Prince Albert’s tentmates and comrades-in-arms described the military-related injuries and illnesses that devastated this soldier’s quality of life. In this application, as in a couple others I’ve come across, some witness statements were identical except for a word here or there. I don’t know — yet — how to explain this. Albert’s statement about the accident that occurred during charge drill was written in his own hand (13 December 1899); I’ve omitted the graphic details. Albert also reported that he was known by a different surname before he enlisted. He died at the National Soldiers Home, Hampton, Virginia and his death was noted in The Hampton Monitor.
Invalid — 817,616 / 664,214
Questionnaire (Form 3-500), Alfred Simpson, 8 August 1890
post-office address, 158 St. Paul street, Norfolk, Va. … “That affiant occupied same tent with claimant Prince Albert about half the time during the service, being members of the same company, claimant was thrown from horse while on drill in March 1864 at Fortress Monroe, Va. … ”
General Affidavit, Norvent Pleasants, 4 December 1897
51 years old; residence, Berkeley, Norfolk County, Virginia; post-office address, Berkeley … “That he is well acquainted with Prince Albert … That affiant and Prince Albert enlisted at one and the same time in teaching horses to the same company and regiment … That the said Prince Albert while in the service and line of duty at Fort Monroe, about as affiant now recollects, Feby 1865 was engaged in a cavalry drill teaching horses to jump over some stakes [?], That while going through this exercise the horse which Prince Albert the soldier and claimant was on, fell and the said Prince Albert was seriously injured …”
Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Prince Albert, 4 May 1898
[married?] Ellen Satchwell alias Albert maiden name was Ellen Bonner
[where, when, by whom] December 28, 1881 by Rev. J. H. Mattocks
[record?] “Public. My license was bought under name of Prince Satchwell to Ellen Jordan
[previously married?] no
[living children?] no
Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Prince Albert, 23 May 1898
[married?] Ellen Albert — Ellen Bonner
[where, when, by whom] Dec 28, 1881 — Washington, North Carolina — Rev. J.H. Maddox
[record?] in the office of the Register of Deeds of Beaufort Co., N.C., Washington, N.C.
[previously married?] no
[living children?] no
Sworn Statement, Norvent Pleasants, 23 May 1898
“I have to state that at Fort Monroe, Va., Prince Albert, a sergeant of my company was with my command stationed there in fall of 1863; That we were practicing our horses to jump over bars nailed up about 4 feet high. While so engaged his horse fell …”
Sworn Statement, Prince Albert, 13 December 1899
58 years old; residence & post-office address, Washington, Beaufort Co., N.C. … “I was riding a bucking horse, a horse that was very tretcherous [sic]. he would not jump the canel [sic] but being tretcherous [sic] he jumped into the canel [sic] (or ditch) and that pitched me out of the sadle [sic] over the ditch on the obsid [sic] bank …
Neighbors’ Affidavit, Lewis Satchwell & Augustus Lewis, 22 February 1900
[Satchwell] 64 years old; residence, Washington, Beaufort County, No. Ca.; post-office address, Washington, No. Ca.
[Lewis] [blank] years old; residence, Washington, Beaufort County, No. Ca.; post-office address, Washington, No. Ca.
“We have been well and personally acquainted with Prince Albert, claimant, for 60 years, and 60 years, respectively, and that we are near neighbors of claimant, and see him every day or two, and have seen him every day or two. Since claimant came out of army we know of our own knowledge that claimant was physically sound before enlistment…. that claimant has not been able to do manual labor for twenty-five years. The only labor claimant has been able to do at any time since out of service has been of lightest kind that is peddler of vegetables and carrying small bundles for stores. His disabilities has [sic] increased year by year since coming out of service until at present he is totally unable to perform manual labor.”
General Affidavit, Alfred Simpson, 3 August 1900
69 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia; post-office address, 158 St. Paul Ave., Norfolk, Va. … “I occupied same tent as claimant about half-time while in service. Claimant was thrown from horse while on drill in March 1864 at Fortress Monroe, Va. and result of being thrown from horse caused rupture in right side.”
General Affidavit, Albert Page, 14 July 1900
61 years old; residence, Oak Tree, York County, Va. … “I was a member of the same company … and often tented together and know of my own knowledge that claimant was thrown from horse while in drill charge about March 1864 at Fortress Monroe, Va. … claimant could walk only with difficulty and while at Brazos Santiago Texas, claimant had about July 1865 a severe attack of mumps …”
Sworn Statement, Albert Page, 13 October 1900
“I remember 1864 the first part of year is near as I can get at it on a charge drill at Camp Hampton, Va.
“I know it was truble [sic] with him and his horse. I was look [sic] out for myself and after in camp learned a little more. That he treated by the Dr. Gray … I hard [sic] him speaking what Dr. says. It was corruptured [sic] and down in Taxes [sic] 1865 he excused from night duty by become [sic] blind by hot sun … We arrived at Taxes [sic] 2 July 1865, about August we become blind.”
Deposition, Alfred Simpson, 3 November 1900
about 70 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, 158 St. Paul St., Norfolk, Va. … “I became acquainted with the claimant Prince Albert as soon as I enlisted in 1863. He was a Pvt, Corp’l, & Sgt in my Co. …
“No sir, I never tented with him. Have never seen him since discharge.
“Q. Did he contract any disease or receive any wound or injury in the army?
A. A horse threw him at Ft. Monroe, Va. in 1864, don’t know the month, but it was while we were drilling there. We were drilling, charging and his horse threw him, saw him falling, the horse reared up and fell back. That’s all I saw just at that moment. We were drilling, but I saw him a short time afterwards, and he claimed that his ribs were injured, don’t know how many ribs or on which side. They carried him to camp and he was unfit for duty for some 8 or 10 days. He continued to complain of this injury until we [mustered] out, said his side hurt him …”
General Affidavit, Henry Custis, 6 May 1901
75? years old; residence, Sewells Point, Norfolk Co., Virginia; post-office address, Sewells Point, Va. “[I] well and truly knew the claimant Prince Albert as we were in the same command in service. The claimant was thrown from his horse while on charge drill at Fortress Monroe, Va. about March 1864 …”
General Affidavit, William H. White, 25 May 1901
67 years old; Fort Barnwell, Craven County, N.C.; post-office address, Fort Barnwell, N.C. … “[I] very well knew [claimant] … [claimant] thrown from his horse while on charge drill at Fortress Monroe, Va. about March 1864 … and about May 1865 while on detached duty at hospital near Petersburg, Va. claimant had injury in the right hand which was lanced by surgeon which left little finger of his right hand stiff, crooked, and useless. While at Brazos Santiago about Sept 1865 claimant had severe case of mumps … claimant was exempted from duty on account of impaired vision his eyes being in such condition he stayed in his tent several days and later on he was compelled to stay in his tent at different periods to exclude his eyes from the light.”
Sworn Statement, William H. White, 9 September 1901
“[Prince Albert] was in the Hospital in Brazos Texas wounded in hand. He stayed in the Hospital more than a month. Sometime after this his eyesight failed him and he was confined to his quarters for several days. His sight has never been good since that time. He has had spells of rheumatism since the close of the war which I think was contracted while in the army as he was a sound man when he enlisted. We were raised in the same neighborhood and I knew him well. Both enlisted at the same time.”
General Affidavit, William H. White, 5 April 1902
68 years old; residence, Fort Barnwell, Craven County, North Carolina; post-office address, Fort Barnwell … “I am well acquainted with claimant Prince Albert and certify that claimant was thrown from horse on charge drill at Fortress Monroe, Va. about March 1864 … and about May 1865 while on detached duty at Hospital near Petersburg, Va. claimant had injury in right hand which was lanced by surgeon which left the little finger stiff, crooked & useless. While at Brazos Texas about Sept 1865 claimant had severe case of mumps … and at same time claimant was exempted from duty on account of impaired vision. his eyes being in such condition he stayed in tent several days and later on was compelled to stay in his tent at different periods to protect his eyes from the light. My knowledge of the disabilities here set forth is derived from my service in same regiment & company with claimant.”
General Affidavit, Roshus Shorts, 25 April 1902
73 years old; residence, Phoebus, Elizabeth City County, Va; post-office address, Phoebus, Va…. “I am well acquainted with claimant Prince Albert and I certify that claimant was thrown from horse while on charge drill at Fortress Monroe, about March 1864 and was injured in right side… and about May 1865 while on detached duty at Hospital near Petersburg, Va. claimant had injury in right hand which was lanced by surgeon which left little finger, stiff, crooked and useless. While at Brazos Texas about Sept 1865 claimant had severe case mumps … and at sometime claimant was exempted from duty on account of impaired vision — his eyes being in such condition he stayed in his tent several days and later on he was compelled to stay in tent at different periods to exclude the light from his eyes. My knowledge of the disabilities here set forth is derived from my service in same Regt & company as claimant and seeing him with disabilities named.”
Declaration for Pension, Prince Albert, 24 May 1912
70 years; residence, Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina; enlisted under the name of Prince Albert on the 12 day of Dec 1863 as a Sergeant … mustered out at Brazos Santiago, Texas on the 4th of Feby 1866 … born June 11th, 1842 at Leechville, Beaufort County, No. Ca. … [residences have been] Norfolk, Va. until 1867, then Leechville, Beaufort County, No. Ca. to date … ”
Questionnaire (Form 3-389), Prince Albert, 26 April 1915
[birthdate & birth place] June 11, 1842, Beaufort County, N.C.
[post office at enlistment] enlisted at Norfolk, Va. (no. P.O. at the time)
[wife’s full name and maiden name] Cora Albert — Cora Bridgets
[when or when married] September 1, 1910, Washington, N.C., Rev. G.E. Askew
[record] court house, Beaufort County, N.C.
[previoiusly married] Ellen Jordan, Dec 1882, divorced February 1910
[wife’s previous marriage] Benjamin Bridges, January 1882, dead but date unknown — died in Edgecombe County, N.C. — was not in Army or Navy — married once only
[living with your wife] yes
[children?] no children
Joseph S. Smith, Governor, Southern Branch National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Hampton, Virginia to the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 28 February 1918
“[Albert] who died at National Soldiers’ Home, Virginia on the 26th day of February 1918. Cause of death: Malignant Dentigenous Cyst; Social Condition, Married. The name, address and degree of relationship of his next of kin, as far as indicated by the records of this House, are as follows: Mrs. Mary Hyslop, Eastville, Virginia, Daughter.”
Letter from Eliza Morgan to Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 6 March 1918
“Sir, I beg to drop these lines to ask the following information, etc.
“Prince Albert, my father was a veteran of the Civil War, Co. H, 1st U.S.C.C. died at the National Soldiers Home, Hampton, Va. I waited upon him a long time before he went to the Home. I write to ask is there any accrued money due him, that I his daughter can get?
“Oblige to let me know at your leisure.
“Please address me care of W.S. Wilson, National Soldiers Home, Va.”
[Document was date stamped by Pension Bureau — Leslie]
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 