Confederate Pension Application of William McCracken Ash

 

For Use Of Applicants Who Have Not Heretofore Drawn.

 

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

Personally appears W. M. Ash of said Banks County, State of Georgia, who being duly sworn, says on oath that he was born on the 12 day of July 1825, that he is a bona fide citizen and resident of Georgia, and has been continuously since his birth day of 1825, that he enlisted in the military service of the Confederate States (or the State of Georgia) on the 15th day of April 1861, during the war between the States, and served in Company A of 2nd Regiment of Georgia Volunteers, Toombs Brigade, and was honorably discharged on the 4th day of May 1862; that whilst engaged in such military service, and in line of duty in the State of [blank], on the [blank] day of [blank] 18_ he was disabled or wounded as follows:

He was on the 4th May 1862 discharged on account of his disability.  He came home sick with something like heart trouble and the same trouble has continued up to the present which renders him from performing manual labor to support himself at any time since he was discharged from service at Savannah Ga. April 1862.

Where was command surrendered? Appomatox Court House, 9 April 1865.

Was applicant present?

No.

If not, where was he?

Discharged.

How come there?

[blank]

And by whose authority?  State fully:

He was 2nd Lt. and was discharged on account of his heart and other troubles.

Deponent desires to participate in the benefits of Section 1250 of the Code, and the Acts amendatory thereof, and makes application for the pension to which he is entitled for the year thereunder, ending October 26th, 19_.

Signed: William M. Ash

Post Office Homer, Ga.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 13th day of July 1904,

T. F. Hill, Ordinary.

 

Note [bottom of application form]-State fully nature of wound or character of disease which causes the disability, and explain particularly the extent of the disability.  If claim is based on disease, give full and corrected history of disease, tracing it directly to the service.  Do not trouble to mention wounds which do not disable.

 

Affidavit for Three Witnesses.

 

State of Georgia,

Banks County.

Personally appears before me, the undersigned Ordinary in and for said County T. V. Forbes and J. C. Allan personally known to me to be trustworthy citizens, each of whom, being duly sworn according to law, severally say under oath, that they are personally and well acquainted with William M. Ash whose application is herewith presented for a pension, that he has resided in this State continuously since the 25 day of December 1860, that he served in Company A of the 2nd Regiment of Benning Brigade, and from our personal knowledge he, while in the line of duty, was injured by the service as follows:

From exposure while in the service of the Confederate war, being compelled to lye [sic] on the cold frozen ground and being subjected to severe hardships and being naturally weak from exposure he took cold, rheumatism and indigestion which effected [sic] his heart.  He has never been at his former health since his diseased condition now is solely due to his service in the war.  He is now so infirm and weak that he can not do anything for a support.  Lieutenant Ash is 79 years old.  He is the oldest living and one of the best soldiers from Banks county.

Where was applicant’s command surrendered?

Appomatox Court House.

Was he with it?

No.

Were all of you present?

T. B. Forbes was.

If not, where was he?

He was at home discharged on account of from his diseases.

Where were you all?

T. B. Forbes was at Appomatox and J. C. Allen was [James C. Allan was a prisoner at Point Lookout Md. at the end of the war.]

How do you know the facts you state to be true?

We were in same Co. & Regiment was Applicant was discharged.

We personally know the above stated facts.  We were with him in the army and have known him ever since.  He was honorably discharged or retired from the service on 4 May 1862.  Applicant is permanently disabled as stated and has been so to our certain knowledge ever since 1862.  We have no interest in the recovery of a pension by him.

Signed: T. V. Forbes, Thomas J. Hughes, J. C. Allan

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 13th of July 1904.

T. F. Hill, Ordinary.

 

[Note from pension office dated 9/29/1904 (very faint writing)-

“Pension Office

Applicant in his statement fails suffering ? an injury nor does his testimony include testimony by witnesses will justify the grant of disabled Pension.

J. W. Lindsey, Com. of Pens.”]

 

Typewritten paper in Pension packet:

 

DISAPPROVED

Name- Ash, W. M.

Year-1904

County-Banks

When and where born?-July 12, 1825-Resident of Georgia continuously since birth.

Enlisted where and when?-April 15, 1861

Rank-2nd Lieutenant

Company Regiment?-Company A 2nd Regt. Ga. Vols.

Name of Captain or Colonel?-

Wounded?-Valvular disease of the heart and discharged May 4, 1862 on account of disability.

Captured, when and where?-

Released-

If not present at Surrender, where were you?-Discharged May 4, 1862 at Savannah, Georgia on account of disability.

Died, when and where?-

Buried-

Witnesses-T. V. Forbes, Thomas J. Hughes, J. C. Allan-same command.

 

Note-William M. Ash, born 12 July 1825, died 10 Sept. 1904 and is buried at Homer Presbyterian Church cemetery in Banks County, Georgia.

 

Transcribed 2006 by Jacqueline King