Muhlenberg County Kentucky

Military Records

Arthur N. Davis Pension Transcription

Letter from A. N. Davis to Abraham Lincoln

From United States War Department, Series 2, vol. 3, Prisoners of War, pp. 418-9

Salisbury, N.C., April 2, 1862

A. Lincoln
President of the United States,
Washington D.C.

Honored Sir:

It is with deep emotion that I address you on the subject of our release. There are I believe about 1,500 prisoners at this place. All of course wish to be released but the hours seem to grow darker. We have a healthy position, but men crowded as some of us are so soon as warm weather approaches must become sickly. I believe there are 800 in the main prison; other small buildings contain the remainder. There are nearly 100 Kentucky prisoners here. I would be pleased to hear of the release of all here, but I would present to your honor's consideration the exchange of these Kentuckians, as many of them are old gentlemen, gray-headed, who have been suddenly captured and taken from their helpless families. Some are citizens, but principally soldiers I believe. I would more especially direct you honor's attention to twelve of us belonging to Col. J.S. Jackson's Third Kentucky Cavalry, captured at Sacramento, Ky., December 28, 1861, consisting of 1 captain, A.N. Davis; 1 lieutenant, J.L. Walters, and 10 privates.

I see, may it please your honor, that partial exchanges are going on, and as there seems to be no chance for a general exchange I would be very much pleased to return with these Kentucky boys. Some of our boys have written to President Davis on this subject and received answers so I hope your honor will forthwith answer this sheet. Many of us are destitute of clothing or any means of obtaining it, as we were captured before we had drawn any money; I having spent all I had in recruiting a short time before my capture, having been mustered into the U.S. service but a few weeks when I was captured.

Yours, with due respect,
(signed) A.N. Davis,
Captain, Third Kentucky Cavalry

P.S. - Paper very scarce; envelopes impossible to procure. A.N.D.

Contributor's Note: His appeal to Lincoln had some effect, as he is recorded as traded for a Virginia captain, W.W. Morris, on September 10, 1862. War Department, 37 R.R., Series 2, Vol. 4, page 578. The “Company 'D' Descriptive Book” extracted for his pension application records that he was “present” (back home) from November 1862.

Invalid Pension Application

National Archives - Civil War Veteran's papers, SC108-009 & WO 172-424, A.N. Davis, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky

State of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County
On this 23 day of August 1866 personally appeared before me, Clerk of the County Court, a Court of Record, in and for the County and State above named, Arthur N----- Davis, aged 43 years, a resident of the County of Muhlenberg in the State of Kentucky, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Arthur N. Davis who volunteered in the service of the United States at Calhoun in the State of Kentucky on or about the 1st day of October 1861 as a Captain in Company D commanded by Captain Arthur N. Davis in the Third Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry Volunteers, commanded by Col. James S. Jackson, in the war of 1861 and was honorably discharged at Hopkinsville Kentucky on or about the 28 day of April 1863.

That, while in said service and in the line of his duty, while engaged with a Battalion of his said Regiment, under command of Major Eli Murray in a fight with the enemy under command of the rebel Col. Forrest at Sacramento, McLean County, State of Kentucky, he was thrown from his horse with such violence as to dislocate his right shoulder, that, at the time of such fall he was engaged in a hand to hand fight with the enemy, and consequently was captured, and taken prisoner by him, first to Hopkinsville, Ky., thence to Nashville, Tenn., thence to Saulsbury, N.C., thence to Libby Prison in Richmond, Va.

That in consequence of such capture he said right shoulder was never properly sett [sic], in consequence of which he is incapacitated for hard manual labor. Certificate of discharge on file in Pay Department, and commission is presented herewith.

That since leaving the said service, this applicant has resided in the County of Muhlenberg in the State of Kentucky, and his occupation has been that of farmer.

That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of sound constitution and possessed of health, vigorous physical powers

That his habits have been uniformly good and temperate

That now he is ½ one half disabled from obtaining his subsistence from manual labor in consequence of his above named injuries, received in the service of the United States

He makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the Invalid Pension Roll of the United States, by reason of the disabilities above stated, and revoking and countermanding all other authority, that may have been given, he hereby constitutes and appoints with full power of substitution and revocation Samuel E. Smith of the Town of Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, his true and lawful attorney irrevocable, to prosecute this claim and obtain the Pension Certificate that may be issued.

That his Post Office address is Greenville, Kentucky. That his domicile is on the Road from Greenville to Elkton about four miles from Greenville the county seat of Muhlenberg County State of Kentucky.
(signed) Arthur N. Davis

Also on the same day and at the same time personally came John L. Williams and Charles Metzker residents of the Town of Greenville in the County of Muhlenberg State of Kentucky, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to Credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Arthur N. Davis sign the foregoing declaration, and they further swear that they have every reason to believe from the following facts that he is the identical person he represents himself, viz., they served with said Capt. Arthur N. Davis and in the same Company, and was [sic] with him at the time of his capture as stated by him, and that they are wholly disinterested in this claim.
(signed)
John L. Williams
Cs. Metzker

Sworn to and subscribed before me this Twenty-third day of August 1866 and I hereby certify that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. Witness' Joint Affidavit was read over to them before signing.
(signed) Thos. J. Jones, Clk.

Hand-written supplementary declaration by A.N. Davis, February 17, 1867:

I, Arthur N. Davis, late Capt. of Company D, 3rd Regiment Ky. Cavl, Volunteers State that I was not treated at any General Hospital for the wound mentioned in My Application for Invalid Pension, & that I can not furnish the Affidavit of the Surgeon who treated Me for Said wound. I State that on the 27th day of Dec. 1861 I was wounded in a Skirmish, near Sacramento, Kentucky & that immediately after being wounded I was taken Prisoner by the Enemy & carried by them to Hopkinsville Ky., where I remained some two weeks & that I was Sent from Hopkinsville Ky. to Clarksville Tenn. & from thence to Nashville Tenn. where my wound was first given any attention & that I was Sent from Nashville to Salisbery [sic] N.C. & finally to Libby Prison where I remained until on or about the 1st day of August 1862 when I was exchanged, & reported to my Regiment at Nashville Tenn. I State that at the time I was exchanged, my wound had been neglected so long that it was useless to attempt to do any thing for it & that some two months after I returned to my Regt. being entirely unfit for Military Service I resigned my position & returned home. I state that the rebel physician (Dr. Tornton) who first examined & treated my wound (at the City Gaol or Dungeon in Nashville) was afterward killed by one of his own men. This Feb. 17th 1867.
(signed) A. N. Davis

Eliza A. Davis, widow of A.N. Davis, applies for pension

State of Kentucky
County of Muhlenberg
On this 16th day of Feb. 1869 formally appeared before me Clerk of the Muhlenberg County Court (a Court of Record) Eliza. A. Davis who being by me duly Sworn doth on her oath State that She is the widow of Arthur N. Davis, late Capt. of Co. D 3rd Regt. of Ky. Cavl. Vols. & who was an applicant for invalid Pension in account of wounds received in a Skirmish at or near Sacramento Kentucky on the [blank] day of Dec. 1861.

That the Said Arthur N. Davis departed this life in Muhlenberg County Kentucky on the 9th day of March 1868 leaving this applicant his widow & that She has not remarried Since the death of her Said husband, but is Still a widow.

That She is & has ever been loyal to the Constitution & laws of the United States.

That She makes this application for the purpose of obtaining the Pension due her Said husband Arthur N. Davis at his death. She hereby constitutes & appoints Samuel E. Smith of the Town of Greenville Ky. her true and lawful attorney irrevocable to prosecute this claim & to receive any certificate that may issue on account of the Same as well as to do all lawfull [sic] things concerning the same. My Post office address is Greenville, Kentucky.
(signed) Eliza A. Davis

Also at the same time & place personally appeared M.J. Roark and G.B. Eades persons to me personally known & whom I certify to be credible & who being by me duly Sworn State that they were present and saw Eliza. A. Davis Sign her name to the foregoing application, that they are personally acquainted with said applicant, & were personally acquainted with Arthur N. Davis Late Capt. of Co. D 3rd Regt. of Ky. Cavl. Vols., & that they know of their own personal knowledge that She is the identical person that She represents herself to be. That Arthur N. Davis husband of this applicant departed this life on the [blank] day of March 1868, that they have no investment in this claim.
(signed)
M. J. Roark
G. B. Eades

Sworn to before me by Eliza. A. Davis and also by M.J. Roark and G.B. Eades & I hereby certify that I have no interest in this claim & am not concerned in its presentation. Witness my hand and seal of office this Feb. 16th 1869.
(signed) Thos. Bruce, Clk.

State of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County
I, Thos. Bruce Clerk of the Muhlenberg County Court, do certify that on the 19th day of November 1847 the Rites of Marriage were legally solemnized between Arthur N. Davis and Eliza A. Newman. And the same is of record in my office.
Witness my hand and seal of County Court, at office in Greenville, this 19th day of February, 1869.
(signed) Thos. Bruce. Clk.

County of Muhlenberg
State of Kentucky
On this 11th day of August A.D. 1869 personally appeared before me, Clerk of the County Court, a Court of Record, in and for the County and State above named, Green B. Eades, who is Post Master at the Town of Greenville, State of Kentucky, and to me well known, and whom I certify to be credible, who being by me duly sworn according to law, on oath doth state, that he was well acquainted with Arthur N. Davis deceased, who was Captain of Co. “D” of the 3rd Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers Cavalry, That he knew him well long before he entered service as above, that he knew him while in said service, and after his discharge therefrom and up to, and at the time of his death; That he the said Arthur N. Davis died on the 9th day of March 1867 [sic], that his death was occasioned by the falling of a tree on the day and date above mentioned, that he has no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim.
(signed) G. B. Eades

Subscribed and sworn to before me by G.B. Eades this 11th day of Aug. 1869. Witnessed by my hand and seal of office.
(signed) Thos. Bruce. Clk.

Contributor's Note: While not recorded in the pension file, Eliza Ann (Newman) Davis 1825-1889 received a payment of $500.00. This is recorded in a case brought before the Muhlenberg Circuit Court in 1883 by her second husband, William Marshall Blackwell 1801-c1886 against Arthur Davis's younger brother Thomas Jerome McAllister/McCallister Davis 1838-1938. “Mack” was the legal guardian of Eliza's late son Samuel G. Davis, and agent for his nephew Britton Alexander Davis. Blackwell apparently wanted to reduce the amount he would have to shell out for the Davis farm he had lived on for nothing since their marriage on May 29, 1869. Mack said, among other tidbits, that Blackwell had “reduced to his own use” four hundred dollars of the federal pension grant to Davis's widow.

Contributed by Robert Black

Updated August 12, 2017