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This Week's Story

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DEPOSITION A

Civil War Pension Index. Microfilm. Date of filing: 1866 July 17.
Application No. 111,918; Certificate No. 506,209
Name of Regiment: F 1 NC Inf; C 2nd US Inf.

Deposition A. Case of Isaac Pierce, No. 111,918.

On this 12th day of March 1890, at Coleraine, County of Bertie, State of NC, before me, Grafter Robertson, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Isaac Pierce, who being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this special examination of aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says:

His name is Isaac Pierce, age 48 yrs, P.O. Coleraine, Bertie Co., NC, occupation farmer:

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I enlisted in Co C 2nd NC Infty Dec. 25, 1863, at Newberne NC and was made sergt of that co. Afterward transferred to Co F 1st NC Infty, discharged in June 1865, Newberne NC.

I ask a pension for fracture left leg.

I was a sgt in Co C 2nd NC; after a time was transferred to Co F 1st NC Ifty. About 1st Feby 1865 I was detailed to move commissary stores under acting qrtmaster Wardell, Beaufort NC. The commissary stores were in a little house just across a bridge that went to the shore in part of the hospital. I had a detail of four or five men with me.

We were moving these commissary stores from this little house to a flatboat. While rolling a barrel of beef or pork, a plank on the bridge broke, & I fell through the bridge to the ground, a fall of some 5 or 6 feet, & fractured my left leg near the ankle.

A soldier, Sgt Frank Blythe fell through the bridge with me at the time. He came up at the moment and spoke to me just as the plank broke & we both went down together. I do not know where he is. I have tried to find him but have not been able to do so.

Marcus Culipher had, I think, hold of the barrel, rolling it with me at the time. John Butler was there in the boat & saw the fall. I don't know if Butler came to me or not.

I was hurt so bad that I do not know who helped me to the hospital. I was taken right up & carried to the hospital, which was only some 20 feet from where I broke my leg.

I got my leg put in splints by the surgeon when my brother, Cincinnati Pierce, who lived in Beaufort NC, had me taken to his house, where I stayed under Dr. J. C. Salter's care for six or eight weeks. Dr. Salter was the hospital surgeon at Beaufort.

I never was sick in hospital at Beaufort or anywhere else while a soldier. Was only in hospital for this fractured left leg at Beaufort.

My brother, James Pierce, Co C 2nd NC Infty, died in the hospital at Beaufort before I got my leg broken. I was discharged from the army while on crutches for this fracture of left leg.

I can't understand why I have no hospital record of this fracture of my left leg.

My captain, Edward C. Blunt, was present when my leg was set in the hospital. He died in Baltimore Md after the war. Lieut. Wm. Craft was also present. I cannot say where he lives. Wm. Hendricks was my orderly sgt. I don't think he was there at the time as he was made a lieut. in a colored regiment about that time. I don't know where he lives.

Q: When at Beaufort NC in 1865, didn't you attend a dance?

A: No sir. I never did.

Q: Didn't you go to a dance at the Atlantic Hotel & while standing on a platform looking in the window at the dancers, the plank on which you were standing gave way, & you fell through to the ground, breaking your leg?

A: No, sir, I did not. As the stretcher bearers carried me by that hotel, they stopped in front of the window a moment & I looked in. My leg had been set then. I positively assert that the Atlantic Hotel was the hospital, & the dance was in there, & I had got my left leg fractured and set before we stopped on the way to my brother's house, where I was being taken. Thomas Holloman & a man named Saml Lorder had hold of the stretcher carrying me along. Holloman is dead, and Lorder, I do not know where he is.

I have heard the statements of Saml H. Taylor and M. A. Marshall, made before Special Examiner Casselman, & they are false. Not a word of truth in them whatever. Both of these men know perfectly they do not speak the truth. Taylor I know. Marshall I have no recollection of. I want to be present when these men are seen, and I ask ten days' notice so I can be there.

I understand the questions asked & my answers are correctly recorded.

Signed: Isaac Pierce
Sworn & signed by Special Examiner.

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BUREAUCRACY

Isaac Pierce 111918
C 2 NC Vol Inf

Respectfully returned to Chief of Southern Division, with a view to a thorough special investigation to determine whether claimant received a fracture of left leg while in the service and in the line of duty.

This action seems necessary from the discrepancies between the claimant's statements and his principal witnesses.

No record, but claim appears to be meritorious.

Thomas Ren
Mar ?? 1890

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This Week's Verse

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Gonna lay down my burden,
down by the riverside,
down by the riverside,
down by the riverside,
gonna lay down my burden,
down by the riverside,
ain't gonna study war no more.

I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more.

Gonna find me a path to peace,
down by the riverside,
down by the riverside,
down by the riverside,
gonna find me a path to peace,
down by the riverside,
ain't gonna study war no more.

I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more.
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(Origin unknown)

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This Week's Mailbox

In the interests of everyone's privacy, only the letter-writer's name
and general location will be used here ~ unless the addition
of an URL or an address is approved by the writer

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...... At first, I was heartbroken to read of our young hero's demise (The Poor Town News No. 62), and then angry, as it seemed the government was billing the family for clothing issued ~ or did I read that incorrectly? Then, my reaction was: Wow! There is so much information here that never made the history books. And then, finally, the letters at the end were wonderful and exciting. Talk about the full gamut of emotions! ...... And, who knows, perhaps a Broadway play might just happen out of all this! What fun to think about! Thanks again for these stories. ~ Agnes Green, Michigan.

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...... I had no idea there was a national cemetery at New Bern ...... The facts (about James, Isaac and Cincinnatus in The Poor Town News No. 62) really made for some interesting reading! Good to know my oh-so-great-uncle Billy Spencer wasn't the only person from the area who "refused to fight agin' Abe Lincoln." ~ Ron Lupton, Colorado.

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...... I just read your latest newsletter, and I always also enjoy reading the mailbox. Isn't it fantastic that you have been able to reach all those people from all over the country with some connections to the Ahoskie area? ...... This time, I found it particularly interesting to see how your stories may be included in English education in Germany and in research projects ...... The internet has this wonderful potential of bringing good people together no matter where they live ~ not just the powerful and bombastic ~ just regular, real people. ~ Kjell Petterson, North Carolina.   Kjell's Web Site

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...... Do you know anything about the Pearces/Pierces in Tyrrell County in the 1700s and early 1800s? One of my McGowans, William, married a Nancy Pearce, daughter of Miles Pierce. William McGowan died around 1807 in Beaufort County and his widow Nancy, or a daughter named Nancy, married Joab Daniels in 1810. If you have any further information, I'd appreciate it ...... P.S.~ I just thought of another McGowan/Pearce connection. In 1756, my earliest known ancestor, William Magowne Sr. (c. 1708-1782), bought 250 acres near Gum Neck in Tyrrell County from Phineas and Mary Nixon of Pasquotank County. Phineas was a Quaker leader, as was his son Zachariah Nixon. Anyway, the land was described as land that Mary, Phineas' wife, had inherited from her father Thomas Pierce/Pearce ...... (These Quaker Nixons may have been the ancestors of President Nixon???) Thanks. ~ John McGowan, North Carolina.   Carolina Algonkians

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...... Loved the watermelon-rind pickles ...... A very sad ending for James at an early age (The Poor Town News Nos. 61 and 62) ...... The mention of Mr. Salter reminded me of a road down on Emerald Isle called Salter Path. Runs from Emerald Isle toward Morehead City as I recall. Any connection? ~ Norma Scott, Florida.

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...... Can you tell me if (Jennifer Orrigo of Delaware) ever found the sheet music for the song "I'll Be Back in a Year, Little Darling"? (The Poor Town News No. 34) ...... I too would like to obtain a copy of this song. Any information would be appreciated. ~ David Thomas.   eMail David

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...... I thought you might like to cruise this site ...... Chowan College Yearbook Pictures ~ 1915 ~ Gerri Overton Abrahamsen, North Carolina.

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