© Copyright 2000 James David Pearce
THE WHOLE STORY
Deposition
Case of Isaac Pierce, C. No. 506209
On this 4 day of March 1903 at Phoebus, County of Elizabeth City, State of Va., before me, H. D. F. McLooley, special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, 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 claim for pension, deposes and says:
~~~~~~~~~
. . . . Will be 62 tomorrow, residence and P.O. address are Co. A, Soldiers Home, Elizabeth City County, Va. I am pensioned under the General Law under the above certificate number, having served as a private and sergeant of Co C 2 Union Vols and private of Co F 1 NCVI.
I was born in Hertford Co., NC, near Winton. My father's name was Jesse Pierce (dcsd) and my mother's Lucretia Pierce (dcsd). Was born in 1841. My full and correct name is Isaac Pierce, and I have never been known under any other name.
I enlisted at Newbern NC Dec. 25 1863, in Co C 2 Union Vols and was made duty sergeant of that company.
I served in that company until it was consolidated with Co F 1 NC Inf Vols, along about Feb. 1864, and then the two regiments were consolidated in 1 NCVI.
I was stripped and given a thorough physical examination at enlistment and was sworn in at Newbern, NC. John A. Reid, of Harrisburg, Pa., and who belonged to 103 Pa. Inf. and who subsequently became 2nd lt. of that company, recruited me.
I was honorably discharged at Beaufort NC June 8 1865.
I broke my leg (left) at Beaufort NC and hurt my left foot there along about the forepart of Feb. 1865, while moving commissary stores from Morehead City NC to Beaufort NC. A load of hardtack, barrel of pork and myself broke through a bridge, and hurt me in the manner described.
QUESTION: Did you ever serve in the CSA or Navy?
ANSWER: Well, I was attached to Co G 31 NC Inf CSA for about a year. I was attending school, military school, at Harrellsville NC, Hertford County, in 1861, and the Confederates moved our whole school up to Raleigh NC and we did guard duty. I never got a discharge but when my year's schooling was out, I came home to Hertford Co. and remained there up to the time of my enlistment.
I was about 21 when I enlisted in the Union Army.
(Examiner's note: Original discharge certificate shows Isaac Pierce, private of Lt. J. W. Smith's Company F 1 NC Inf Vols, was enrolled on Dec. 25, 1863, and discharged June 8, 1865, at Beaufort NC, in accordance with General Order No. 37 Dept. NC dated May 5, 1865 . . . . . . born in Hertford County NC, 21 years of age, 5 ft 8 in high, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair and occupation farmer. . . . . Present personal description tallies with above, pensioner being 5 ft 8 in tall.)
I was mustered out and paid off at Newbern NC, and went back to Beaufort, Carteret County NC, where I lived for some years and then went back to my home in Hertford Co. NC, living there and in Bertie Co. NC up to about six years ago when I moved up here.
I never enlisted in the USA or CSA or Navy after my discharge from 1 NC Inf.
Col. of 2 NC was Walter S. Poor, or rather he acted as such. He was a lt. col.
Major was . . . . I forget . . . . from NC. Captain was Edmund C. Blount . . . . 1st lt. was Wm. Kraft from Pa. . . . 2nd lt. was John Reid, who was the officer who recruited or enlisted me. Orderly sgt was Wm. H. Hendricks.
I bunked with James Barber. I didn't really stay in camp much for I got married down there and had my house right near the camp, and the officers permitted me to go home nights.
I never saw the 1st Regiment from Feb. when injured, until discharge. I was in the General Hospital at Beaufort NC. J. C. Salter was the surgeon in charge.
I never was in any battle.
My pension certificate is in the treasurer's office in the Soldiers' Home, Va.
I have been drawing a pension about seven or eight years for fracture of left leg previously described. I draw $6 under the General Law.
My witnesses . . . . can't recollect, except . . . . can't think of any. Joe Etheridge, Colerain, Bertie Co. NC, did some of my writing in my claim but I don't recollect that he charged me a cent. Jos. W. Hunter, Washington, D.C., was my recognized attorney, and I paid him $25.
I draw my pension through the treasurer of the home. I never borrowed a cent on my pension papers.
I have been married only once. Was married to Annie Maria Salter of Beaufort NC in May 1864 by Squire Jas. Ward, JP. Neither of us had been previously married. I have no children under 16.
Questions are understood. Answers are correct.
Signed
Isaac Pierce
~~~~~~~~~
click here to go to the next chapter