men who were my neighbors from Nov 1862 to March 1865 and they are dead. during the past 12 years I have promptly furnished all the evidence called for - but there is a limit to this. And I think I have reached that point. I am now 78 years old and am not able to carve a living on account of age and health. I believe I have already furnished the evidence covering this now called for. I can only stte under oath that I contractd rheumatism while in the first service and that I have never been entirely free from it to this day"
The time is 1901 and for the first time in his eighteen years of dealing with the United States Pension Board, Orson has shown his frustration. He has supplied them with every document they asked for, in fact his pension file is nearly 200 pages long. The file is filled with affidavits from dozens of doctors, compatriots and family members giving details of his service, his life and his injuries. Orson himself has written much of his life story in an effort to get his pension set at an appropriate amount.
In fact in 1899 when Orson applied for an increase to his $12 a month Invalid Pension. The board doctors stated...."Rheumatism of both knees of back and shoulders have gradually increased in severity so that he is totally disable for any manual labor. The disease of heart has increased. all the joints are stiff -- he walks with difficulty, general debility increases with age (79).” They went on to pronounce him eligible for a $30 pension. The increase was denied.
In 1902 Andrew Winget, 24 attested " I have known Orson Oakes all my life. for the last 5 years I have met him frequently and since November 1901 have lived by him and done work for him. He is not able to do anything. He is not able to carry in a small stick of wood and hardly able to get up when down and needs constant assistance. and it takes much of one persons time to wait on him. His wife does this so far as she is able."
Yet at the time of his death 1904, it is noted that Orson’s last pension payment had been in the amount of $17. And the government didn’t stop there. Anna’s fight to get a widows pension was eventually denied.
Why? There was no question that Orson served two different times in the Great Rebellion. There was no question that he contracted Typhoid fever in 1862 which left his body devastated and no question that he rejoined the cause in 1865 when he was once again healthy. Muster rolls and witness statements tell the story.
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According to his pension papers Orson served with I company of the 3rd Missouri Militia Cavalry, A company of the 11 Missouri Militia Cavalry and D company of the 14th Missouri Cavalry.
Although pension papers say the 3rd Regiment, but I would guess that the 2nd is correct is correct. The 2nd Regiment was organized in Dec 1861 and consolidated with the 11th Regiment in April of 1862. Attached to the District of Northern Missouri, Department of Missouri during the time Orson was a part of it
He first enlisted as private in 14 Mo Volunteer Calvary Reg 11 of the Volunteer Cav F (I) 2nd Reg. Mo Calvary on 16 Jan 1862 and was discharged on 25 Nov 1862.
Orson reported for duty as a private in Company A of the 11th Regiment of the Missouri Cavalry Volunteers in January and was reported present in March and April. This company subsequently became Company I, Second Regiment Cavalry, Missouri State Militia.
At the time of roll call in May and June he was reported absent, in pursuit of enemy. He was also reported absent in July and August with the note that he was sick since august first. According to pension papers, Orson contracted Typhoid and was considered too sick to remain in the military.
On the 20th of March 1865 in Shelbyville, MO Orson reenlisted in the Company D of the 14th Regiment of the Missouri Volunteer Calvary. He was mustered in in Benton Barrocks MO for a one year term which was credited to Black Creeks in Shelby Co MO. Bounty due but unpaid was listed as $100. On the enlistment papers Orson stated he was 45 years old born in Lamoil County Vermont and his occupation was a carpenter. On the muster in papers he listed his occupation as farmer. He is listed as 6 feet tall with brown eyes, dark hair and a sandy complexion. A $33.33 head bounty was paid for his enlistment by Captain Hamilton on May 5 from St. Louis. Payroll vouchers show Orson was present Mar 31 to April 30, May and June 1865 (a special note on this voucher shows that the value of shells carelessly lost was 53 cents., July and August 1865,
Orson was mustered out on October 26 1865 a few weeks before the rest of the regiment which was mustered out on November 17th 1865. The muster out voucher states that his clothing account was never settled but he had drawn a total of $56.17. It is also listed that he had received a bounty of $33.33 and was due the same amount. I would guess that because of the early mustering out he lost the additional $33.34.
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Did the government believe he fought on the side of the south during the missing years? His background was Massachusetts to Vermont to Missouri. His son in law William Naylor, who had been collecting a pension longer than Orson served a shorter amount of time and had roots to Slavery in the south. Orson’s brother Oberion gave his sanity to the war.
Was it just government bureaucracy or is there still a tale untold?
Perhaps a little history could enlighten us to the thoughts of the government.
When Missouri was granted statehood as a non-slave state it did not bring peace to the state but rather ushered in a reign of terror, according to historians. Pro-south sentiment developed during the first year of the civil war. In Missouri, Mother of the West, Walter Williams and Floyd C Shoemaker state that the resulting guerilla movement “was pitiless, its banner the black flag and its battle cry the fearful monosyllable DEATH....having no hope for themselves they left none to their victims.”
In October 1861 the state convention decided to create the Missouri State Militia led by Brigadier General John M. Schofield. In Shelbyville, Colonel Henry S. Lipscomb organized the Eleventh Missouri State Militia. It was the Cavalry unit of the Eleventh that Orson joined in 1862.
At the time of his induction into this unit, Orson was nearly forty, much older than the average Union soldier. But his illness was not due to age, the rigors of war hit young and old alike. Disease slew more men than weapons and many of those who survived were never healthy again.
or.....
Perhaps it was the background of his first wife, who had deep roots in the South. More on that later!!
Orson Oakes Pension File
Orson Oakes Service Record
Anna Oakes Widows Pension
11th REGIMENT STATE MILITIA CAVALRY.
Organized in Missouri at large January 1 to April 20, 1862. Assigned to duty in District of North Missouri. Actions at Cherry Grove June 26 and July 1. Near Memphis July 18. Newark August 1 (Detachment). Kirksville August 6 (Detachment). Near Stockton August 8 (Detachment). Consolidated with 2nd Regiment Missouri State Militia Cavalry September 2, 1862, which see.
11th REGIMENT CAVALRY.
Organized at Benton Barracks and St. Joseph, Mo., March 28 to December 11, 1863. Attached to District of Stt. Louis, Mo., Dept. of Missouri, to December, 1863. District of Southwest Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to January, 1864. District of Northeast Arkansas, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Corps, to March, 1865. Separate Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.--Duty in District of St. Louis, Mo., till December, 1863. At Springfield and Rolla, Mo., till February, 1864. Expedition from Springfield to Huntsville, Carrollton and Berryville, and skirmish, November 10-18, 1863 (Detachment). Operations in Northeast Arkansas January 1-30, 1864. Martin's Creek January 7. Rolling Prairie January 23 (Co. "B"). At Batesville, Ark., February to April. Expedition from Batesville to Searcy Landing January 30-February 3. Morgan's Mill, Spring River, White County, February 9 (Detachment). Independence, Mo., February 19. Waugh's Farm, near Batesville, February 19. Expedition from Rolla to Batesville, Ark., February 29-March 13. Scout from Batesville to West Point, Grand Glaze and Searcy Landing March 15-21 (Detachment). Expedition from Batesville to Coon Creek, Devil's Fork, Red River, March 24-31. Van Buren County March 25. Scout from Batesville to Fairview March 25-26 (Detachment). Near Cross Roads March 27. Spring River, near Smithville, April 13 (Detachment). Jacksonport April 20. Expedition from Jacksonport to Augusta April 23-24. Near Jacksonport April 24. Ordered to Duvall's Bluff May, 1864, and duty there till October. Scout in Craighead and Lawrence Counties June 25-26 (Co. "M"). Clarendon, St. Charles, June 25-26. Clarendon June 27-29. Scout to Searcy and West Point July 26-28 (Detachment). Des Arc July 26 (Detachment). West Point July 28 (Detachment). Hay Station No. 3 July 30 (Detachment). West Point August 5. Expedition from Little Rock to Little Red River August 6-16. Operations in Central Arkansas, with skirmishes August 9-15. Duvall's Bluff August 21 and 24. Long Prairie August 24. Jones' Hay Station August 24. Duvall's Bluff September 6. Searcy September 13. Expedition from Duvall's Bluff toward Clarendon October 16-17 (Detachment). Brownsville October 30. Duty at Brownsville till February, 1865. Expedition from Brownsville to Augusta January 4-27, 1865 (Detachment). Moved to Little Rock February 4, and duty there till June. Moved to New Orleans, La., June 27-July 3. At Greenville till July 27. Mustered out at Greenville July 27 and discharged at St. Louis August 10, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 28 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 181 Enlisted men by disease. Total 216.
14th REGIMENT CAVALRY.
Organized at St. Louis and Springfield, Mo., November 30, 1864, to May 13, 1865. Attached to District of St. Louis, Mo., to June, 1865. District of the Plains, Dept. of Missouri, to November, 1865.
Duty at St. Louis, Mo., till June, 1865. Scout from Waynesville to Coal Camp Creek May 23-26. Moved to Nebraska, and frontier duty on the Plains till November. Mustered out November 17, 1865.
Lost during service 2 killed and 34 by disease. Total 36.
14th REGIMENT STATE MILITIA CAVALRY.
Organized in Missouri at large March to May, 1862. Attached to District of Southwest Missouri, Dept. Missouri, to March, 1863.
SERVICE.--Action at Neosho May 31, 1862. Near Fayetteville, Ark., July 15. Scout in Polk and Dallas Counties July 19-23 (Cos. "B," "C," "E" and "H"). Ozark August 1-2 (Cos. "D," "F," "G" and "H"). White River, near Forsyth, August 4. Scout from Ozark to Forsyth, and skirmish, August 8-9 (2 Cos.). Mt. Vernon from Ozark to Forsyth August 14-17 (2 Cos.). Mt. Vernon September 19 (1 Co.). Expedition from Ozark toward Yellville, Ark., October 12-16 (Detachment). Mountain Home October 17. Operations about Cassville and Keetsville November 17-18. Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., December 7. Expedition from Ozark into Marion County, Ark., December 9-15 (Cos. "D," "F," "G" and "H"). Expedition over Boston Mountains to Van Buren December 27-29. Operations against Marmaduke in Missouri December 31, 1862, to January 15, 1863. Fort Lawrence, Beaver Station, January 6, 1863 (2nd Battalion). Defence of Springfield January 8. Disbanded March 3, 1863.
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