“The horse dropped dead … fought at the Crater …There is no law authorizing the payment of bounty to those who were enrolled and served as Colored Cooks or under Cooks of African descent …” This soldier’s struggle took place before, during, and after his military service.
Invalid — 635,017 / 424,731
Inability Affidavit, David Wilson, 15 March 1888
[no age reported; residence, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office, Berkley, Norfolk Co., Va… “Doctors Ritter and Keeling attended [Kellum but they are dead] … I have known the said Isaac Kellum having been in the same Regiment with him during the war …”
Proof of Disability, Joseph Bradley & William Lunden, 4 June 1888
[Bradley] 48 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
[Lunden] 44 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“They are acquainted with Isaic Kellum … who became disabled in the following manner, viz: by being wounded by a fragment of shell in thick part of thigh at battle of Crater and has been disabled from said wound and has caused him to become disabled … That the facts stated are personally known to the affiant by reason of their being present in same command and know that he was an inmate of Hospital and was attended by Doctor Mallory and Doctor Gray Regimental Surgeons was afterwards treated by Doctor Keeling who is now dead also by Doctor Tebeault also dead is now suffering from said effects from what is supposed to be blood poisoning.
“And deponent further state that they were acquainted with the claimant … for at least thirty years …”
Physician’s Affidavit, Alfred Tebeault, M.D., 7 June 1888
residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va. “acquainted with said soldier for about 50 years [and] was before the war the slave of Joshua James, Esq who lived within four miles of the residence of the affiant who practiced physic in the county of Princess Anne, Va., where all the parties now named resided. As family physician of Mr. Joshua James, he the said affiant rendered medical and surgical aid to the slaves of Mr. Joshua James and occasionally when required by occasional sickness to Isaac Kellam with whom he was well acquainted…”
[Note: Chataigne’s Directory of Norfolk and Portsmouth, 1888 lists physician Alfred G. Tebault at 110 Cumberland where his office hours were 8 – 9am, 2 – 4pm, 6 – 8pm, (page 690); Tebault was the Ex-President of Honorable Fellow of the Medical Society of Virginia (page 456).]
General Affidavit, James Langley & Major Chapman, 7 September 1888
52 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
[Note: Age and residence were reported for one person but which one? Is it for Langley or Chapman or both? — Leslie]
“That they were in the same company and regiment with Isaac Kellum … and know that he suffered from rheumatism while in service, that he was attended while in Texas by Doctor Mallory and Doctor Gray, that they were the surgeons who were with our regiment, that Isaic Kellum was cook of the company and also did duty as soldier when able to be on duty, the above named doctors attended applicant to the time of discharge have known Isaic Kellum ever since the war and know that he has been disabled so as not able to earn a livelihood for himself. that said Kellim was a good man before the war and could as much work as any man ….he facts stated above is derived from being with him in same company and living neighbors to him since the war up to the present time and have known him personally ever since his disabilities commenced which was during the war and while in the army.
General Affidavit, Samuel Wright & James Portlock, 29 January 1889
[Wright] 56 years old; 413 Church St., Norfolk, Va.
[Portlock] 47 years old; cor Smith & Queen, Norfolk, Va.
“That they knew the claimant … on and from the date of his return from Army 1866 and know from long acquaintance since that time to the present [that he was suffering from various ailments and is unable to work.]”
Claimant’s Affidavit, Isaac Kellum, 11 January 1893
65 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va. “The injury to top of head was received at or near Chickahominy Swamp, Va. by fall from cart about June, early part of 1864 near Petersburge, Va. Wile he was Driving the Cart With the Company. Cooking victuals, the hourse. Fell dead and he Fell out and his head strick the wheel and his head badly cut.”
[Note: I’ve let the misspellings and punctuation stand as reported on the form — Leslie.]
General Affidavit, Cicero Hill, 6 March 1893
55 years old; residence 83 Newton St., Norfolk Co., Va. … “he has known the claimant from boyhood and at present he resides next door to him.”
Affidavit for Commissioned Officer or Comrade, Martin Corprew, 24 July 1893
“On or about Spring 1864, at Chickahominy Swamp, in the state of Virginia, Isaac Kellum was driving a horse attached to a cart and during his progress to the Regiment, the horse dropped dead and Kellum fell from the seat of his cart striking his head (top part) against the wheel …”
Affidavit for Commissioned Officer or Comrade, John Coy, 24 July 1893
“On or about Spring 1864, at Chickahominy Swamp, in the state of Virginia, Isaac Kellum was driving a horse and cart going to his Regiment, the horse fell dead and Kellum [fell] from the seat of his cart striking himself with his full weight on the top of his head against it the wheel …”
Continuance Affidavit, Anthony Pinner, 20 October 1893
[no age reported]; residence, 9 Smith St., Norfolk, Va. “That I have known [the claimant] for Fifteen years (15 years) and during this period I’ve seen him often and on two and three times every week since …”
[Note: I found Anthony Pinner in the Chataigne’s Directory of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Berkley, 1892-93 and his occupation was listed as “letter carrier” (page 250); Robert Pinner, a laborer, lived at the same address — Leslie]
Continuance Affidavit, John Alexander, 29 November 1895
[no age reported]; residence, 24 Lincoln St., Norfolk, Va. “He further says that claimant is in destitute circumstances unable to do any kind of work to [illegible] support and is dependent upon charity for support.
“[Alexander’s] knowledge of the above statement [is because] he has known claimant for the past five years and sees him nearly every day.”
U.S. Treasury Department Form, Belva A. Lockwood, Washington, DC, 28 July 1898
“He was enrolled Dec 1, 1863. Mustered into the service Dec. 27, 1863 as cook to serve three years and paid as Colored Cook when mustered out Feb. 4, 1866. all the arrears of pay due him.
“There is no law authorizing the payment of bounty to those who were enrolled and served as Colored Cooks or under Cooks of African descent.”
Questionnaire (Form 3-173), Isaac Kellum, 20 March 1899
residence, 165 Newton St., Norfolk, Va.
[married] Not married, wife been dead 26 years
[when, where, by whom] Princess Ann [sic] Co., Va.
[record] [blank]
[previous marriage] [blank]
[living children] none living
Deposition, Isaac Kellum, 11 January 1902
81 years old; “I am an inmate of the U.S. Home at Hampton, Va. but have been visiting in this city for several days. … I was born in Accomac Co., Va. I was a slave. I belonged to the Kellum estate. My father was Abraham Kellum. I have never gone under any name other than Isaac Kellum.
“I gave up my discharge to John Upshur to get bounty for me but he died and the cert. was lost.
“Jeptha Girrard was my Col. but he resigned. His place was taken by Major Brown but he was suspended by Major Seips. Brown resigned in Texas.
McIntyre was my Capt.; Spencer and DeBos were my Lts.
“John Yates was my Ord. Sgt. He was the last one but Alfred Lawton was the first. We did not take him to Texas because he was too old. James Langley, ________ Tucker, Ashby Lewis were friends of mine in service. The first two were sgts. The last named was a Corporal. I was first a private soldier but later they made me a cook.
“I was in the following engagement:
Chichihominie [sic] and in front of Petersburg. We lost several men at Petersburg. I cannot recollect names of men. It has been too long.”
“My pension cert. is in the Home. I had a little rheumatism in Texas and have had it ever since….
“Mr. Drury was my atty. He charged paper me seventy-five cents for each paper he wrote for me. That is all I ever gave him.
“Langley and Fed Tucker and Enos Dennis were my witnesses. I paid them nothing. I witnessed for them and they witnessed for me… I have never possessed my pension papers.
“I have only been married once. My wife Mary died here 28 years ago. I have no children.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 