The initial question and replies (good information!) reminded me of the last question on a
gg-grandfather's application for a KY confederate pension. He'd enlisted in eastern KY
during the war (days after his 16th birthday), was captured in Wise county about a month
later, imprisoned in the Chicago area, and was finally paroled at City Point (Hopewell) to
make his own way home to Hazzard KY. Fifty years later, he was still bitter about the
experience.
The last question on the pension application asked if he had ever sworn an oath of
allegiance to the United States and under what circumstances. In bold, forceful writing
(in marked contrast to the rest of his application) he answered "April 1965. Surrendered.
Forced to."
Rosanna Bencoach
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