In 1914 my grandmother, Elizabeth Matilda Thompson Smith, filed a petition for a pension on the confederate service of my grandfather, Jonathan Alexander Smith who served in Dawson’s Cavalry Company. She was denied because at that time no record could be found of Dawson’s Cavalry.
She obtained affidavits from two members of the unit who attested to the fact that my grandfather did indeed serve in the company. It also gives a brief history. If you think this would be of interest to you I could send you a copy.
– Contributed by George R, Smith.
Affidavit of A. W. Smith
State of Alabama Bullock County. I, A. W. Smith, being first duly sworn, doth depose and say that I am a citizen of Bullock County, Alabama, and have lived here pratically all my life; that in 1863 Capt. G. W. Dawson organized a company of calvary at Perote, Ala., of which company I was a Private, that we were carried from Perote to Montgomery to join other companies there, but our company and a company captained by Capt. Canty Brown were sent to Newton, Dale County, Alabama, where we had our headquarters for two or three months, and during the time we were at Newton we were engaged in arresting and rounding up deserters who were in large numbers in that neighborhood, and were acting under the command of Colonel Lockhart, who was stationed at Montgomery. We were ordered from newton and marched to Montgomery, where we remained a few weeks, when we were ordered to Mobile, where we were placed under the command of Colonel Maury, and where we remained, patrolling the Coast until about the time of Wilson’s Raid, when we were ordered back to this neighborhood, having several fights on the way, until at Line Creek in this County we had a fight with Wilson’s Raiders, where our company was torn to pieces, part of our men being captured and part escaping. During all this time we drew our own rations, and when we got it, our pay, from the Confederate States Government. I further depose and say that I am acquainted with Mrs. E. M. Smith, and know that she is the widow of J. A. Smith, and know that she said J. A. Smith enlisted in this command during the year 1863, and served therein until the fight at Line Creek, which occurred only a few days before the surrender, and that the said J. A. Smith did not desert said service. (Signed) A. W. Smith Sworn to and subscribed before me on this the 29th day of Sep. 1913. J. T. Norman, Judge of Probate Bullock Co.
Affidavit of T. B. Kiles
State of Alabama Bullock County I, T. B. Kiles, being first duly sworn, doth depose and say, that I am a citizen of Bullock County, Alabama, and have lived here pratically all my life; that in 1863 Capt. G. W. Dawson organized a company of calvary at Perote, Ala., of which company I was first lieutenant, that were carried from Perote to Montgomery to join other companies there, but our company and a company captained by Capt. Canty Brown were sent to Newton, Dale County, Alabama, where had our headquarters for two of three months, and during the time we were at Newton we were engaged in arresting and rounding up deserters who were in large numbers in that neighborhood, and were acting under the command of Colonel Lockhart, who was stationed at Montgomery. We were ordered from Newton and marched to Montgomery, where we remained a few weeks, when we were ordered to Mobile, where we were placed under the command of Colonel Maury, and where we remained, patrolling the Coast until about the time of Wilson’s raid, when we were ordered back to this neighborhood, having several fights on the way, until at Line Creek in this County we had a fight with Wilson’s Raiders, where our Company was torn to pieces, part of our men being captured and part escaping. During all this time we drew our rations, and when we got it, our pay, from the Confederate States Government. I further depose and say that I am acquainted with Mrs. E. M. Smith and know that she is a widow of J. A. Smith, and know that the said J. A. Smith enlisted in this command during the year 1863, and served therein until the fight at Line Creek, which occurred only a few days before the Surrender, and that the said J. A. Smith did not desert said service. (Signature) Tho.? Miles Sworn to and subscribed before me on this the 19th day of January 1914. (Signature) J. Maury (Murray?) Judge of Probate Bullock Co.