Civil War Pension File- Miles Price Deposition

Miles Price was my 3^rd great grandfather, shown here.  For many years I have looked for his parents and I was hopeful that his pension file would give me clues.  Well, I didn’t find any well-documented pages of full genealogies, but in going through the depositions, I found many clues to his life pre-Civil War and many other things that were just plain interesting. Here are some of the things you might find in a Civil War pension file for your ancestors.

Emmaline (Markham) Price and Miles Price

Deposition A

Case of Miles Price, No. 450953

On this 28th day of March, 1890, at Zero, County of Lucas, State of Iowa, before me, __ E  Burman, a Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Miles Price, the claimant, who being by me first duty sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of afore-said pension claim deposes and says:

I am 52 years old, a farmer and always have been.  Zero, Lucas Co., IA is my post office address.  I am the identical Miles Price who enlisted in Co. A 16th Ill Inft, April 18th, 1861 (sworn in in May 1861) and was transferred to Co G 1st US Vet Vol Engineers, and was finally discharged at Nashille, Tenn Sept 26, 1865, since which date I have never been in the US military or naval service.  I lived near Bushnell, McDonough Co., IL for three years previous to my enlistment.

My claim for invalid pension is based on disease of throat and lungs result of measles contract at Hannibal, MO. in the month of Jun 1861.  I had a severe attack of the measles and had the flu at the same time.  Watson was the name of the surgeon who treated me.  After I was taken down with the measles I with others was taken to Palmyra, about sixteen miles north of Hannibal and placed in a small house that had been deserted and it was here that Surgeon Watson treated me.  He treated me up to the 3rd of July, 1861 when he gave me a thirty days sick furlough and I returned to Bushnell, Ill.  This furlough was extended two weeks by or through Sergeant CC Morris now living in Springfield, Ill.  Richard Speake was home on sick furlough too and his furlough was also extended by Morris.   My furlough was not extended on what is called Medical Certificate.  Morris was at home recruiting when my furlough was extended.  At the time I enlisted and when I was on furlough in July 1861, I was making my home with Mr. Asa B. Markham of Bushnell, IL but whose post office address is now Bardolph, McDonough Co, Il.   After having the measles, I took cold which settled on my lungs and I have had a trouble of throat and lungs ever since.  I had not fully recovered from the measles while I was home in July 1861 and don't think my lungs were effected then.  I took cold while down with the measles, but I don't think it had effected my lungs so that it was noticeable until after I had returned to the command from furlough.

When were your lungs and throat first affected?

I think it was the first winter I was out- the winter of 1861and 1862.  I had soreness through the lungs and throat and after a tightness.   I went to Sergeant Watson and he gave me a cough syrup.  I had a cough and this medicine was given to me for it.  I think it was at St. Joseph, MO in the winter of '61 and '62 that Watson gave me the cough syrup.

In the winter of 1862 and 1963 at both Nashville and Stone River, I got medicine, but I am not sure whether it was for my lungs or not.

I know I had a cold and that is why I think it was for my lungs.  Whenever I would get a cold it would settle on my lungs and cause me to cough and have severe pains in and soreness on the lungs.  I don't remember of any sergeant of the regiment other than Watson ever giving me medicine for my lungs. 

Abut two days after the Stone River fight (Jan 1863) I was detailed to the Pioneer Corps and didn't see much of the boys of the company after that.

In December 1863 I returned to Company A 16th Ill lnft and veteranized.  I remained with the command until sometime in July 1865 when I was transferred to the Engineers. after which I saw no more of the company I first went out with.  Two men from each company were transferred to the Engineers and a man name Adams (Full name and address unknown) and I went from Co. A 16th Ill Vols.

I did not require any treatment for my lungs and throat after I joined the Engineers.   Whenever I would strike a town, I would purchase cough syrup and carry it with me particularly during the winter months.  We had surgeons connected with the Engineers but none of them was treating me.  The companies would be sent here and there on work that would arise, so that we hardly ever had enough men together to make a battalion- each battalion usually had a surgeon.

While at Chattanooga., TN in Sept 1865 I was taken sick and was put on a train and taken to Nashville and placed in a hospital.  I don't know what ailed me and couldn’t give the name of the hospital.  I was there just two days and left the hospital and joined the regiment at Nashville.  No Sir. I did not come over from Chattanooga to Nashville with my regiment but came over in a hospital train ahead of the regiment.  This is all the hospital treatment I received.

By whom can you prove that you contracted measles and resulting disease of throat and lungs?

Surgeon Louis Watson, Ellis, Ellis Co, Kansas

Capt. B. F. Pinckly, Girard, Crawford Co, Kansas

Clark C. Morris or Morse. Springfield, Co, Ill.

Henry H. Gash (ditto)

What persons will probably know of your physical condition while you were with the Engineers?

William Shields, Ripley, Adams Co. Il

I cannot refer you to any one else unless it is Adams and his address is unknown to me.

As soon as I was discharged I returned to Bushnell, Ill where I lived until about 1876 when I came to this vicinity here. I have since resided.

The first winter after I came home, Dr. Markham treated me for throat and lung trouble and after this I didn't receive treatment until I came to this state.  While in Ill, I used Hall's Balsam purchased from a druggist named Frisbee, then doing business in  Bushnell.  Dr. Markham is dead.  I can prove my physical condition from discharge to 1876 by

Asa B. Markham, Bardolph. McDonough Co, IL (2 mi NW)

Druggist Frisbie Bushnell (ditto)

Henry McElvin Sr. (ditto)

I cannot think of others at present but perhaps Markham can refer Special Examiner to some one, if deemed necessary.

Since I came to this State, I have been treated by Dr. CB Powell of Albia,. Monroe Co., IA (formerly of Russell, IA).  Dr. Trowbridge and Dr. Hawk.  Dr. Trowbridge is some place in Arkansas, but I have not been able to ascertain his address.  Dr. Hawk now resides in Denver, CO.  I refer you to Dr. Powell, Jno C Davis, Joel Whittlesey and Thomas S. Crozier, as to my health since I came here.  I have never had any hemorrhages of the lungs.  My trouble manifests itself by pain and soreness through the chest and a great deal of cough.  No, there is never any blood mixed with my expectorations.  In damp weather my throat troubles me a great deal.  It seems to get raw and I can then scarcely swallow.  I never had any throat or lung afflictions prior to enlistment.  I wasn't very much disabled for four or five years immediately following the war, except when I would take cold.  I consider now that I am 3/4 disabled any way.  I fully understand and comprehend the questions that have been preponded and my answers are correctly recorded.

It is signed by Miles Price.