, 1896, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
L. J. Taylor
Special Examiner
DEPOSITION OF Joseph R. Lee
State of Tennessee, DeKalb County. In the matter for pension under the general law certificate No. 619249 of Joseph R. Lee late of Co. "C" 1st Tenn Mtd. Inf Vols on this Dec 30, 1897, personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace within & for the aforesaid county & state the claimant Jospeh R. Lee age 60 years a residence of Putnam County & post office Boma Tenn, well and personally known to me to be reputable & entitled to full faith and credit as a witness & who being duly sworn states in relation to his claim . . . . . . some time in the spring about May I think 1864 at Carthage Tenn, I was taken with what the regiment surgeon Abe King said was Typhoid fever & . . . . . . Said could be up & about a little and taken a relaps & sent back to the hospital with said relaps and suffered greatly. When I was first attack with said fever I had discharges of the bowels frequently & of blood some said they thought it was bloody flux & when I taken relaps. I had some discharges of blood again, but not so bad at first. Shortly after I got better of relaps & begain feeling an aching of the joints of my ankles, knee shoulders, elbow wrists, back & hips and shortly there after my finger, wrists, knee & elbow & joints begain to swell up & pain me considerably to such an extent they became some what stiffened & I was forced to use crutches & canes for some considerable time. I used crutches & nearly the whole of the time in the service & since I have used sticks and cans. Some times I can go without crutches most of the time I can, but at times I become soors & have to use crutches. I was treated in the service by our regimental surgeon Drs. Sayers & King at Carthage in what they called a hospital but it was a mausonic Hall a while & an academy a while. Sayers is dead or his whereabout is unknown to me. I cannot therefore prove treatment in the service by a physician. I don’t know the whereabouts of any soldier who was in said Hospital while I was there.
My company or the most of it was discharged in Dec 1864. I was transferred to the 8th Tenn Imtd Inf. And I was not discharged until Aug 1865. I think I left Nashville about Aug 14, 1865. I came home here in Putnam Co Tenn. and went under the treatment of Dr. M. W. Sypert who treated me yearly from Aug or Sept 1865 the date I got home until Sypert’s death in June 1888. Said Sypert advised me to file for pension time & again from the date he commenced treating me in 1865 or near that time until finally about May 1888 as well as I remember said Sypert told me & insisted on me filing saying that he was getting old & perhaps when I needed him I could not get him & sure enough about June 1888 as well as I remember Sypert died. Sypert was my family physician from 1865 until his death in whom I put a great deal of confidence as a physician & said Sypert was the only physician to treat me for said troubles from 1865 to 1888 date of his death. After Syperts death I taken medicine from Dr. John H. Young but he is now dead so I cannot furnish medical evidence of treatment since discharge. These statements I make from personal knowledge. Dr. Abe King so his son told me has been dead several years.
Joseph R. Lee
Sworn to & subscribed before me on the above day & date & I certify that said affidavit was fully read & explained to the affiant before he executed the same. I have no interest in this case & am not concerned in its prosecution.
M. S. Maynard, J.P.
for said county
DEPOSITION OF Joseph R. Lee
On this 27 day of March, 1896, at Ogden, County of Weber, State of Utah, before me, Sherman Williams, Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Joseph R. Lee, who, being duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:
My age is 62 past occupation farmer, residence of address Uintah, Utah. Served during the late war as Pvt. Co. C 1 Tenn Mtd Inf. Enlisted I think March 1864 was discharged Aug 24, 1865. Have no other military service & was never in U.S. Navy. I was raised in Jackson Co. Tenn. I lived on a farm up to what –must enlisted from Jackson Co. I had a spell of winter fever when I was a very small boy. I also had bilious fever once, but aside from these troubles never had any sickness before enlistment. When I went into the service Dr. Sawyers (dead) stripped & examined me. Yes sir was healthy at that time. Had no disability at all. I claim pension on an account of rheumatism & heart disease and disease of the testicles caused by mumps & deafness also injury to right hand as result of rheumatism. That all I have except frost bitten feet.
In Carthage Tenn I think, last of April 1864 I had typhoid fever. I was sick 4 or 5 weeks & in hospital in Carthage, do not know name. I had a relapse and was sick 5 or 6 weeks more & when I got up my right arm & elbow had rheumatism very badly, and my arm & hand were drawn, but not so badly as now. My right leg at the knee was also "drawed." I got some better there for awhile but still had rheumatism. In I think Feby 1865, at Livingston, Tenn I had it again very bad. We had been the rain & had gotten wet & had to lie in the wet ground and I got very lame & so I could hardly walk. I kept on having rheumatism & had it at my M.O. I continued & in 3 or 4 years after my discharge I had a very bad attack of rheumatism at Double Springs, Putnam Co. Tenn, and at this time had to go on crutches for about two months. I have never had such a bad spell since but have had it every year & have it now. My heart began troubling me just before I left the service. I think we were stationed at Murfreeboro in the summer of 1865. I had diarrhea & had gotten very weak and my heart began fluttering. After I was M.O. I had the same ……..I went to Dr. Wm. Farmer, Buffalo Valley, Putnam Co. Tenn and he told me that I had palpitations of the heart. No he never examined nor treated me. I just talked with him about it. I have had that same trouble ever since. It troubles me mostly when I exert myself, walk up hill and at night I feel a smothering sensation with it. This troubles me when I do any work sometimes once a week others not for longer.
I had mumps I think it was 1865 at Overton Co. Tenn Livingston. My throat was …….& had to march in the rain & my testicle cords began hurting me. I did not go to the hospital, but remained in my qurs at Livingston before starting on the march for a week or ten days. No I didn’t go off duty after my cards began hurting. My testicles swelled a little. My cords even since have had a kind of a misery some times very bad. No sir there is no enlargement of cords or testicles.
My right ear began getting deaf just about the time I was discharged, and I supposed it was due to taking of medicine, don’t know the kind or ………The deafness of that ear has grown worse ever since the war. My left ear is not very deaf & I first noticed about 10 years ago.
I got my feet frozen I think about Jany 1865 while on guard duty at Carthage, Tenn. No sir I didn’t go off duty, but I split my boot and Dr. Sawyers (dead) gave me medicine & it got to "reassuring." My feet have bothered me ever since. They simply burn & hurt & ice cold weather get very bad. I had the yellow jaundice in the summer of 1864 after I got up from typhoid fever. I was off duty on account of the 2 or 3 weeks. There was nothing it left me with unless it helped to cause this heart trouble.
I have piles a little and I have diarrhea every fall, I think. I got em both in the war but they don’t trouble me much now. My diarrhea came on while I had typhoid fever. I then passed quite a good deal of blood, I think, after I got up from typhoid fever that I had diarrhea fro awhile then it didn’t bother me any more till the fall of 1864. I have had it same every fall. My piles came an with diarrhea. My bowels are not & never had been regular since some times I go for 3 or 4 days other they break loose & run off for awhile. No have no other trouble besides these & make no claim for any thing else. After the war I came back to Putnam Co Tenn to Boma and lived there until I came here last Oct.
Robt Herring, Mine Lick Creek PO, Silver Point, Tenn.
W.N.Gentry, Cookville, Putnam Co. Tenn.
A.Y. Gibson, Bloomington, Putnam Co. Tenn.
Capt Francis M. Anderson, Bozarth, Tenn.
C.M. Shanks, Boma. Putnam Co. Tenn. and Wm. B. Lee of Unita Utah all knew me
before the war and were all in the service except Gentry and I have lived right
there as neighbors to these men ever since the war. These I think are all the
witnesses I need. I think Shanks is not very friendly to me.
The first I noticed any thing the matter with me eyes was just as I getting over the mumps. I simply had pain in my head …..The next they bothered me was 15 or 20 years ago. They simply seemed to get weaker & I began wearing glasses. I have no witnesses here except my uncle W.B. Lee no one else know me or anything of my disabilities.
I have understood your questions have heard the foregoing statement read am correctly recorded herein.
Joseph R. Lee
Deponent
I got the ring finger of my right hand hurt by a hand saw 6 or 8 years ago, which resulted in a rising on my knuckle and when the rising get well the finger was like it is now all "drawed" The foregoing is correct.
Joseph R. Lee
Deponent
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27 day of Mch, 1896, and I certify that
the contents were full known to deponent before signing.
Sherman Williams
Special Examiner
DEPOSITION OF Joseph R. Lee
State of Tennessee Putnam County. In the matter for pension No. 619249 of Joseph R. Lee late of Co. "C" 1st Regt Tenn Mtd Vols Inf. On this Oct 2nd 1896 personally appeared the claimant before me a notary public within & for said state & county the claimant who being duly sworn states:
My age is 62 years. Post Office Boma Putnam County Tenn. I was at home hear in Putnam County Tenn. in Jan or Feb 1863 dodging about to keep out of the Confederate service. My wife was then down sick (She is now dead) I lay out at night in order to keep from being forced into the Confederate service. I slipped in home to kill a hog one day for meat for my family & to see my sick wife and about the time I got through and went into the house to eat dinner the rebel forces run into the yard and they captured me & carried me to Hamilton’s forces on Rawenings River in Jackson Co. Tenn. I stayed with the rebel forces until my first safe chance (as I thought) when I made my escape and afterwards volunteered in Co. "C" 1st Tenn Mtd Vols Inf US service. I now state most positively & impatiently that I never did aid or abet counsil or incourage or even sympathise with the southern Confederacy for if God knows my heart & all ways thought to little of said southern Confederacy to aid it any way. I would not have went with them when I did but was over powered and by force of arms made to go. If I should ever be dropped from the pension rolls for being in the Confederate service I would rather be dropped & accoused of being in any other servide known to history than Hamilton’s Command because they were generally known as Hamilton’s horse thieves & I would rather be called anything else on earth except a sheep rouge. If I am not entitled to pension please just drop me and charge me with any thing else than a volunteer in Hamiltons horse thieves command. A common liar a fraud and a perjured vilian I would rather be called than a volunteer in Hamilton’s horse thief command. I was always a true and loyal citizen & can fully show the same by men who was loyal citizens (not Hamiltons horse thieves) & I have send the affidavits fo Crovin M. Shanks.
The fact that I were with Hamiltons horse thieves I do not deny but the charge that I volunteered in that or any other Confederate service is wholly false & ……..I was forced to go with them or die & of course I went & cannot & could not help it but I left then the first safe chance I got as I stated to Mr. Taylor Special Examiner. The confederates came to my house once while my wife was sick before they taken me off & wanted me to volunteer & they were several in number & I did tell them if they wanted to they could put my name down. I done this in order to get rid of them & never aimed to go & in fact never went until I was captured & forced to go. I know nothing about as I now remember Co. I 1st E Tenn Rifles or 37th Tenn Inf. My recollections now is that they called themselves 37th Ky Cav.
This affidavit was reduced to writing by John Tucker at Silver Point, Tenn on Oct 2nd 1896 in my presence from my oral statements made to him and that in making the same I did not use & was not aided or prompted by any written or printed statements or recitals prepared or dictated by any other person & not attached as an exhibit to this affidavit & I make these statements from personal knowledge.
Joseph R. Lee
Sworn to & subscribed before me Oct 2nd 1896 & I certify that I have no
interest in this case & I am not concerned in its prosecution & said
affiant is to me well known & is a credible person this Oct. 2nd 1896.
G.S. Mitchell N.P.
for said county.
DEPOSITION OF A.B. Lee
On this 13 day of July, 1896, at Boma, County of Putnam State of Tenn, before me, L.J. Taylor, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared A. B. Lee, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:
I am 47 years old: Farmer: Boma, Tenn. I am a brother of the claimant and have known him every since I can recollect. He was married and lived to himself before the war, but he always lived close to me, from ¼ to 1 ¼ miles of me up until he enlisted in the army.
I knew of nothing ailing him before he enlisted in the U.S. army. He was conscripted and taken into the Confederate army for a while, and he got sick while in there and I went after him and brought him home.
He was in what was called Hamiltons Battn of Conferate Calvary for a while. I think he was not in that service over 3 months. He went into that service under the conscript laws. He did not want to go into the Rebel army and my understanding was that they captured him and took him there by force though I did not see them taking him. He got sick while in the Rebel army up about Hillhaw, Overton Co. Tenn. and work came to us that he was sick and we went up there after him and brought him home, and he staid at home until he got well and then he went through unto Ky. and joined the U.S. army. I don’t know what ailed him when he was sick that time and I do not recollect what he complained of. I recollect hearing one of my brothers say that when he took sick he began by vomiting. They had started out on a raid and he was taken sick on the route and the other soldiers went on and left him, and after that we went and brought him home. My brother who was with him in the Rebel army was killed during the war. My understanding was that this claimant never got any equipment or arms while in the Confederate army, and that he and my other brother who was there with him watched for a chance to get away all time they were there.
He had some sickness while he was in the U.S. army. My
understanding was that he had yellow jaundice & mumps while in the service,
and that they effected his eyes. It was said that he took cold on them. I did
not see him however while he had the mumps, or while his eyes were effected, but
he came home some time after that and had the diarrhea pretty bad. He was at
home late in Spring or Summer of 1864, and at that time had the diarrhea. That
was all I knew to ail him at that time. He had been sick at Carthage, Tenn, once
before that, I think in the winter of 1863-4. I had been down to Carthage to see
him. He had been in the hospital before I went there but was up able to mope
about when I went to see him. I don’t know what ailed him at that time.
I lived about ½ mile from him at time he was mustered out, and have lived that
distance to 1 ½ miles from him ever since then until he went to Utah, a few
months ago. I saw him very frequently all along after the war and worked him a
right smart.
Did you know of anything ailing him when he first came home from the army?
Yes, he was not well the whole summer after he came home, and did not raise any crop except what his family raised. He complained then of being weak and had the diarrhea pretty bad. I expect he had diarrhea for a year after he was mustered out. I think he got well of the diarrhea after he had been home a while, and I do not recollect hearing him complain of that any more since then. He also complained along after he came home of his eye sight being bad. His eyes were not sore after the war, but he complained all along of his sight being bad, particularly at night he would say he could not see. He had not complained so much of his eyes since right after discharge but I have heard him speak of them being effected all along at times. That was all I knew to ail him when he was first discharged from the service. Sometime after he came home from the army he had a spell of sickness when he was down pretty bad the most of one winter. I do not know exactly when that was but I think it was 3 or 4 years after the war. He got down for a while so that he could not go at all, and then I think he had to walk on crutches a while. He was not able to do anything that whole winter. He was taken along in the fall of the year. He complained then principally of his hips hurting him. Complained some of a hurting all over his body, but principally of his hips. Dr. Sypert, dead, who attended him then, said that he had sciatic pains. He himself has called the trouble rheumatism. I never knew of his having any trouble of that kind before that spell. I never knew of his having anything like rheumatism or sciatic pains while he was in the army. I don’t know what the doctor thought caused the trouble, but have heard him say that he thought it was caused by exposure while he was in the army. I have heard him complain of his hips, or some rheumatic trouble ever since he had that spell but never knew of his being down since then. At times when I would be at work with him he would say that he had a pain in his hips or something of that kind. That is all I have known to ail him since the war. Some time ago he got something the matter with one of his hands which caused some of his fingers to draw up. My recollection is that he had a . . . on his hand. I have understood questions and my answers are correctly recorded.
A.B. Lee
Deponent
Sworn to an subscribed before me this 13 day of July, 1896, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
L. J. Taylor
Special Examiner
DEPOSITION OF Joseph R. Lee
State of Tennessee County of Putnam
This day personally appeared before me, J.W. Burks, a notary public in and for Putnam County and aforesaid state, Joseph R. Lee, known to me to be the identical person he represents himself to be and whose post office is Boma, Putnam County, Tennessee and after being duly sworn according to law says that he was a soldier in US Civil War of 1861 to 1865 in the United States, that he served in the Federal Army in Co. C 1st Tennessee Vol Mtd Inf and that he is drawing a United States Pension at the rate of $15 per month, that his certificate is No. 619249.
Said Joseph R. Lee futher says that he come before me, J.W. Burks, the undersigned N.P. on or about the 7th day of Oct 1908 and qualefide to a declaration for increase on his pension under the act of Feb. 6, 1907. He futher says that he did not keep any date or record of the same but he sent said declaration to the Pension Bureau at Washington D.C. and holds a receipt from the United States Pension Commission for the same and that said declaration was januwine and signed by his own hand.
This Nov. 13th 1908
Joseph R. Lee
Boma, Tennessee
Witness:
W.G. Anderson
T.L. Hirren
I hereby certify that the above affidavit was signed in my presants and sworn to before me and I further certify that I have not got any record or dates of any declaration for pension, that I qualified the above said Joseph R. Lee to this.
J.W. Burks, N.P.
Boma, Tennessee
DEPOSITION OF Cravin Shanks
On this 15 day of July, 1896, at Buffalo Valley, County of Putnam, State of Tenn, before me, L.J. Taylor, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Cravin Shanks, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:
I am 61 years old: Farmer: Buffalo Valley, Tenn. I was pvt Co. C. 1 Tenn Mtd Inf. I have known claimant Jos. R. Lee all my life. I lived from 2 to 5 or 6 miles from him before we enlisted in the army and was well acquainted with him at that time. He served a while in the Confederate army.
How did he come to go into the Rebel army?
He was conscripted and forced to go into the Rebel army. He claimed to be a Union man at that time, and all the rest of the time before and after that. I did not see him while he was in the Rebel army, nor did I see them take him off, but it was my understanding that they caught him and took him to the Rebel army under guard and he was forced to join them. They had me conscripted and were after me at same time they took him off but they never caught me. It was my understanding that he belonged to Hamilton Battn. I do not know how long he stayed with them, but only a few days I think. He left them the first opportunity he got and went up into Ky. and came around and joined our Regt. at Carthage. It was always my understanding that he was forced to serve in the Rebel army all the time he staid there.
At time he was taken into the Rebel army could not a man have gone from here to the Union lines?
Yes if he did not get caught. Sometimes a man could get away all right and at other times he would get caught and brought back. The claimant served in same Co. with me about 10 months but didn not mess or bunk with me any.
Did you now of his contracting any disability while in the service.
Yes he was sick there a while but I do not know what ailed him. He came to us at Carthage, Tenn. in Jany 1864, I think and after that a time he took sick. He had his family there for a while and was at home part of the time while he was sick, then he went to the hospital a while. I think his sickness then was a cold and may be some kind of a fever, and it is my impression, though I cannot be positive about it, that he had measles along later in the Spring. He was sick nearly all that Spring of 1864. and staid at Carthage after the Regt went up to Nashville.
Cravin X (his mark) Shanks
Deponent
Attest:
E. Shank
B.F. Shank
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15 day of July 1896, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
L.J. Taylor
Special Examiner
DEPOSITION OF Robert Herrin
On this 17 day of July 1896, at Ditty, County of Putnam, State of Tenn., before me. L. J. Taylor, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Robert Herrin, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:
I am 65 yrs old: Farmer: Ditty, Tenn. I was a pvt Co. C 1 Tenn Mtd. Inf. I have known soldier Jos. R. Lee ever since we were boys. He and I used to go to school together. I lived 5 or 6 miles from him before the war but I saw him every once in a while and was pretty well acquainted with him up until we went into the army together.
I did not know of anything ailing him before he enlisted in the army.
I heard that he served a while in the Confederate army, but I had no personal knowledge of that. He came into my company as a recruit some time after I enlisted. He came to our Co. in the Spring of 1864 sometime at Carthage, Tenn.
All I know about his case is, that directly after he came to our Co. he was taken sick and sent off to the hospital, and was sick for some time. I don’t know how long. I never went about him while he was sick and don’t know how he was effected at all. This was at Carthage. After he got up able to go about I met him there around camps and asked him how he was getting along, and he said that he was getting some better but that he was still mighty weak. He was walking with a stick then and looked weak and feeble like he had had a pretty severe spell. He might have told me when what ailed him but if he did I don’t remember it now.
I did not know of any thing else ailing him after he got over that spell. He was with our Co. some after that, but staid most of the time with another Co., Capt Pret Jones Co. I think. I do not recollect hearing him complain of rheumatism during service. Don’t know whether that spell was typhoid fever, or a bowel trouble or not. I do not recollect him complaining of piles, sore feet, or his eyes or hearing being effected during service.
I just recollect his having that spell of sickness, but cannot tell what ailed him. I have lived 6 or 7 miles from him since the war, and have seen him occasionally along. I have not been with him enough since discharge to know how his health has been. I have heard him state since he has been working for his pension what ailed him but I forget now what it was.
I have heard my or…. affidavit read. I have heard him state since he has been working at his pension what ailed him, but I have forgotten what he said ailed him. I am not related and have no interest. I understand questions and my answers are correctly recorded.
Robert X (his mark) Herrin
Deponent
Attest:
A.P. Young
L.J. Taylor
No other witnesses obtainable L.J.T.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17 day of July, 1896, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
L.J. Taylor
Special Examiner
DEPOSITION OF A.Y. Gibson
On this 17 day of July, 1896, at Double Springs, County of Putnam, State of Tenn, before me, L.J. Taylor, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared A.Y. Gibson, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:
I am 49 years old: Farmer: Double Spring, Tenn.
I was a pvt. Co. H. 1 Tenn Mtd. Inf. I knew soldier Jos. R. Lee some time before we enlisted in the army. I lived 4 or 5 miles from him before we enlisted and knew him tolerably well. I knew of nothing ailing him before we enlisted in the army.
He joined the Regt. I belonged to sometime in 1864. I joined the company in 1863, and he came into the Regt in 1864 I think. I first joined Co. C. and did duty in that company some time and then when Co. H. was organized I went into that. I do not know which Co. he belonged to but he served a good deal with me in Co. H.
Along in latter part of March or April 1865 I had been at home here on a furlough and while I was here the Company was ordered to move from Livingston, Tenn. to Murfreeboro, and as they came through this county on the road and his wife got me to take him some medicine which she had fixed up for him, some grease and stuff which she had fixed up, as I not recollect, for his rheumatism. I took the medicine and gave it to him. He was marching with the Co. abut he was complaining and I think was being excused from duty at that time. I don not remember how the trouble effected him at that time but my recollection is that he claimed to have the rheumatism. I do not know how long he was sick nor how seriously he was effected.
We were discharged latter part of April or first of May 1865, and it is my recollection that he was left at Nashville, for some reason or other, and did not come home with the rest of us. I do not know how the rheumatism effected him. I do not recollect hearing of his having rheumatism before the occasion mentioned above. He also had diarrhea some while in service, but then we all had that.
I recollect that he had diarrhea along about April 1865, while we were laying at Nashville waiting to be mustered out. I don’t know how long he had the diarrhea at that time. I am not certain whether I heard him complain of piles some since discharge. It is my recollection that I heard him complain of piles some along during service but do not recollect the time nor place and am not certain that he complained of piles then. That is all I recollect ailing him during service.
Right after discharge I lived 2 or 2 ½ mile of him for 8 or
10 years. Since then I have lived from 5 to 12 or 15 miles from him. I saw him
pretty often during the 8 or 10 years. I lived close to him and worked with him
some at rafting and hauling logs. Since that time, I have not seen a great deal
of him. I heard him complain of piles and rheumatism effecting him a long after
discharge.
How long was it after discharge until you heard him complain of rheumatism.
It was not right away after discharge. I was a long some 2 or 3 years after the war when he and I were hauling logs and rafting logs that I would hear him complain of the rheumatism, and about same time I begun to hear him complain of piles.
I do not know what part of his body the rheumatism effected. I do not recollect of his ever being so bad off with rheumatism as to be confined to his house. It seems to me that he had a pretty bad spell of some kind of sickness a long soon after the war, but I don’t recollect what it was that ailed him now.
I have heard him complain of having the rheumatism at times a long since then when I have met up with him, but do not know how it has effected him at all. I have heard him complain of piles at times along since then. I don’t recollect his complaining any of the diarrhora since discharge.
I do not remember of his having mumps, or complaining of his testicles, or eyesight or hearing during service or since. Don’t recollect hearing him complain of heart disease or of frost bitten feet during service or since.
I am not related and have no interest. I do not recollect whether I messed or bunked with him during service or not, but I was very well acquainted with him then, as well as a man could be pretty near.
I have understood questions and my answers are correctly recorded.
A.Y. Gibson
Deponent
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17 day of July, 1896, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
L.J. Taylor
Special Examiner.
LETTER FROM Jos. R. Lee
Silver Point, Tenn
Nov. 8, 1888
The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
In reply to your letter of July 4, 1888, would state that my places of residence since my discharge has been in the 17th Civil Dist of Putnam Co. Tenn continuously. My post office has Silver Point, Tenn. My occupation has been that of a Farmer the whole time. My diseases to wit. Sciatic Rheumatism, Typhoid Fever resulting dysentery came on me or originated at Carthage Tenn in the spring o 1864 super induced by hardship as a soldier and exposure to cold wet weather & relaps of typhoid fever, causing me to discharge blood. I have continuously discharged blood & suffered with swelling of ankles, rists & aching of bones, causing me to be made to strighten my arms & especially my right arm & suffer continuously with a soreness & a tenderness about the small of the back.
I have been treated by Dr. M.W. Sypert who was my main family physician & who is dead. I was treated once by Dr. John H. Young who is also dead. These Drs residences was Silver Point, Tenn for Dr. Sypert and Buffalo Valley, Tenn for Young. I have been more or less ever year incapasitated for the performance of labor since my discharge which I think prevented me at least two thirds of the time from labor.
Respectfully,
J.R. Lee
DEPOSITION OF A.B. Lee
State of Tennessee Putnam County. In the matter of invalid pension certificate No……..of Joseph R. Lee on this Oct 14 1891. Personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace in for the aforesaid county & state A.B. Lee age 41 years a residence of said county Post Office Boma Tenn well known to me to be reputable & entitled to full faith & credit & who being duly sworn according to law states:
That during the late war, the claimant Joseph R. Lee came to his home in Putnam County Tenn complaining of being sick with chronic dirreaha and dysentery also complained with rheumatism claimed to have relaps of same kind of disease or fever, that he had contracted while with his command. He stayed at home awhile went back. After his discharge he located in Putnam County Tenn about ¾ of a mile of me and at no time since the close of the late has he lived over two miles of me. I have seen him often each year been with him at divers public gatherings social meetings & c and he has continuously suffered and complained with said dirrhoea dysentery and rheumatism yearly since his return from the service and at one time about 12 to 16 years ago I made him a pair crutches he was then unable to get about with what his Dr. (M.W. Sypert) called sciatica rheumatism and was then confined nearly the whole of one fall and I saved his wheat for him. In my opinion he had by reason of sciatica rheumatism dirrehoea & dysentery been at least one half incapacitated from the performance of manual labor, and at times unable to labor at all & again could do average labor but taking the time right through from onth to month & from year to year continuously since the close of the late war & his return home from the service & the short time he was at home during the service he has been on an average in my opinion about one half incapacitated for labor.
I am in nowise interested in this case nor am I concerned in its prosecution & make these statements from my own personal knowledge observations & c. but am a recognized brother of the claimant.
A.B. X (his mark) Lee
Attest:
John Tucker
J.H. Thompson
Sworn to & subscribed before me on the above day & date. I hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit was fully read & explained to the affiant before he executed the same. I am in nowise interested in this case nor am I concerned in its prosecution.
P.S> Cole, J.P.
For said county
Cetificate on file.
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