Eli Matthews (1804 - 1864) Was a Copperhead

Although he would probably have called himself a Peace Democrat.*

[Compromise with the South - Dedicated to the Chicago Convention. Wood engraving after Nast.

Illus. in: Harper's Weekly, 1864 Sept. 3. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.]

Here's a different view of the issue.

[Caption: War and Argument - Cold Steel and Cool Reason - having failed to restore the Union, it is supposed that the South may be bored into coming back. -  Illus. in: Harper's weekly, v. 8, no. 408 (1864 October 22), p. 688.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.]

Eli, my 3X great grandfather, was born in Tennessee, his family moved to Illinois in 1818 when he was 14. He spent the rest of his life there in that part of Sangamon County which became Christian County in 1839. He and his wife Susan Hanon had nine children, six boys and three girls.** At least two of their sons served in the Union Army during Civil War.

Since it had been years since I have done any research on the Matthews line, this afternoon I decided to see what I could find at Newspapers.com.

[11 Mar 1863, Page 2 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com]

Of course I had to find out more:

[12 Mar 1863, Page 2 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com]

Eli sent this letter to his second son, Aaron V. Matthews who had joined Company L, Illinois 10th Cavalry Regiment and remained in that unit until December 30, 1864.*** Aaron's first wife Sarah Short had died around this time, leaving the couple's four children to the care of relatives.****

It's clear from the letter that Eli wasn't a particularly educated man but that didn't seem to hinder him from a public role in Christian County, He was the county's first postmaster, served as a Justice of the Peace and was appointed to several committees that represented the county.


*You can find more about these folks here.
**Their third child and oldest daughter Sarah married George W. Slater.
***About two months after his father's death.
****Aaron did marry again (in 1865) and he and his second wife Martha Jane Walker had five children together, one of whom he named Abraham, known as "Abe".


© 2020 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Gone for Soldiers: The Grand Review of the Armies, Washington D.C. - May 23, 1865

On this day 153 years ago, 90,000 soldiers from the Army of the Potomac marched down Pennsylvania Avenue on the first of two days of military parades to celebrate the Union victory.*

[Mounted officers and unidentified units on Pennsylvania Avenue, May 1865. Source: Library of Congress]

And where was Dick Worden, my great great grandfather, at the time? Was he one of the marchers in Washington D.C.?

Alas, no.

After being invalided out shortly after Vicksburg in 1863, he had reenlisted early in the next year and went back to his old Company G of the 24th Iowa Infantry Regiment, then part of General Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah in Virginia, which was in Georgia when the Grand Review took place.



*The men from General Sherman's Army of Georgia, 60,000 strong, traveled the same route the next day.
**Either Savannah or Augusta.


© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Fantastic Find: Texas and the Civil War

Half of my eight great great grandfathers fought in the Civil War. One, Willet O. "Dick" Worden, was a private in the Iowa 24th Infantry, and of the three who were Confederate soldiers*, two were in Texas and I've never been able to locate them in online military records.

So when this email from the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) arrived in my inbox this morning I jumped at the chance to learn more about what happened in Texas during the war.

Of course I don't expect to find any mention of those ancestors who reputedly enlisted in Texas regiments, but since we do know where they were living at the start of the war this information may help me focus on likely military units they would have served in.




*They were John Warren Avery (of Mississippi); the Texans were J.T.S. Warren and Abner Webb.



© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Drive: USS Cairo - Vicksburg, Mississippi

In the Spring of 2005 Bonnie and I drove through the Vicksburg National Military Park. Unfortunately it wasn't until several years later that I became aware that Dick Worden, one of my maternal great great grandfathers, had served in the 24th Iowa Infantry during the attack on the strongly defended city.  The USS Cairo Gunboat (the history of which you can read about here) is on display near the north end of the park.

[All photos from my personal collection]

If I'd known I could have sought out the marker for his regiment and taken my own photo of it.


© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Limited Time Free Webinar: Nicka Smith presents "Finding Isaac Rogers"

I've been waiting a while for this one!  The list of situations and events listed for this webinar touch on almost every genealogical interest I've heard of from Americans with some Southern ancestry.  Nick Smith presented "Finding Isaac Rogers" on September 13, 2017 (free to non-subscribers through September 20, 2017):

Discover how a book, scant clues, crowd sourced research, and limited online records came together to make ancestral ties to the Trail of Tears, US Civil War, a hanging judge, an outlaw, and of slavery in the Cherokee Nation.

Runs 1 hour 32 minutes



© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Gone for Soldiers: Civil War Trust Announces Preservation of 319 Acres at Historic Champion Hill Battlefield in Mississippi

With this addition, to date nearly 800 acres the Champion Hill Battlefield have been saved and will, in time, become part of the National Park Service's Vicksburg National Military Park.**

Almost exactly 154 years ago* my great great grandfather Dick Worden, a private in the 24th Iowa Regiment, was one of the soldiers in Grant's amy who took part in the first assault of the battle which ended in the rout of Confederate forces and sealed the fate of Vicksburg.

[Photo from the Mississippi Historical Markers website]

Here's an excerpt from the 24th Iowa's Regimental History describing their role in the battle:

It was engaged in constant skirmishing from that time to the battle of Champion's hill, where it proved the equal of any regiment engaged. At one time it advanced unsupported charged a battery of 5 guns that was creating havoc, fairly ran over the men at the guns, and drove the supporting infantry in wild confusion, but was compelled by overwhelming numbers to fall back. Forty-three were killed, 40 mortally wounded and nearly 30 maimed for life, the total loss in killed, wounded and captured being 195 out of 417 engaged.

It's great to know that someday I will be able to visit Champion Hill with my daughter and grandson to see where our ancestor helped preserve the Union.


*The fighting commenced on May 16, 1863
**When Bonnie and I visited Vicksburg in May, 2003, I didn't know that one of my ancestors had been there during the Civil War.


© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Gone for Soldiers: Willet Orlando "Richard" or "Dick" Worden (1843 - 1912), Soldier, U.S. - Part 8

This week marks the 153rd anniversary of my great great grandfather Willet O. "Dick" Worden's enlistment in the Iowa Twenty-Fourth Infantry - Company G, the same company from which he had received a disability discharge the previous August at Carrollton, Louisiana after taking part in the Vicksburg Campaign. He had just turned 21.*

[Report of the Adjutant General and Acting Quartermaster General of the State of Iowa. Ancestry.com. U.S., Adjutant General Military Records, 1631-1976 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Original data: Various. Sacramento, California: California State Library.]

His 17-year-old brother John Henry Worden (whose name is just below his) had enlisted in the same company the previous month.

Since Dick Worden was a veteran he wouldn't have needed training so was probably sent directly to rejoin his comrade of Company G in Louisiana where it was preparing to take part in General Banks' joint Army/Navy Red River Campaign. Here's what a regimental history says about that period:

The first of the year 1864 found the regiment encamped at Algiers, weather very wet, the mud and water rendering the camp almost impassable to man or beast. Recollections of Helena came forcibly to the men’s minds, but the 14th of January, quarters were obtained in warehouses. The 21st, the command moved, and the next day encamped near the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, By Madisonville. This was the most pleasant camp the regiment ever had, after leaving Camp Strong, near Muscatine. It was evacuated on the evening of February 26. The regiment was reviewed by General McClernand at Algiers on the 3d of March, and received the special commendations of that officer.

From Algiers the Twenty-fourth moved by rail to Berwick Bay, and Thence on the 13th joined the Red River Expedition under General Banks.

[Detail showing Algiers, Louisiana from LLoyd's new map of the Mississippi River from Cairo to its mouth; New York H. H. Lloyd & Co. (1863?). Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C.]

Next month we'll pick up the story of the Red River Campaign which was later characterized by General Sherman as "one damn blunder from beginning to end."



*He was born on February 4, 1843.

© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Working on Wednesday: Epps W. Warren (1807-1871), Farmer, Overseer & MInister - Part 2, Civil War Letters

Two letters Epps W. Warren wrote during the Civil War to Joseph E. Brown, the Governor of the Confederate State of Georgia survive.

[Joseph E. Brown (1821-1894.

 Courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries]

In the earliest one he described himself as a "humble minister"* and called on Brown to proclaim a day of prayer to thank God for the "great and glorious victory" at Chickamauga (September 18-20) which turned out to be the last major victory for the Confederate Army.

Macon Sept 26th 1863
     His Excellency
          Joseph E Brown
               Dear Brother**
                    You will
pardon a private individual & an humble
Minister of Jesus Christ for a making a
suggestion to the Governor of Georgia.
"Through riches of grace in Christ
Jesus" from God the Father who is the
bestower of every good & perfect gift
we have received a great & glorious
victory on the North West border
of our State, which saves us from
untold sufferings, & our people from
unwanted discouragement.
      I feel anxious for all our people
to give all honor & praise to Him
whose "right arm has gotten us the
victory." You I know share in this
desire. If the Chief Magistrate of  our
Common Wealth would put his
proclamation, calling on our Christian
people to assemble at some early day
in their houses of worship for this purpose 

I am persuaded it would meet with
the most cordial approbations of the
people generally, & the effect would
be well pleasing to our Divine Redeemer.
     I mearly make the suggestion, hoping
you will excuse the apparent presum-
ption, & if it should meet your views,
that at a proper time you will call
on us to render thanksgiving and
praise to the Lord God Omnippotent
who reigneth.
          In christian affection
                E. W Warren

As for what was written on the bottom, I'm having problems with a couple of words. Since the letter was addressed to the Governor, perhaps it's his handwriting.

E.W. Warren

     Macon

          Ga

Say that his letter[?]  has

been forwarded to

this filair[?] & I am

gone to Canton[?]

Four months later Epps was writing again to his "Dear Brother, " this time to recommend someone for a government post as surgeon.

Macon Jan 5th 1864

     His Excellency
          Jos. E Brown
               Dear Brother
                    Having
understood that you are
appointing surgeons for each
senatorial district in Ga.
I take pleasure in suggesting
Dr. J.W. Janes of Cuthbert as
a suitable man in every
respect for the a position
somewhere in S. W. Ga. if
they are not all filled, if they
are he would gratefully
accept one any where in the 
State. He is a very competent

man, & would do his work

faithfully. He is the son in 

law of S.G Hillyer

     He served in the war

as aid of Genl Patton Anderson

until his health failed, & he

was forced to retire. He is

now doing service here in

a subaltern position in the

hospital as a surgeon.

     If necessary, he will

make a personal application

accompanied by such

recommendations as may

be required.

          Most Truly

               Your obt Servt.

                    E.W. Warren

E.W. Warren

     Macon

          Ga

5 Jan 64

Recommend Dr 

J W Janes for

surgeon for 11th Sen Distr.

     answrd 20 Jany 

          64

From the above transcribed note on the back of the last page, it appears that Epps Warren's letter got the results he (and Dr. Janes) were hoping for.

And a third letter addressed to Major General Smith*** to learn if one of his sons could substitute for one of his daughters' teacher was in the same file. 

[Gustavus Woodson Smith, photo taken during the Civil War 1861–65

Source: Library of Congress]

Macon June 4th 1864
Maj Genl Smith
          Dear Sir
               I write to ascertain
if my son who will not be seventeen
till the last of Octo, but who is well-
grown, strong & healthy, who desires
to enter the army, can be used
as a substitute, in the event
he comes, for Prof. R. D. Mallory,****
whose health is too feeble to do
field service, & who cannot
be spared from our city without
serious hinderance to the
education of our daughters.
I refer you to Col  F.L. Holt
of your command, who is from
this city, & can give you particu

[Ancestry.com. Georgia, Civil War Correspondence, 1847-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Governor's Incoming Correspondence, Civil War— Governor Joseph E. Brown of Georgia. Morrow, Georgia:

Georgia State Archives.]

lars. My son is able to do
good duty, his teacher is 
now in your command,
(Lieut Poehill), & he is anxious
to join the army, while Prof
Mallory would not I think
be able to serve his country
there, but is of indispensable
service at home.
          Very Respecty
               E.W. Warren

P.S. I have also written
to Gov. Brown on this
Su topic

From this last letter we're led to believe that Epps was so dedicated to his daughters' education that he was willing to send an underage son off to war in place of the girls' teacher? There's a problem with his story--a son who would have turned 17 in October 1864 would have been born in 1848. Now as you can see from my first post about Epps, neither the 1850 nor the 1860 enumerations of his household list a male child born in that year.*****

So who was being offered in exchange here?

NOTE: I've added "Overseer" to Epps W. Warren's occupations in the title.

*Since he's buried in a United Methodist cemetery, I assume he belonged to that denomination.
**I know of no family connection that would allow Epps to address Governor Brown as "Dear Brother." Perhaps he believed being "an humble minister" gave him the right to do so?
***Almost certainly Gustavus Woodson (G.W.) Smith (1821-1896) who by this time was serving as a Major General in the Georgia Militia. He was appointed to his post by Governor Brown.
****This is the man Epps is offering a substitute for (from Ancestry.com - 1864 Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia).

***** There's a daughter [Sarah] Olivia Warren who would have been born that year but no boy.

© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Working on Wednesday: Epps W. Warren (1807-1871), Farmer, Overseer & MInister - Part 1, Who Was He?

As we've seen, my great great great uncle Jeremiah Warren singled out four of his relative that he didn't want to see benefit from his estate.

Item 2nd.  I loan Mary Warren my sister all my lands whereon my
Mother now lives and the negroes that are living with my
Mother during her lifetime and at her death the negroes
Buck, Judy and her children [&] Lands sold and divided between
Robert Warrens children accept Epps Warren and James
Warren they have no part in the division.

All the residue of my property I will to be managed
by my executors for five years in a profitable manner having
regard to humanity in there treatment not hiring them to
any person who will abuse them if they cannot have
them freed by the Laws of our Country in that time are
to be equally divided by my brothers and sisters or
their heirs except Epps Warren and James Warren and Eliza-
beth Smith and Susan Johnson as I do not wish them
to have any part in said division.


Epps* W. Warren was born in Hancock County, Georgia, in about 1807 and appears to have lived his whole life there. His father Robert (c1783-1851) was Jeremiah's next younger brother and his mother is believed to be Elizabeth "Betsy" Sims (c1773-c1836).**

On January 13, 1831, Epps married Elizabeth Smith.

[Marriage Records, Book, 1808-1879. Ancesrty.com. Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Original data: County Marriage Records, 1828–1978. The Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia.]

In 1840 there's an apparent discrepancy between Epps Warren's U.S. Census and Georgia Property Tax Digest records over the number of enslaved persons in his household. Four slaves are listed in the federal enumeration, 1 male under 10, 1 female under 10, and 2 females 10 thru 23. The Georgia tax record shows [ " ] below the number 11. Since his name is one of a group of four property owners in a row who all had 11 slaves I'm not sure how to interpret this--is it a real count or the result of too many ditto marks?

[Ancestry.com. 1840; Census Place: District 101, Hancock, Georgia; Roll: 43; Page: 208; Image: 426;

Family History Library Film: 0007044]

[1840. Ancestry.com. Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Original data: Georgia Tax Digests [1890]. 140 volumes. Morrow, Georgia: Georgia Archives.]

By the time of the 1850 U.S. Census all the known Epps Warren children had been born and Epps listed his occupation as "Farmer". The column for value of real estate owned was left blank and I didn't find his name in the Slave Schedule for that year.

[Year: 1850; Census Place: District 101, Hancock, Georgia; Roll: M432_72; Page: 2B; Image: 378. 

Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

When we turn to the 1860 U.S. Census however, we can see that Epps Warren has definitely prospered although he still doesn't own land. His occupation had changed to "Overseer" for wealthy planter Wilkins Harper and according to the Slave Schedules his human property consisted of 29

[Year: 1860; Census Place: Hancock, Georgia; Roll: M653_126; Page: 254; Image: 254; Family History Library Film: 803126. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.]

[Ancestry.com. 1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1860. M653, 1,438 rolls.]

According to the National Park Service Soldiers and Sailors Database Epps W. Warren served as a private in the Georgia Infantry during the Civil War although I haven't been able any details of his service.

[National Park Service]

However he had obviously made his peace with the federal government by August 12, 1867, when Epps Warren signed his name in the State of Georgia Reconstruction Oath Book. He was 60 and his signature is that of an old man.

[Ancestry.com. Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Georgia, Office of the Governor. Returns of qualified voters under the Reconstruction Act, 1867. Georgia State Archives, Morrow, Georgia. Georgia, Office of the Governor. Reconstruction registration oath books, 1867, Georgia State Archives, Morrow, Georgia.]

The last official record we have for Epps W. Warren is in the 1870 U.S. Census. Three of his daughters Tabitha (widow of William H. Brantley), Rebecca (1846-1901) and Mary (1842-?) were living with him along with his son Thomas Jefferson "T.J." Warren (1838-1901).

[Year: 1870; Census Place: Mount Zion, Hancock, Georgia. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.]

Epps W. Warren died on December 3, 1871 and is buried in Smyrna United Methodist Church Cemetery in Hancock County.

[Created by: Jack Johnson; Record added: Jun 28, 2007 

Find A Grave Memorial# 20151329

Photo: pdeneen (#47046250)]

We will never know exactly why his uncle disinherited him, his brother James and his two of his aunts, but we do have examples of Epps W Warren's writing style from three letters that found their way into Confederate files and which I will share in next week's post.

By the way, if you're wondering why I've called him a minister in the title to this post when the records only show him as farmer or overseer, the first of his surviving Civil War letters will make that clear.


*There is an Epps or Eppes family among the early settlers in Virginia.
**This is based on a later handwritten transcription of the original 1804 Georgia marriage record for Betsy Sims and a Robert Warner in Greene County and the naming patterns of their children whose given names (Green, Allen Love  and Jesse Mason Warren) seem to mirror some surnames in Betsy Sims' lineage, although Epps didn't appear among them.


© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Working on Wednesday: William R. Phillips (1818-1890), Merchant - The Presidential Pardon Application, August 1865

On May 29, 1865, President Andrew Johnson issued a proclamation that affected William R. Phillips among others in the South.

[U. S. President. Andrew Johnson. Prest. Johnson's amnesty proclamation ... Done at the city of Washington, the twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five ... Andrew Johnson. Washington, 1865. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/rbpe.23502500/. (Accessed January 10, 2017.)]

Because he had claimed real and personal estates of more than $20,000 in the 1860 U.S. Census, William R. Phillips was among the people forced to apply to President Andrew Johnson for a pardon after the end of the Civil War in order to retain possession of his property.

[Year: 1860; Census Place: District 1001, Spalding, Georgia; Roll: M653_136; Page: 194; Image: 196; Family History Library Film: 803136. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.]

Here it is.**

Head Quarters Department of Georgia
OFFICE PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL
     Augusta, Ga  Aug.21st. 1865
William R Phillips
Newton Co Ga
Respectfully asks for pardon under excep-
tions No. 13 
of President Johnson's proclamation.
===============================
Sept 16/65
Head Quarters Department of Georgia
OFFICE PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL
      Augusta, Ga  Aug.21st. 1865
   Respectfully referred to His Excellency JAMES
JOHNSON, Governor of the State of Georgia, for
investigation and report as to the merits of the
within case, and for his recommendation as to
final action.
   These papers to be returned with the report
and recommendation.
   By command of 
      MAJ. GEN. JAMES B. STEEDMAN
         R.B.Chappell***
Maj. 18th O.V. I., & Ass't. Pro. Mar. Gen D.G.
Worth over $20,000
===============================
Head Quarters Department of Georgia
      Augusta, Ga  Sept 5  1865   
   Respectfully forwarded to the Attorney Gen-
eral U.S., at Washington City.

       James B. Steedman  
              Maj. Gen'l. Commd'g. Dep't. Ga.
--------------------------------------------------------

Wm R. Phillips
Newton Factory
     Newton Co
          Ga
Application for
     Pardon
_______________________
          Executive Offices
Provisional Govt of Geo
Milledgeville, Aug 26th=1865
Respectfully returned to
Maj. Genl. Jas B. Steedman.
I recommend pardon
& amnesty for the within
applicant as I am sat
-isfied the statements in
his petition are correct, &
that he will prove a good
loyal & useful citizen
   J Johnson
  Prov Gov of Ga

Received from
Department of Justice
December 18, 1894
R. & P. 402985****


And now we turn to the pages of the William R's actual petition in which he explained what he had been doing for the past few years.

State of Georgia   }   To his Excellency Andrew
Newton County    }   Johnson Prest of the U.S.
of America,
     The Petition of William R. Phillips a
citizen of the County & State aforesaid Sheweth
that he was about Forty three Years of age
at the beginning of the late Rebelion he was a business
man and believed no cause had transpired that
justified Secession and used his influence to 
prevent said ^State^ from seceeding, your Petitioner
was never in the confederate service; But
after the conscript act was extended so as
to embrace men of his age he was elected
to an office in the Militia Service, and subseq
-ently called into service in Mary 1864, and
when he reported was assigned to duty in the
State 2.no. department, where he remained
only about Ten days and made applica-
-tion and obtained an indefinite Furlough
agreeing to manufacture Ten Thousand 

of woollen Plains[?] for the State only a

part being furnished on account of the

State failing to get Transportation for wool
to the Factory of your petitioner who on this
furlough remained out of service during
the rebellion, Your petitioner further sheweth
that believing as he did that he ought not
to act treacherously to his State and in
order to retain his operatives in his Factory
he contracted to furnish two thirds of his cotton
goods to the ^so called^ conf'd Government, Your Petitioner makes
makes this application for pardon under your Exelen-
cys proclamation which excludes all persons
who are worth over Twenty thousand dollars
from taking the oath of allegiance and amnesty
restoring them to citizenship under the Government
of the U.S. without Special pardon from your
Excellency and showeth that no proceedings have
been instituted against any of his property under
the confiscation act and that he has no property
in the U.S. Government as abandoned, Your peitioner
pledges himself to aid and che[e]rfully support the
U.S. Government in the restoration of the Law and
order to the extent of his power and influence
and prays that he may be pardoned for what
may be regarded as errors and offences against

the U.S. Government
                                              In the foregoing peti
tion Specifications your petitioner will
every pray &c                       William R. Phillips
State of Georgia    } Personally came before me the
Fulton County       } undersigned cause[?] William R.
Phillips, who being duly sworn saith that ^the^ facts
set forth in the foregoing petition are true to the 
best of his knowledge and belief and that
they contain a full history of his conduct
during the rebellion, sworn to and subscribed
before me this 15th day of August 1865
Daniel Pittman Ordy         William R. Phillips
State of Georgia    } Personally came before me, Littleberry B.
Fulton County       } Phillips and David M. Flanders
who being sworn saith that they are ^know^ and have known
William R. Phillips the petitioner intimately for a
long time and believe him to be a reliable and trust
-worthy citizen and that the facts set forth in his 
petition are true to the best of their knowledge
and belief, sworn to this and subscribed this
15th day of August 1865          LB Phillips
Daniel Pittman Ordy                    DM Flanders

As part of the process William R. Phillips signed a loyalty oath in Atlanta on the same day.*****

[Ancestry.com. Confederate Applications for Presidential Pardons, 1865-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Case Files of Applications From Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons (“Amnesty Papers”) 1865-1867; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1003, 73 rolls); Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

There you have William R.'s sworn account of what he did during the late rebellion. Next week we'll take a look at how he fared after the war.


*You can read the gist of Johnson's Amnesty Proclamation here.
**At first I wasn't certain that his pardon application was included in Ancestry's online database because there were two William Phillips from Georgia who applied for presidential pardon and that of the "other" William Phillips was first. Also this William R. Phillips was stated to be a resident of Newton County instead of Macon. However reading through the documents I noticed the names of David M[itchell] Flanders, the husband of William R.'s daughter Laura Calphurnia Phillips, Littleberry B[ostick] Phillips, either his uncle or his half-brother, so I'm confident that we have the right man's application.
***Since I have a lot of Chappell kin when I saw this man's name I wondered if he could somehow be related--after a lot of vain effort I still don't know if he is but here's what I found about this Major in an Ohio regiment.
****If for any reason you should happen to be curious about this text you can find some information about it here.
*****Note that here we have Daniel Pittman's title spelled out in full. I haven't been able to discover what "Ordinary" refers to in this context but records show that he was a clerk of the Superior Court in Fulton County at some point.


© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.