John Reddick ran away from Nansemond County to Suffolk and hired himself out to Union forces. He worked in the Commissary for a year before he enlisted. Reddick got on the rolls under his mother’s name ‘Betsy.’ His testimony explains when he used his “government name” and when he used his alias. Reddick didn’t see combat: he was detailed as a cook and had his own tent. After the war, he settled in Portsmouth. He never received his bounty but he eventually received his pension.
Invalid — 820,017 / 565,243
Neighbors’ Affidavit, Benjamin Jenkins & Cyrus Washington, 3 January 1891
[Jenkins] 51 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 702 [or is it 709? — Leslie] County St., Portsmouth, Va.
[Washington] 54 years old; residence, Portsmouth, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 622 Glasgow St., Portsmouth, Va.
“… well and personally acquainted with James Brooks, the claimant for 26 and 27 years, respectively, and that they were in the same command during the war. They are farmers and laborers and work with claimant, and see him daily and live in close proximity to him.”
Questionnaire (Form 3-402), John Betsy, 2 July 1898
“[married?] I am, Delia Ann Reddick, Delia Ann Epps
[where, when, by whom] about 1856, by custom among slaves
[record?] none
[previously married] no
[living children] I have two children, to wit Stella, born about 1858; Nancy born about 1860. I was married under the name of John Reddick.”
Deposition, John Betsy, 22 January 1902
“I am about 75 or 80 years of age. I guess I was about 25 -30 when I joined the army. I am an invalid and can do no work.
“I was born in Nansemond Co., Va. I was a slave — was owned by Mills Reddick. My father was Edmund Reddick. Before the war I was called Joe Reddick but after enlistment I went under the name of my mother which was Betsy. I have never gone under any name in making out my pension except John Betsy but in paying my taxes I pay them as John Reddick.
“During the war we served in Virginia till Richmond fell and then we went to Texas. We went on the boat called the Dudley Buck. We took boat at Hampton, Va. and we landed at Brazos Santiago, Texas. We arrived there about 4th of July and we remained right there till they brought us back for discharge.”
“I lost my original discharge by giving it to Mr. Brown to get a bounty.”
“My Regt was in the following battles: Chichihominie [sic], Deep Bottom, Suffolk, Va. I was personally never in a battle. I was detailed as a cook was way I missed the fights.”
“I never slept with anyone in service. I had my own tent.”
Deposition, John Betsy, 22 January 1902
“I did nothing but cook while I was in the army.
“I was never in the hospital but Dr. Gray and Manley our Regtl surgeons treated me a few times. They treated me for a rising on my finger and diarrhea. I had diarrhea in Texas. Those were the only ailments I suffered within service.
“I have lived in this vicinity ever since my discharge from the army except for a few months about 25 years ago when I lived in Princess Anne Co., Va.
“I have never gotten my bounty. Ward is my atty, that is my first atty. He got five or six dollars out of me & never got me a pension. Henry Clay got my pension. I only gave him a dollar or so.
“My witnesses were Isaac Bright & Bill Resfer [sp?]. They charged me nothing. I was never a witness for either of them.
“I put in under the old law but never got it though. I do not know what I claimed pension for under that law. All I was claiming was the $300 that was promised me when I enlisted.”
“Mr. Reed executes my vouchers. He comes to me to execute them. Charges me seventy-five cents — always swears me. I have never found my pension papers.
“I have no wife — was only married once. My wife Delia Ann Betsy died year before last in this house. We were married in slave tithe names ame.”
“I have no children under 16 years of age.”
Questionnaire (Form 3-442), Department of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, 29 March 1904
“… Please furnish the names and post-office addresses of officers and comrades of Co. F, 1st Reg’t USC Vol Cav …”
| Joshua Brickhouse | Dead | 212 Cumberland St., Norfolk, Va. |
| James Brooks | Cpl. | 44 Baltimore Ave., Norfolk., Va. |
| Isaac Deans | Pvt | 411 Church St., Norfolk, Va. |
| Wm. Fuller | Pvt | National Soldiers Home, Elizabeth City Co., Va. |
| Frank B. Garrett | 1st Lt. | Syracuse, Onandaga Co., NY. |
| James Long | Pvt | 16 William St., Phelps Co., NY |
| Arthur Nelson | Pvt | Lamberts Point Rd., Norfolk, Va. |
| Edmund Proctor | Pvt | South Mills, Camden Co., NC. |
| Henry Sivil | Pvt | Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va. |
| Wm. Scott | Pvt | c/o C.H.B. Crosby, Bowers Hill, Va. |
| Luke Smith | Pvt | South Mills, Camden Co., NC |
| Beverly West | 1st Sgt | National Soldiers Home, Elizabeth City Co., Va. |
[children’s names & birthdates]
| Nancy | Dec. 16, 1868 |
| Jno. E. | Nov. 20, 1869 |
| Sadie P. | July 14, 1873 |
| Maggie | Sep. 9, 1876 |
| Robt. H. | April 4, 1879 |
| Rebecca L. | Aug. 18, 1881 |
| Laura E. | Mch 2, 1883 |
| Mary S. | July 27, 1885 |
| Emma P. | May 22, 1890 |
[There are discrepancies in the birthdates of some of John W. Webb’s children — Leslie]
Deposition, John Betsy, 2 August 1904
About 79 years old; had been farmer and lumberman; residence, Natl. Soldiers Home, Elizabeth City County, Virginia;
“I was born in Virginia in Nansemond Co. on the White Marsh Road. My owner was Capt. Mills Reddick. My father was Edmund Reddick and my mother was Betsy Reddick. We all ‘titled’ after our owner. My given name is John. I was called John Reddick before the war. No, no sir. I was never called Joe Reddick,
“I ran away from my master and went to Suffolk, Va. which was six miles away. Gen. Mansfield, a Union General, had charge in Suffolk, Va. I hired myself out to Dr. Albergate of a Union regiment. I was still going by the name John Reddick. My master made a report to the Union forces that I threatened to burn him up. They put me in jail then. That was the year before I enlisted. I was in jail about 4 weeks then I was carried before Gen. Mansfield who told me what I was charged with and advised me to go to Norfolk, Va. and work in the Commissary which I did under Capt. Emmerson and in about a year I enlisted in the army under Captain Charlie Swartz, a tall, slim, spare-built man. He was Captain of Company F, 1st USC Cav.
“Q. Why did you change your name to Betsy?
A. I was scared, had no learning, and when I went to the Commissary I gave my name as John Betsy after my mother. She was named Betsy Reddick. I gave my name Betsy so I would not be known as well.
“Our first colonel was Girard. He was a short man, not so old. The 1st Sgt. Beverly West is a tall man, dark brown in color, he is right here in the Home, knows me well. He is the only member of my Co. here that I know of.
“Q. By what witnesses can you prove that you are the same man who served in Co. F, 1st USC Cavalry as John Betsy?
A. By Beverly West. Jim Brooks, cpl. He was living in Norfolk two or three years ago, don’t know what street.
“Q. Name all the men you remember.
A. Sgt. Fox, Harrison Billups, ______ Peterson, Cpl; Albert Taylor, Sgt. I know a “heap” of privates but cannot fetch their names to me, except Isom Portlock, he is dead & Tom Smith is dead. I don’t know my age at all. When I enlisted, was somewhere about 30 or 35 years old. I don’t know my height. …
“After muster out I settled outside of Portsmouth City, Va. and made that my home. I was known there as John Redick, voted as John Reddick, and bought a house on Columbia Street, between Pearl and Pine under the name of John Riddick. I have only used the name John Riddick in government matters.
“I was company cook all the time. I am a widower. My wife, Delilah Ann, died in Portsmouth, Va. four years ago last March. My discharge was sent to Washington a year ago, by a claim agent named Brown, and last year it was sent to me, don’t know by whom.”
Deposition, Beverly West, 2 August 1904
72 years old; occupation, brickmason; residence & post-office address, National Soldiers Home, Elizabeth City County, Virginia …
“Q. Do you know this man now present (pointing to pensioner)?
A. Yes, that’s John Betsy. He was my company cook. It is the only name I have known him by. I did not know him before enlistment but after muster out I saw him at times in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va. My home was in Norfolk, he lived in Portsmouth, I believe. When he came to this Home I recognized him as soon as I saw him. I am certain he is the same man who served in my company as John Betsy. There is no mistake about that. I don’t know what his true name is, never heard him called John Riddick. His name was John Betsy on the rolls.”
Deposition, James Brooks, 8 August 1904
[This deposition was taken at the “Navy Yard Portsmouth” — Leslie]
about 61 years old; occupation, laborer; post-office address, 44 Bottimore St., Norfolk, Va. … “I served as a Corp’l in Co. F, 1st USC Cav, from 1863 to 1866.
“I remember John Betsy of said company very well. He was the company cook. I believe his home was about Suffolk, Va. He was a dark man, almost black, between 30 and 40 years while in the army, height I don’t know, average height.
“I have seen him since the war in Norfolk & Portsmouth, Va. I don’t know just where he lived, but in or about Portsmouth, he told me. I have not seen him in about eight years, don’t know where he is. I never heard him called John Reddick. John Betsy was the only name I ever knew him by.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 