Confederate Soldiers Pension Application

L.B. Thompson's Confederate Pension Application

      Texas Soldier's Application for a Pension (Form A) was filed by L.B. Thompson on August 30, 1913, and was approved on September 1, 1913. The pension was allowed from December 1, 1913. The pension application was assigned No. 24771. Form A was "For Use of Soldiers Who Are In Indigent Circumstances"

      Portions of the application are shown below:

The State of Texas, Rusk County:

I, L.B. Thompson do hereby make application to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension to be granted to me under the Act passed by the 33rd Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved April 7, 1913, on the following grounds:

      I enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that I did not desert the Confederate service, but during the war I was loyal and true to my duty and never at any time voluntarily abandoned my post of duty in the said service; or that I was in the service of the State of Texas during the war, to protect said State against the Indians and Mexicans for more than 6 months. That I was honorably discharged or surrendered (discharged at Harrisonburg, LA, 1st May, 1865.)

that I have been a bona fide citizen of this state since prior to January 1, A.D. 1900, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not hold any National, State, city or county office which pays me a salary or fees of $300.00 per annum, nor have I an income from any other employment or other source whatever which amounts to $300.00 per annum, nor do I receive from any source whatever money or other means of support amounting in value to the sum of $300.00 per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does any one hold in trust for my benefit or use, nor does my wife own, nor does any one hold in trust for my wife, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed either in fee or for life, of the assessed value of over one thousand dollars, exclusive of a home of the value of not more than $1,000.00; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and that I am not an inmate of the Confederate Home, and I do further State that the answers given to the following questions are true:

  1. What is your age?     66
  2. Where where you born?     Mississippi
  3. How long have you resided in Texas?     Since 1867
  4. In what county do you reside?     Rusk
  5. How long have you resided in said county and what is your postoffice address?     Since 1868 - Overton, R#4
  6. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate pension law and been rejected? If rejected, state when and where?     No
  7. What is your occupation, if able to engage in one?     Farming
  8. In what State was the command in which you served organized?     Louisiana
  9. How long did you serve? Give, if possible, the date of enlistment and discharge.     2 years
  10. What was the letter of your company, number of battalion, regiment or battery?     Co. D, 3rd LA Cavalry.
  11. If transferred from one command to another, give the time of transfer, name of command and time of service.     No
  12. What branch of service did you enlist in -- infantry, cavalry, artillery or navy?     Cavalry
  13. if commissioned direct by the President, what was your rank and line of duty?     No
  14. If detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, what was the nature of your service and how long did you serve?     No
  15. Have you transferred to others any property of any kind for the purpose of becomng a beneficiary under this law?     No

      Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application for pension be approved and such other procedings be had in the premises as required by law.

      Note:

The Commissioner of Pensions wrote to the War Department to confirm L.B. Thompson's service record. The War Department could not find the information on file as stated in the application by L.B. Thompson. They did find in the Prisoner of War records that one L._Thompson, private, Troop G, 3rd Regiment, Louisiana Cavalry, C.S.A. was surrendered May 26, 1865, at New Orleans, Louisiana and paroled June 7, 1865, at Shreveport, Louisiana. The application must have been approved on the basis of this record.
On February 20, 1922, Mrs. L.B. Thompson signed her mark to a MORTUARY WARRANT ACCOUNT, verifying she had bought a casket from A.J. Smith Co, for Eighty Five Dollars. On February 21, 1922, Mrs. L.B. Thompson wrote a note to Mr. Lon Smith, State Comptroller, Austin, Texas, submitting her application for a (widow's) pension. Her home address was given as Oveton (Overton), Texas. The Application for Mortuary Warrant indicated that L.B. Thompson died January 10, 1922 in the town of Overton, Rusk County, Texas. The Physician's Certificate indicated L.B. Thompson died of Influenza and pneumonia.
Mrs. L.B. Thompson's application was numbered 38097 and was officially filed on March 20, 1922. It was approved on that date and the pension was allowed from March 1, 1922. A Certificate of State and County Assessor was included which indicated Mrs. Thompson had a homestead valued on the tax rolls at $300.00 and that other property, real or personal or both was valued at $900.00.
An Application for Mortuary Warrant was filed on August 31, 1931 certifying the death of Mrs. L.B. Thompson on August 22, 1931 near Overton, Texas. The pensioner died in the home of her son-in-law, C.B. Gramling. A physician's statement indicated she died of Hemipligia, left, and prolysis of the same side - general disability.
Source(s): Texas Confederate Pension Records