Basic items in this veteran’s application are inconsistent with facts pertaining to the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry. Perhaps the most glaring discrepancy between the soldier’s 1862 enlistment date and issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation which authorized the participation of African American men in the Union Army. Was this a faulty memory? Did he serve in the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry or another battle unit? In which regiments did Dobson and Underwood command troops? Did the regiment engage in combat at Saltville?
It’s vital to seek information from other sources such as the National Park Service Soldiers and Sailors Database which has basic information an individual’s service and regimental history. Another source abbreviated as the CMSR could be used to confirm or refute the applican’ts claims. The researcher can access these records on microfilm or Internet Archive or with a fee-based database.
— Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops [microform]: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry (1997). Reel 0001 – 1st United States Colored Cavalry: Ackess, Alexander – Bom, John H. at https://archive.org/details/compiledmili0001akesunit/page/n5 ). There isn’t a match for Jacob Bayliss in this regiment.
Invalid – 970,262 / —–
Widow — 228,889 / —–, Martha J. Bayless
Declaration for Invalid Pension, Jacob Bayless, 18 July 1890
47 years old; residence, Jonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee; post-office address, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
enrolled 14 February 1862 in Co. A, 1st U.S. C. Cav. commanded by Col. Dobson and the Company by Captain Underwood. I was always a Private … served at least 90 days and was furloughed after being wounded at saltworks in Va from hospital at Petersburg, Va. and recovered from wound until after regiment was mustered out, expected to get discharge now unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of gun shot wound of right leg, on the inner side of the leg halfway between the ankle & knee, and rheumatism and kidney disease, also frostbite feet”
“Also personally appeared A.M. Stuart residing at Jonesboro, Tenn. and R.M. May residing at Jonesboro, Tenn…. their acquaintance with him for 10 years and 10 years, respectively”
General Affidavit, Jacob Bayless, 20 August 1891
51 years old; residence Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
“I was wounded in right leg at Saltville on or about Dec 1864 while in action. I got my feet frostbitten about the same time that I incurred the gunshot of right leg. All done while on [illegible] raid.”
Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Martha J. Bayless, 22 February 1896
46 years old; residence, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee; post-office address, Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
“[the soldier] died November 12, 1895 … she was married under the name of Martha J. Hughs to said Jacob Bayless on the 12 day of Oct A.D. 1871, by H.B. Hancock [?], M.D. at Brown’s [?] Creek, Tenn. … names and dates of birth of all children of the soldier, now living, and under sixteen years of age … Sarah Bayless, born Aug 24th, 1880″
“Also personally appeared Chas. S. Mason, residing at Jonesboro, Tenn., and J.R. Russell, residing at Jonesboro, Tenn. … an acquaintance with her of about three years and about three years, respectively”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 
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