bsbaker
12-22-2009, 09:21 PM
Here is a quick autobiography and sketch of the wartime service of William Henry Baker; he wrote it to the pension board while trying to retain his benefits. Interesting sketch in the words of an "old soldier". It gives some insight to their attitudes and the hardships many faced after the war.
I left all the grammatical errors in place. Mod please feel free to move this somewhere else if it doesn't belong here.
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Galaville Tenn. April 15th 1894
Mr. John P. Hickman Sectry of Pension Board Nashville Tenn.
Dear Sir I herewith press you a short Biography of my life for your and the rest of the boards consideration, as I have been a pensioner for 3 years coming Sept. I was borned April 15th 1840
Was brought-up on a farm by poore Parrents. Worked for my Farthe untill I was 21 years of age. He gave me the advantages of our Country free school up to the breaking out of the war.
When I volunteered and joined the Army at Cumberland Ford Ky. Served as a privet untill the spring of 1862 when I was elected Lieutenant of Co. I 11th Tenn Reg.
I servesed as faithfully as I could going through The Battles of Crab Orchard, Battle of Murphreesborough, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and on down through Ga. In all Johnston Skirmishes. Then The Atlanta-Battle and Then JonesBorough where I was Shot. The Ball taking affect in my index finger of My right-hand passing Through that entering The right-arm Three in. below the Shoulder Joint Severing the bone. That was about the 1st of Sept. 1864. I was Then Carried To The horspital and was badly Treated. My arm beeing Broke over by my physition after it had begun to Knit Together Which caused inflamation to Set up and the
Bone become diseased and waisted away untill it never Knit together any more. So there is a space of a bout one and half in.
I remained in horspital untill The 15th of April 1865 when I was ordered to Macon Ga. By the Federals to be paroled. At the time of being ordered I was without Shoes or coat. One of my cumrades loned me five Dollars in Confederate Money I made out to get a man to take in for me a pair of Shoes and another cumrade gave me a Soldiers Jacket and I started for home. I came to Atlanta and Stayed with Federals Several days when I set out and walked to Dalton Ga. There I got Trans-
Portations and got home a bout the 1st of May 1865. I lacked from May untill Sept. being gone 4 years. Never Saw home from the time I started until I got back. I went off without any thing and got back without any thing Minus the use of an arm. I could not work and my education was very much limitade So I put in to go to School and went untill what little monies my Pa had for me gave out. (Now I forget) I want to say when I was paroled the Confederate Government was in debt to me a Thousand and forty Dollars. And I have always believed that Tennesseee ought to pay her fare rate part back to me.
In 1866 I married a poore Girl but she had a big heart to cast her lot with me being a cripple and not able to cut a stick of wood. But I never was a man to give up untill I was obliged to. So we struggled a long and raised our children as best we could. I taught Country Schools in my younger days and made a little money and in crop times I would plant me a little Crop and plow and hoe and Twice I have Strained my arm and caused it to rise and lay me up four weeks and as soon as I could go I would plow with one hand only. I have now been g.p. for 12 years and pick up
a Dollar in once and a While that way. Now gentlemen as I stated before that I never was a man W. give up I expect to continue to put forth my physical Strength and exercise my mintal facaltes To make a living. But that is neither here nor there if I am a fit Subject for a pension under the laws of The State of Tenn. You should continue it. The above are a few of the details of my life. So no more on The Subject.
I remain yours Truly
W H Baker
Galaville Tenn.
I left all the grammatical errors in place. Mod please feel free to move this somewhere else if it doesn't belong here.
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Galaville Tenn. April 15th 1894
Mr. John P. Hickman Sectry of Pension Board Nashville Tenn.
Dear Sir I herewith press you a short Biography of my life for your and the rest of the boards consideration, as I have been a pensioner for 3 years coming Sept. I was borned April 15th 1840
Was brought-up on a farm by poore Parrents. Worked for my Farthe untill I was 21 years of age. He gave me the advantages of our Country free school up to the breaking out of the war.
When I volunteered and joined the Army at Cumberland Ford Ky. Served as a privet untill the spring of 1862 when I was elected Lieutenant of Co. I 11th Tenn Reg.
I servesed as faithfully as I could going through The Battles of Crab Orchard, Battle of Murphreesborough, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and on down through Ga. In all Johnston Skirmishes. Then The Atlanta-Battle and Then JonesBorough where I was Shot. The Ball taking affect in my index finger of My right-hand passing Through that entering The right-arm Three in. below the Shoulder Joint Severing the bone. That was about the 1st of Sept. 1864. I was Then Carried To The horspital and was badly Treated. My arm beeing Broke over by my physition after it had begun to Knit Together Which caused inflamation to Set up and the
Bone become diseased and waisted away untill it never Knit together any more. So there is a space of a bout one and half in.
I remained in horspital untill The 15th of April 1865 when I was ordered to Macon Ga. By the Federals to be paroled. At the time of being ordered I was without Shoes or coat. One of my cumrades loned me five Dollars in Confederate Money I made out to get a man to take in for me a pair of Shoes and another cumrade gave me a Soldiers Jacket and I started for home. I came to Atlanta and Stayed with Federals Several days when I set out and walked to Dalton Ga. There I got Trans-
Portations and got home a bout the 1st of May 1865. I lacked from May untill Sept. being gone 4 years. Never Saw home from the time I started until I got back. I went off without any thing and got back without any thing Minus the use of an arm. I could not work and my education was very much limitade So I put in to go to School and went untill what little monies my Pa had for me gave out. (Now I forget) I want to say when I was paroled the Confederate Government was in debt to me a Thousand and forty Dollars. And I have always believed that Tennesseee ought to pay her fare rate part back to me.
In 1866 I married a poore Girl but she had a big heart to cast her lot with me being a cripple and not able to cut a stick of wood. But I never was a man to give up untill I was obliged to. So we struggled a long and raised our children as best we could. I taught Country Schools in my younger days and made a little money and in crop times I would plant me a little Crop and plow and hoe and Twice I have Strained my arm and caused it to rise and lay me up four weeks and as soon as I could go I would plow with one hand only. I have now been g.p. for 12 years and pick up
a Dollar in once and a While that way. Now gentlemen as I stated before that I never was a man W. give up I expect to continue to put forth my physical Strength and exercise my mintal facaltes To make a living. But that is neither here nor there if I am a fit Subject for a pension under the laws of The State of Tenn. You should continue it. The above are a few of the details of my life. So no more on The Subject.
I remain yours Truly
W H Baker
Galaville Tenn.