Andrew Nimmer, Company B

Andrew Nimmer was born enslaved in Princess Anne County, Virginia where he and the enslaver shared a surname. This application describes the spelling variants that identified each race. Andrew survived a horse’s kick to the forehead, was treated for various ailments, and mustered out with his regiment at Brazos Santiago, Texas. His comrades give inconsistent reports about the injury and express different opinions about his disability’s authenticity. Andrew’s brother William Nimmer who served in Company B, 2nd U.S. Colored Troops also survived the war. Andrew became the guardian of his brother’s children. 

Invalid — 751,196 / 729,733

Deposition, Isaac Armstrong, 19 June 1891
51 years old; laborer; residence and post-office address, No. 49 St. Paul St., Norfolk … “I knew [him] well during service and I have known him well ever since our discharge from service … One morning when grooming his horse it kicked him in the forehead and hurt him quite badly and after that he complained of pains in his head. Then soon after we arrived at Brazos Santiago Texas in July 1865 his eyes became very sore and weak but this may have been caused by the glare of the sun on the white sand on which we were camped. Many of our men became partly blind from said cause.”

Deposition, William Reed, 19 June 1891
48 years old; no occupation; address No. 78 Jefferson St., Norfolk … “[I] have known him quite well since our discharge”

Deposition, James Cornick, 29 June 1891
46 years; laborer; residence and post-office No. 129 Broad St, Norfolk, Va. “I have known the claimant Andrew Nimmer all my life. I was reared in the same neighborhood with him … I have also known him well since his discharge from service in 1866 and have worked with him a great deal since that time.”

Deposition, Moses Grimes, 30 June 1891
58 years old; teamster; residence and post-office address, No. 82 Smith St., Norfolk … “I knew him prior to enlistment.”

Deposition, James Langley, 30 June 1891
55 years old, laborer … residence and post-office address, No. 17 Brickhouse Row, Norfolk … “I remember of his having been kicked by his horse in the spring of 1864 when we were in camp of instruction at Fort Monroe, Va. The blow he received from the kick of his horse was in his forehead.”

Deposition, Isaac Kellum, 1 July 1891
64 years old, laborer, residence and post-office address, No. 3 Smith St, Norfolk Va. “I have known the claimant Andrew Nimmo from his 9th year and served with him in Co B, 1st USCC and we have worked a great deal together since our discharge from service …”

Deposition, Andrew Nimmo, 2 January 1892
55 years old; dairyman; post office address c/o Alexander Redd Co., Princess Anne Ave. & Chapel St., Norfolk, Va. … The name Nemo as given in my claim is and was a clerical error upon the part of the person who wrote my name to my application for pension and on all other papers in my claim.

“I was sound as a dollar when I enlisted and before being mustered in to service at Fort Monroe, Va., I was stripped naked and thoroughly examined by a Board of Surgeons.

“I claim pension on account of impaired vision a result of a kick from my a horse over my left eye. Rheumatism and pneumonia and resulting disease of throat and chest. The first trouble I had was from the kick of my a horse. Not my horse but from the horse immediately in front of me. It happened in the following manner: While at Camp of Instruction near Fort Monroe, Va. about March 1864, we were out practicing at firing at a target and as our horses were not used to firing they were hard to manage and the horse rode by Sergt. Alex Richardson of Co B kicked me over my left eye and knocked me from my horse to the ground.

“Q: In what position was the company at the time the horse kicked you?
A: We rode in single file past a target on our right and as each man come abreast of the target he fired his revolver and passed on riding in a circle and coming back past the target. The now Commissioned officers rode in the single line and Sergeant Richardson was next in front of me and when he fired at the target his horse began to kick and knocked me from my horse. The test to which I refer was the first practice we had at target practice. I do not know what became of Sergt. Richardson as I have not seen him since our muster out of service. Captain McIntyre was Commanding the Company at the time I was kicked but I do not know where he is. I did not go to hospital for treatment for said injury to my left eye but attended sick call for about a week. Dr. Gray our Asst. Surgeon treated me. I claim that the injury by said kick injured the sight of my left eye and that my sight in said eye has been weak and impaired ever since. …

“I do not remember who I was bunking with me [sic] at that time but I think it was Humphrey McCoy although it may have been Martin Corprew or Major Chapman with whom I also tented and bunked at times.”

Deposition, Martin Corporal, 21 January 1892
58 years old; no occupation, blind; residence and post–office address, No. 17 New Bedford Lane, Norfolk, Va. … “I have known the claimant Andrew Nimmo or Nimmer since 1848 … We tented together nearly all the time during service. I was present clt was kicked by a horse at Fort Monroe, Va. in the Spring of 1864. We were drilling at the time, were shooting at a target and we as well as our horses being green at the business there was a good deal of cutting up. If my memory serves me right it was Sergeant Alex Richardson horse that kicked him but it seems to me that it was not Richardson that rode the horse at the time. Clt was quite badly hurt by said kick in the forehead … It occurs to me too that one of the horses feet struck him in his breast but of this I will not be positive.”

Deposition, Louis Dawley, 21 January 1892
55 years old; teamster; residence and post–office address No. 379 Church St., Norfolk, Va. … “I served as a Sergeant in Co B … I knew the claimant well during his service in said Co & Regt. I have also known him since discharge …”

Deposition, Isaac Kellam, 21 January 1892
64 years old; laborer; residence and post–office address, No. 3 Smith St., Norfolk, Va. … “I have known the Claimant Andrew Nimmer not Nemo, from his early boyhood … I was company cook of said company and was familiar with every man in the company. I know that he suffered from the kick of a horse in his forehead at Fort Monroe, Va., in the spring of 1864. I did not see him at the moment he received the blow but I saw him almost immediately thereafter.…In May 1864 Clt contracted cold from a wetting received in swimming his horse (with brother members of the Co., across Chickahominy River, Va. said cold was followed by a cough which became much worse after we went to Texas in 1865. “

Deposition, Isaac Moseley, 21 January 1892
47 years old; laborer; residence and post–office address, No. 61 Pulaski St., Norfolk, Va. … I have known the claimant Andrew Nimo or Nimmo since in the early part of the year 1862 and we enlisted together in Co. B 1st USCC and since discharge from service we have lived in the same immediate neighborhood….We were drilling at target practice and a man by the name of Pritchet I think, was riding Sergt Alex Richardson’s horse and was next in front of clt as we filed by the target and as Pritchet fired at the target the horse he was riding began to rear and plunge and kicked clt over the left eye cutting a gash just over the left eyebrow. Ever since that time clt has complained of a weakness in the sight of his left eye.”

Deposition, Anthony Pierce, 21 January 1892
49 years old; farmer; residence and post–office address, Dawn, Caroline County, Virginia … served as a sergeant in Co B … “I remember Andrew Nimmo of said company well. He was a heavy set yellow man. I have not seen him since our discharge from service but I remember him well.

“Q: Did the claimant suffer from any disability during his service in Co. B, 1st USCC?
A: Yes, sir. He was hurt in some way at Fort Monroe, Va. in the spring of 1864. I was off on recruiting service at the time and only knew of it from hearing others speak of it. He was hurt on his head by a horse. I think a horse kicked him. Then after we went to Texas something got the matter with him. I remember he was right bad off when we were mustered out of service.”

Deposition, John Whitehurst, 21 January 1892
66 years old; brickmaker; residence and post–office address, No. 710 Goff St., Norfolk Va. … I knew Nimmo from our enlistment … and I knew him well during his service.

“Q: Did claimant suffer from any disability during his service in Co B, 1st USCC?
A: Yes sir. He was ailing pretty badly for several months (two or three) prior to our muster out of service. We were in Texas at the time, at Brazos Santiago. I do not know just what ailed him but he complained of pains in his legs, arms and shoulder … There were so many of our men complaining at the time that I ceased to take much interest in particular cases.

Deposition, Enos Dennis, 2 February 1892
48 years old; laborer; residence and post office–address No. 819 Crabb St., Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va. … “We served together in Co B … I remember well that clt was kicked by a horse while drilling at target practice near Fort Monroe, Va. in the spring of 1864. I do not now remember where on his person he was injured. No I can’t locate the injury although I saw it when it was incurred. It may have been in his head as he states, but I cannot say as much with certainty. After we went to Texas Clt had trouble with his eyes, but that was a common complaint with our men … I did not pay much attention to him as I thought he was feigning sickness in order to keep off duty.”

Deposition, Humphrey McCoy, 2 February 1892
45 years old; huckster; residence and post-office address No. 70 Willoughby St., Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va. … “I did not bunk or tent with him at any time during service but I knew him well as a member of the Company with me. I saw him kicked in the forehead near Fort Monroe, Va. in March 1864. We were practicing shooting at a target and Sergt. Richardson rode right in front of Clt and as he fired at the target his, Richardson, horse began to rear and kick. This caused clt’s horse to become fractious and in trying to retain his seat the clt leaned forward to his horse’s neck and just then Richardson’s horse kicked him in the forehead. I did not see the extent of the injury at the time but when we returned to camp I saw a gash over one of his eyes. I think it was the left one. Sergt Richardson horse kicked other men the same day on which he kicked clt. Among the number was my Cousin Peter McCoy. He kicked his great toe and bent it to an upright position. After that accident Clt frequently complained of misery in the front part of his head and that he could not see good. … I was not with the Company at the time he suffered from this cold, I being over detached service at White Ranch, Texas at the time and clt was at Brazos Santiago.”

Letter from H.P. Maxwell, Special Examiner to Commissioner of Pensions, 2 February 1892
“[Claimant Andrew Nimmo] is a phlegmatic and ignorant colored man. Is of a very low order of intelligence but is said to be truthful.

“The evidence now in the claim establishes the fact that claimant was kicked by a horse as he alleges, but there seems to be no existing disability as a result of such injury. It is also fairly well established by competent testimony that claimant contracted a severe cold in or about Dec 1865 when the company to which he belonged was camped at Brazos Santiago Texas and that a hacking cough and complaints of rheumatism were results which followed said severe cold. All the witnesses appear to agree on this point. It is also shown that claimant has suffered from a cough and periodical attacks of rheumatism every year since discharge. I have had personal knowledge of claimant for a little more than seven years last past, and I have personal acknowledged that he has suffered from a troublesome cough all the time while in my presence and that I have frequently seen him when so affect by which he claims the rheumatism that he had but little motion in his shoulders & arms….

“The white family, to which claimant belonged prior to the war, spell their names “Nimmo” while the colored people of the family pronounce and spell their names “Nimmer” which is the claimant’s proper name. I recommend the admission of the Claim believing it meritorious.”

Questionnaire, Andrew Nimmer, 28 April 1898
[Married?] Yes, Luceylin Nimmer,  Luceylyn Pierce
[When, where, by whom] June 19, 1869, Norfolk, Va., Rev. Thornton McCoy
[Record?] Marriage register, Norfolk Co., Clerk’s Office
[Previously married] Yes, Amy Nimmer, divorced prior to 1869, now dead
[Living children?] Andrew, 23 years; Willie, 21 years; Lula, 18 years; Moses, James, 17 years; Joseph, April 12, 1889; Joseph, Moses, June 15, 1886

Deposition, Andrew Nimmo, 8 February 1901
65 years old; farm laborer and cart driver; post-office address, 2 Hunter St., Norfolk, Va. … “Andrew Nimmo is my full and complete name… My father’s name was William Nimmo and my mother Harriet Nimmo.”

“I had three brothers, all dead. William, John and Thomas. William served in B-2nd USC Inf and died 7 years ago and his widow Susan Nimmo died a year later before his pension came. Their children were claimed for: Mary Louise and Martha Ann and Samuel, but Samuel died before the pension was allowed, but after the affidavits were made. I am their guardian and have the care and custody for the children.

“I was a slave and Dr. Morgan, Kempsville, Princess Anne Co., Va. was my owner.
“I was born in Princess Anne Co., Va. and enlisted at Norfolk, Va. as a Pvt in Co B, 1st USC Cav. I enlisted in Nov or Dec 1863 and was discharged to a man by the name of Brown and never saw it again. We were not in any battles but were in several skirmishes, especially about Chickahominy [sic] Swamp, where we lost two men. We were dismounted at Bermuda Hundred.

“I was detailed for nine months to picket [or guard?] duty, here in Norfolk, the year Richmond fell. At Texas I was detailed to the com[missary?] department, for three or four months.

“Jeff Gerrard was Col.; Also, Brown was Col., at discharge; Seip was Major; McIntyre was Capt.; Alfred Lawton was Sgt.; Dawley was our [illegible] Sgt.; Teicher [?] was a sgt.; Corpl Henry Butts.
“Moses Grimes, [illegible] Mosley and Martin Corprew were my tentmates.
“I was not in hospital at any time….

“John Whithus, Moses Grimes, Isaac Kallum, Enos Dennis were witnesses in my pension claim.
“I have testified for so many comrades that it is difficult to mention all. I testified for William Gary, I cannot think of any others. Gary was not my sgt and I testified the condition since the war William Ward, dead, started my pension claim. He was my atty.

“The name of my wife is Lucelia and we were married in Norfolk, Va. in 1870 by Rev. Thornton McCoy. I got a divorce from my first wife, Amy, shortly before I married my present wife. The divorce was granted in Norfolk, Va.

“My wife had a slave husband who was sold away before the war. His name was Ephraim Tiller. He was never heard of afterward.

“Q: You give your resident address as 2 Hunter St. and your letters, containing your pension checks are addressed ‘care of Gallup & Wright.’
A: Henry C. Gallup [illegible] a grocery store at Goff & Chapel Sts and “has held my pension certificate almost since I have been a pensioner. He lets me have my pension certificate when I go to execute my voucher and then I ration it [illegible]. I borrowed $7 from him once. I left my certificate at his safe for safe keeping. I am afraid for fire. I am in his debt. I have lived near the foresaid and it is correct.”