James Madison Evans Civil War Pension

Pension File # 8456
State of Tennessee

SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

NAME J. M. Evans
Filed Sept. 26, 1906

[View pension application for widow, Matilda Evans]

FILE IS STAMPED AcceptedSOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

I, J. M. Evans a native of the State of Tennessee and now a citizen of Tennessee, resident at Friendship in the County of Crockett in said State of Tennessee, and who was a soldier from the State of Tennessee in the war between the United States and the Confederate States, do hereby apply for aid under the Act of the General Assembly of Tennessee, entitled “An Act for the benefit of indigent and disabled soldiers of the late war between the States, and to fix the fees of attorneys or agents for procuring such pension, and fixing a penalty for the violation of the same.” And I do solemnly swear that I was a member of Co. A. 12 Tennessee Infantry in the service of the Confederate States in the service of the Confederate or United States, and that by reason of disability and indigence I am now entitled to receive the benefit of this Act. I further swear that I do not hold any National, State, or County office, nor do I receive aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, and that I am not an inmate of any soldier’s home, and that I am unable to earn a reasonable support for myself and family. I do further solemnly swear that the answers given to the following questions are true:

In what County, State and year were you born?
Answer: I was borned in Wayne County Tenn. Oct. 18, 1839

When did you enlist and in what command? Give the names of the regimental and company officers under whom you served.
Answer: I volunteered Apr. 1st 1861. Col. R. M. Russell 12 Tenn Inft Robert Caldwell, Major. Tyree Bell Lieutenant Col. Marion Walker Capt. John Sanders Gus Rice and Gentry Mcgee Lieuts.

In what battle or battles were you engaged, and, if not wounded, state what disabilities did you receive, if any?
Answer: I was the in Battles of Belmont, Mo. Shilo, Tenn. Murfreesboro Tenn. Missionary Ridge Chickamauga Lookout Mount. I was in every engagement of our command to Peachtree Creek. There I was wounded

What was the precise nature of your wound or disability, if any?
Answer: I had my thigh broke by a minie Ball was never able for service afterward

Were you incapacitated for service by reason of said wound or disability incurred?
Answer: I was

Were you discharged from the army by reason of said wound or disability?
Answer: I was furloughed and never able to return to the army.

If discharged from the army, where were you and what did you do until the close of the war?
Answer: I was furloughed at Barnesvill Georgia I went on crutches —– after the close of the war.

What was the name of the surgeon who attended you?
Answer: I do not remember the name of surgeon. I was out of my mind for a long time

How did you get out of the army, when and where?
Answer: furloughed as soon as I was able to be moved from Barnesville Geo.

Did you take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government?
Answer: I was forced to take the oath at Brownsville Tenn

If so, when and under what circumstances?
Answer: See last answer

Are you married, or have you been married?
Answer: I am

If so, what is the size of your family living together?
Answer: myself and wife. she lost her mind 30 years ago.

What are the respective ages of your wife and children living with you?
Answer: my wife was 60 years of age last January

To what sex do your children belong?
Answer: I have 2 children one son, & one daughter

Are not some of your children able to support you?
Answer: They are. But I do not rec. any support from them whatever.

In what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?
Answer: I am not able to do anything to make a living. I do no earn anything

What estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: I own 56 1/2 acres of land in my own & wifes name, valued at $500. My personal property is one horse, worth $100. one cow and 2 hogs worth $25.00

What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: She has 14 acres of land but that is included in the 56 1/2 acres reported above. She has no personal property

How have you derived support for yourself and family for the past five years?
Answer: By the rent of our little farm

Do you use intoxicants to any extent?
Answer: No

How long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?
Answer: All my life long

Have you an attorney to look after this application?
Answer: No

If so, give his name and address.
Answer: ___________________________

Witness my hand, this 17th day of Sept. 1906
(Signed) J. M. (his X mark) Evans

WITNESSES:
(Signed) T. J. Rice, Physician
(Signed) J. M. Cochran, Witness
(Signed) Asa R. Biggs, Witness


STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County

I, Jno. H. Perry, Trustee of said County, certify that J. M. Evans and his wife _____________ are assessed with 50 acres, valued at $ 500 and with
$——- of personal property.

Witness my hand, this 18 day of Sept. 1906
Signed Jno. H. Perry

If applicant and his wife have no property, the Trustee must so certify.


STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett COUNTY.

Personally appeared before me, J. M. Cochran, a Notary Public of said County, the above named J. M. Evans, the applicant, with whom I am personally acquainted, and having the application read and fully explained to him, as well as the statements and answers therein made, made oath that the said statements and answers are true.

Witness my hand, this 17th day of Sept. 1906
(Signed) J. M. Cochran, Notary Public


STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County

Personally appeared before me, T. N. Love, Justice of the Peace of said County, the above named T. J. Rice, M.D. one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, and who is a physician of good standing, and being duly sworn says that he has carefully and thoroughly examined J. M. Evans, the applicant, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities:

Double hernia, disability of left thigh as a result of gun shot wound, recd at the battle of peach tree on the 20th of July 1864, near Atlanta Ga, he was slighly wounded at the battles of Shilo and Murfreesborough he is not able to support him self or family, by manual labor.

Witness my hand, this 24 day of September 1906
(Signed) T. N. Love, Justice of the Peace


STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County

Personally appeared before me, T. N. Love, Justice of the Peace of said County, the above named J. M. Cochran and A. R. Biggs, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, whom I am personally acquainted, and known to me to be citizens of veracity and standing in this community, and who make oath that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing applicant, and that the facts set forth and statements made in this application are correct and true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that they have no interest in this claim, and that said applicant’s habits are good and free from dishonor. And _____________ further make oath to the following facts touching the applicant’s service in the _____________ army:

_________________________

Witness my hand, this 24th day of September 1906
(Signed) T. N. Love, Justice of the Peace


Document included in file
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Headquarters
Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners.
Nashville, Tenn. Oct. 31, 1906

Gen. F. C. Ainsworth,
Military Secretary,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: J. M. Evans who is an applicant for Pension under the Tennessee Pension law, claims to have been a member of Company A. Twelfth Regiment Tenn Inft. C.S.A., and to have been __________________.

Please give us the record of this soldier.

Respectfully,
George B. Guild
President


Document included in file
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Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners,
Nashville, Tenn. Oct. 31, 1906.

J. M. Evans,
Co. A. 12 Tenn. Inf. C.S.A.

Prest.
Requests record of above named.

War Department,
The Military Secretary’s Office,
Washington, November 5, 1906.

Respectfully returned to the

President,
Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners,
Nashville.

It is shown by the records of this office that one J. M. Evans was a private of Company A, 12th Tennessee Infantry, C.S.A. On the company muster roll for January and February, 1864 (latest roll on file), he is reported absent, “extra duty as teamster”. No later record of him has been found.

F. C. Dismuks
The Military Secretary.


Handwritten letter included file:
[View Document]

Friendship, Tenn.
September 7, 1907.

Mr. John P. Hickman, Sec.,
Nashville, Tenn.

Dear Sir: Some time, perhapse ten months ago, I mailed to you my application for a Confederate pension; but as yet, have heard nothing from it; So please will you be so kind to let me know if proof insufficient; also, on what points, that I may take further evidence.

Respectfully,
J. M. Evans


Document included file:
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J. M. Evans, 8456
Friendship

Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 10, 1907

Dear Sir:

The Board of Pension Examiners have considered your application, and it stands disallowed, with these endorsements by the Board on the specifications following:

Service in the army.
Endorsed Proven

Wound received, injury sustained, or disease contracted while in service and in line of duty.
Endorsed Not proven

Extent of disability arising from such wound, injury, or disease.
Endorsed Proven

Indigency.
Endorsed Proven

How applicant got out of the army.
Endorsed. Not proven. War Records report: “Absent Febry 64, on Extra duty as teamster” you say “you went on furlough, and took the oath at Brownsville”

Character as a soldier and citizen.
Endorsed Not proven

The specifications not satisfactory to the Board may be corrected by proof, but no proof will be considered unless taken before an officer using a seal. Board meets second Tuesdays in January, April, July and October.

Respectfully,
Jno. P. Hickman,
Secretary


Typed letter included in file
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Affidavit of Mr. J. S. Thompson of Dyer County, Tennessee.

Affiant says that he was a member of Gen. Forest’s Command in the civil war that he and a number of others were sent, in the latter part of the year 1864, home on duty, that on arriving home he (affiant) found Mr. J. M. Evans, he having been wounded and sent home on furlough. And while at home, as just stated, affiant, J. M. Evans and others were ordered by, I think, but could not be positive, Colonel Poston to go to Brownsville, Tennessee, to take the oath of allegiance and paroled, which we did. Affiant states that he knew Mr. J. M. Evans before, and have known him continuously since the war, that he was before the war and has been continuously since the war a peacable quiet and alright citizen. Affiant further says that the J. M. Evans spoken of in this affidavit is the same J. M. Evans who applied for a confederate pension under application No. 8456.

J. S. Thompson

Sworn to and subscribed before me this,
October 23, 1907

B. F. Sudbery
Notary Public for Crockett County.


Typed letter included in file
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Affidavit of L. C. Harwell of Crockett County, Tennessee, to be used as further evidence for J. M. Evans, whos application for confederate pension in No. 8456.

Affiant says that he was a member of Gen. Forest’s Command in the late Civil War, that he and a number of other soldiers of said command were sent, in the latter part of the year of 1864, home on duty, that on arriving home affiant found applicant, J. M. Evans, the said J. M. Evans having been wounded and sent home on furlough. While at home as just stated, affiant, J. M. Evans and other soldiers were ordered by, I think, Colonel Poston, to go to Brownsville, Tennessee, and take the oath of allegiance and get paroled, which we did, the war having at the time closed. Affiant states that he knew Mr. J. M. Evans before the war, and that his record as a citizen, was of the very best that he knew and saw said applicant repeatedly during the war, and affiant believes said applicant made a good soldier, and has known the applicant continuously since the war, and his record as a citizen is good. Affiant further says that the J. M. Evans spoken of in this affidavit is the same J. M. Evans who applied for a confederate pension under application No. 8456.

L. C. Harwell.

Sworn to and subscribed before me
this October 25th, 1907

B. F. Sudbery
Notary Public.


Typed letter included in file
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Affidavit of Mr. S. F. Hailey, Crockett County, Tennessee, to be used as further evidence for J. M. Evans, whos application for confederate pension is No. 8456.

Affiant says that he was a member of the 12th Tennessee Infantry of the late Civil War, and in company “A”; that he was in the battle of Peach-Tree-Creek in Georgia, and Mr. J. M. Evans, applicant for confederate pension, was engaged in said battle until he the said J. M. Evans was wounded; that on hearing the report of the battle Mr. J. M. Evans was one among the wounded to be reported right immediately after battle; that after the battle of Peachtree Creek he saw J. M. Evans no more in the army; that, the said applicant went out with me and was a messmate in the army during the entire time while in the army; that said J. M. Evans made a good a soldier as anyone could make; that he was obedient to all officers and their commands; and that he is and has always made a good citizen.

S. F. Haley.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this
November 7 1907.

B. F. Sudberry
Notary Publick.


Typed letter included in file
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Further affidavit of J. M. Evans, applicatiounder No. 8456, for confederate pension.

The said applicant, J. M. Evans, says that Jack Canada, a teamster under Capt. T. W. Jones wagon master, wanted him said J. M. Evans, to take his, Jack Canada’s place and drive team for a few days, or until the said Jack Canada, could rest up for a few days, and did so, and at this time, or as applicant now remembers it to be at this time, he was detailed to go with I think Gen. Longstreet into Kentucky and drive a team. Applicant further says that when he and Jack Canada offered to change back as they were at first, Capt. T. W. Jones the wagon master wanted said applicant to remain and drive team, but applicant went back to his place in the army. Applicant further says that he always obeyed his officers in every instance.

J. M. Evans

Sworn to and subscribed before me
this November 7, 1907.

B. F. Sudbery
Notary Public.


Typed letter included in file
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Further evidence on application No. 8456, J. M. Evans, for Confederate Pension.

Affidavit of J. M. Evans, applicant.

Affiant states that “he used crutches for nine months after he was wounded in the battle of Peach-tree Creek, Georgia; that he was not able to do service in the army, and has never been able since; that twelve months from the time he was wounded bones, that were shattered at the time I was wounded worked out of his thigh, so he believes, but could not say positive about that.

J. M. Evans

Sworn to and subscribed before me
this November 27 1907.

B. F. Sudbery
Notary Public.

Affidavit of S. F. Haley.

Affiant says that he came home from the war in January 1865 and that he saw J. M. Evans soon after he said affiant came home; that the said J. M. Evans at that time was using one crutch under one arm and a stick in the other hand; that he was then unable to do service in the army, and has never since been able to do service in the army; that this J. M. Evans is the person that was wounded in the battle of Peachtree Creek, and applicant under application No. 8456.

S. F. Haley

Sworn to and subscribed before me
this November 27 1907.

B. F. Sudbery
Notary Public.