Pension File # 1812
State of Tennessee
SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION
NAME Jno. F. Castleman
Filed Feb. 2, 1898
Allowed _____
FILE IS STAMPED RejectedSOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION
I, John Fielder Castleman a native of the State of Tennessee and now a citizen of Tennessee, resident at Alamo 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, while in the discharge of my duty in the service of the Confederate or United States as a member of Company “B”, 20th Tennessee Infantry, I was wounded in the battle or battles of Nashville, Tenn., in the charge known as Hood’s raid in and around that city, just prior to the surrender, and from the effects of such wound or wounds I was disable as follows: a minnie ball entered my left ear and came out through the back of my neck, knocking me down. From this wound I have never recovered. This ear frequently is effected by risings, obstructing my hearing and rendering me unable for work of any kind and that by reason of such wound and disability, I am now entitled to receive the benefits 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: In Tennessee, Williamson Co., 1838
When did you enlist and in what command? Give the names of the regimental and company officers under whom you were serving at date of wound or other disability.
Answer: In May, 1861, 20th Tenn., Reg., under Col. Joel Battle, Capt. Joel Battle, being first Capt. and Col. On organizing the regiment the said Capt. Joel Battle was made Col. of the Reg. and Dr. Wm. Clark was made Capt., T. B. Smith, 1st Lt.
In what battle or battles were you wounded, and if not in battle state under what circumstances you received the injury or injuries?
Answer: As above stated ’twas in the fighting in and around Nashville with Gen’l. Hood. I was in breastworks and were being charged upon by Federal soldiers.
What was the precise nature of your wound or disability, if any?
Answer: I was shot in the left ear the ball passing out through the lower part of the back of my head or neck.
What limb, if any, did you lose by reason of said wound or wounds, and, if no limb, state fully your disability, and in contracted in the service, and is said disability permanent?
Answer: The disability is permanent; and grows some with passing years; I feel it more as I get older; hearing seriously affected; ear rises on the inside and renders me unfit for any kind of labor, any kind of manual labor, and am not qualified for any other kind.
Were you incapacitated for service by reason of said wound or disability incurred?
Answer: I was disabled from further service. I never rendered any further service, having served continuously from the time of enlist
Were you discharged from the army by reason of said wound or disability?
Answer: There was nothing done with me it being near the close of the war; and I suppose I was embraced in the general surrender.
If discharged from the army, where were you and what did you do until the close of the war?
Answer: I was taken to Columbia, Tenn., and remained in the care of friends and treatment of physicians until the surrender.
What was the name of the surgeon who attended you?
Answer: I was unconscious most of the time and do not remember his name.
Are you married, or have you been married?
Answer: I have been married; and have three children; my wife having died about 12 years ago.
If so, what is the size of your family?
Answer: I have three children, two girls and one boy
What are the respective ages of your wife and children living with you?
Answer: My children are all grown and live away from me, from 150 to 200 miles
To what sex do your children belong?
Answer: Two girls and one boy
In what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn?
Answer: I am working by the day on a farm when I am able to do so; but am not able to do very much; and get 50 cents per day
What estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: None at all. I have no estate at all, neither real nor personal
What estate has your wife in her own right, real and personal, and what is its value?
Answer: None at all
How have you derived support for yourself and family for the past five years?
Answer: By such labor as I have been able to perform
Do you use intoxicants to any extent?
Answer: I do not
How long have you been an actual resident of the State of Tennessee?
Answer: All of my life
Have you an attorney to look after this application?
Answer: I have. C. A. Goodloe, Alamo, Tenn.
If so, give his name and address.
Answer: C. A. Goodloe, Alamo, Tenn.
Witness my hand, this 9th day of July 1897
(Signed) John Fielder (his X mark) Castleman
WITNESSES:
(Signed) H. W. Cook, Physician
(Signed) C. M. Sanford, Witness
(Signed) Geo W. Castleman, Witness
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett COUNTY.
Personally appeared before me, D. B. Dodson, clerk, County Court of Crockett County, Tenn., Clerk of the County Court of said county, the above named John Fielder Castleman, 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 9th day of July 1897
(Signed) D. B. Dodson, Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County
Personally appeared before me, D. B. Dodson, Clerk of the County Court of said County, the above named H. W. Cook 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. F. Castleman, the applicant, and finds him laboring under the following disabilities:
—-? from shot in left ear ball coming out about — in back? from the ear forming a —-? and depression over or near the Large Blood vessles and I think it partly obstructs the blood supply to the Brain and at times especially in warm weather causes dis—- and sw—- of Head and seems to affect the eye on that side of head and is a permanent disability.
Witness my hand, this 31 day of Jan 1898
(Signed) D. B. Dodson, Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
Crockett County
Personally appeared before me, D. B. Dodson Clerk of the County Court of said County, the above named C. M. Sanford and G. W. Castleman, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing application, with 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 G. W. Castleman further make oath to the following facts touching the applicant’s service in the C. I. army:
That he was in the same company and know the above to be true and was badly wounded as stated above
Witness my hand, this 15 day of Nov 1897
(Signed) D. B. Dodson