(1846-1931)
Born in Shelby County, Indiana on...
03 May 1846 Military report dated 08 Jul 1862 says James Pool is an
"...extreme youth, being but 16 years of age, and has done
duty but two months out of eight." (Certificate of Disability for
Discharge) OR
03 May 1843 States that he is 36 years of age in Declaration for Original
Invalid Pension OR
03 May 1843 States that he is 70 years of age, that he was born May 3,
1843, at Shelby County, Ind." (Declaration for Pension Act of
May 11, 1912, dated 23 Aug 1913) OR
03 May 1841 Death Certificate
*Oct 1861 Entered the service as Pvt, Company "K", 49th Regiment, Indiana Infantry Volunteer, commanded by Cap. A. Keck. (Declaration for Original Invalid Pension)
*Nov 1861 "Attacked with the measles at Jeffersonville, Ind, which
resulted in lung disease. While marching from Bardetown,
Kentucky, to London, Kentucky, in December 1861, from
exposure, contracted chronic diarrhea." (Declaration for
Original Invalid Pension)
*05 Dec 1861 Joined for duty and enrolled at
Jeffersonville, Indiana, as a Private in
Capt. Keck's Co., Company K, 49th
Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
for a period of three (3) years. .
James gave his age as 18.
(Company Muster-in Roll, Co., "K",
49th Reg't Indiana Infantry)
*31 Dec 1861 "From enrollment to Dec 31, 1861
Present or absent" reads, "Not
stated". (Company Muster Roll, Co.
"K", 49th Reg't Indiana Infantry)
*Jan & Feb 1862 "Jan & Feb, 1862, Present or absent" reads "Not stated". (Company Muster Roll, Co. "K", 49th Reg't Indiana Infantry)
*Mar & Apr 1862 Listed as "Absent" with Remarks stating..."Sent Hosp.
Barbonville, KY, Apr 4, 1862." (Company Muster Roll, Co.
"K", 49th Reg't Indiana Infantry)
29 Apr 1862 Treated for chronic diarrhea.
*May & Jun 1862 "Absent". Remarks state..."Sick at Hosp. Lexington, KY. Sent
from Hosp. Barbourville, KY Apr. 23rd." (Muster Roll for Co.,
"K", 49th Reg't Indiana Infantry)
6 Jun 1862 "James L. POOLE, Private of Captain Keck's Company, [K] of
the forty ninth Regiment of Indiana foot..., was enlisted by
Thos. H. Y. Bicknell of the 19th Regiment of U. S. [?] at
Jeffersonville, Indiana on the 5th day of Dec. 186 , to serve
three years; he was born in Shelby Co in the State of Ind, is
eighteen years of age, five feet four ½ inches high, light
complexion, blue eyes, light hair and by occupation when
enlisted a farmer. During the last two months said soldier has
been unfit for duty 10 days." Station: Louisville C. B K's.
Signed by D. W. Flora, Surgeon in Charge. (Certificate of
Disability for Discharge)
*08 Jul 1862 Surgeon D. W. Flora states, "...I have carefully examined the
said Jas L. Pool of Captain Keck's (K) Company and find him
incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of
anemia, the result of Typhoid fever and extreme youth, being
but 16 years of age, and has done duty but two months out
of eight." (Certificate of Disability for Discharge)
Jul & Aug 1862 "Discharged on Surgeon's Certificate at Louisville, KY, July
16, 1862." (Muster Roll for Co., "K", 49th Reg't Indiana
Infantry; also Declaration for Original Invalid Pension)
*16 Jul 1863 James L. Pool enlisted at Bedford, Indiana, for a term of 6
months in Capt. Braxton's Co., 117 Reg't. Ind. Inf. Entry
reads, "transferred Sept 17, 1863 by order of Gen [?]". James
L. Poole is described as "Age 18 years; height 5 feet 6
inches, Complexion fair, Eyes Blue, hair Light, Where born
Shelby, Indiana, Occupation Farmer". (Co. "H", 117th Reg't.
Indiana Infantry Regimental Descriptive Book)
*19 Aug 1863 Mustered in to Capt. Braxton's Co., 117 Reg't Indiana Inf., at
Indianapolis, Ind. States age as "18". (Company Muster-in
Roll. Capt Braxton's Co, 117 Reg't Indiana Inf)
*19-31 Aug 1863 Aug, 1863, Present or absent" reads "Present". (Company
Muster Roll, Capt. Braxton's Co., 117 Reg't Indiana Infantry)
*15 Sep 1863 to "Discharged 15 Sep 1863, to enable him to enlist in Co. "L" 6th
15 Sep 1865 Ind. Cav for 3 years" (Record and Pension Office Div. And
Declaration for Pension, Act of May 11, 1912))
16 Sep 1863 Enlisted at Indianapolis, Indiana, with the 71st Reg't of Indiana
Volunteers for the period of three (3) years. Recruiting
Officer states, "This soldier has blue eyes, light hair, light
completion,, is 5 feet 6 inches high." (Volunteer Enlistment
and War Dept ltr from Adjutant General's Office dated 07 Oct
1882)
19 Sep 1863 Mustered in at Indianapolis, Ind. Inspecting Surgeon reports
James L. Pool is 18 years old, a farmer, born in Shelby Co.
Bounty paid was $25 and it shows $75 still due. (Muster and
Descriptive Roll of a Detachment of U.S. Vols. Forwarded)
22 Sep 1863 Mustered in at Indianapolis, Ind. To Capt Gorsuch's Co, 71
Reg't Ind. Inf. Lists enrollment as 16 Sep 1863. (Company
Muster-in Roll, Capt. Gorsuch's Co. 71 Reg't Ind. Inf.)
? to 31Oct 1863 James L. Pool is listed at "present" (Company Muster Roll,
Co. L, 6 Reg't Indiana Cavalry)
Nov & Dec 1863 Listed as "present" (Company Muster Roll, Co. L, 6 Reg't
Indiana Cavalry)
31 Oct 1863 to Listed as "present" (Company Muster Roll, Co. L, 6 Reg't
29 Feb 1864 Indiana Cavalry)
Mar & Apr 1864 Listed as "present" (Company Muster Roll, Co. L. 6 Reg't
Indiana Cavalry)
May & Jun 1864 James L. Pool is "present" (Company Muster Roll, Co. L. 6
Reg't Indiana Cavalry)
Jul & Aug 1864 "Absent" with Remarks stating that he is "Missing in Action
Aug 3,/64" (Company Muster Roll, Co. L. 6 Reg't Indiana
Cavalry). "Missing during Stoneman's Raid, July - 1864"
(War Department, Commissioner of Pension)
31 Oct 1864 Company Muster Roll reads, "Absent". "Missing in Action
since Aug 3rd, 1864" (Company Muster Roll, Co. L. 6 Reg't
Indiana Cavalry)
Nov & Dec 1864 "Present". Remarks state, "Returned from Missing in Action,
Dec 13th, 1864" (Company Muster Roll, Co. L. 6 Reg't Indiana
Cavalry)
Jan & Feb 1865 Company Muster Roll reads, "Present or absent, Not Stated".
Remarks: "? for transportation $3.80" (Company Muster Roll,
Co. L. 6 Reg't Indiana Cavalry)
27 Jan 1865 "On the 27th day of January, 1865, at Edgefield, Tenn, having
received a furlough for twenty days to go to Indiana, did, at
the expiration of said furlough, fail to return and report himself
to his regiment or company, as he was ordered to do, but did
so absent himself from his Command without leave from
proper authority for a long time to wit: from the 17th day of
February 1865, until the 20th day of April, 1865, when he
returned to his regiment voluntarily." (Adjutant General's
Office, Notation)
18 Feb 1865 "Edgefield, Tenn - Deserted" (War Department,
Commissioner of Pensions)
20 Apr 1865 Ass't Quartermaster's Office, Nashville, TN, provides
transportation of James L. Pool.
Mar & Apr 1865 James L. Pool is "Absent". "Absent, under arrest, undergoing
trial of G. C. M. Johnson?" (Company Muster Roll, Co. L. 6
Reg't Indiana Cavalry)
28 Apr 1865 Head-Quarters Sixth Division, Cavalry Corps, M.D.M.
letterhead reads, " Pulaski, Tenn, April 28, 1865. Court Order
No. 65" "Before a General Court Martial which convened at
this place on the 22nd of April inst. Pursuant to ...[?]...from
these ... was arraigned and tried:
Private James L. Pool, Co. "L" 6 Ind Cavalry
Charge: Desertion
Finding: Guilty
Sentence: To forfeit one months pay and
other dues and be confined at
hard labor for the period of fifteen
days, at such time and place as
the General [?] may direct.
The proceedings, findings and sentence of the Court are
approved, the prisoner will be sent under Guard to the
Provost Marshal of the Division to whom is committed the
enforcement of so much of the sentence as require the
prisoner to be confined at hard labor. A copy of this Order to
accompany him.
By Order of
Brig Genl R. W. Johnson"
May & Jun 1865 James L. Pool is "Present". Remarks read, "? for
transportation $3.80" (Company Muster Roll (New) Co. G, 6
Reg't Indiana Cav)
28 Jun 1865 Letter from Assistant Quartermaster's Office, Louisville, Ky,
reads, " Sir, I have the honor of notifying you that I have
furnished James L. Pool, "L" Company, 6th Regiment, Ind Cav
Vol with transportation from this city to ?, Ind, Cost $?, to be
deducted from his pay. Very Respectfully, Your Ob't
Servant,"
Jul & Aug 1865 "Present" (Company Muster Roll (New) Co. G, 6 Reg't Indiana
Cav)
15 Sep 1865 Mustered out at Murfreesboro, Tenn (Co. Muster-out Roll
(New) Co. G, 6 Reg't Indiana Cav). "Company was in Action
in Clinton, GA Aug 03, 1864. His name is not borne on Pris.
Of War Records" (War Department, Adjutant General's Office,
ltr dated 7 Oct 1882)
He said the best part of his war record was freeing the slaves.
He said he served 6 months and 11 days in Andersonville
Prison. To get out of prison, the black people hid him in a hay
loft in the day time and then he would go at night to get back
into the northern lines.
He claimed to have served as Secretary to President Grant in
the closing days of the Civil War.
Oct 1879 James L. Pool applies for a Pension for Military Service
(Declaration for Original Invalid Pension)
1911 Married Jennie POOL Willhoite at Scottsburg, Scott Co,
Indiana by Robert Blunt. James was 30 years older than his
wife, Jennie. They lived in Elnora, Daviess Co., Indiana in
1912.
25 Aug 1913 Signed Declaration for Pension.
10 Jul 1915 Daughter, Lois, was born. James
idolized his daughter and thought a
lot of her. Jennie had one still born
child before Lois and a set of twins
that she miscarried with.
23 Sep 1921 James L. Pool applied for Pension
and stated that his occupation has
been, "farmer, fisher and a
ferryman". (Declaration for Pension, Act of May 1, 1920)
26? Aug 1930 Moved to Merced, Merced County, California. Neither James
nor his wife, Jennie, drove so their daughter, Lois, who was
only 15 at the time, had to drive. They took a bull dog and a
paul parrot with them to California. James sat in the back
seat with the paul parrot on one side and the bull dog on the
other. He was in his 80's when they moved.
27 Jan 1931 James L. Pool died at Merced, California, of Diabetes
Mellitus, just six months after arriving in California. The
American Legion conducted his funeral service and he was
buried in the veteran's section of the Asphodel Cemetery in
Merced, California. The newspaper stated that he
participated in Sherman's march through Georgia.
As far as education, he only went through the third grade. But he was a brilliant man.
People came from all over to have him help them get their pension. He was a staunch
Republican. He even went to Indianapolis to the state conventions and he often said if
his daughter married a Democrat he would turn over in his grave. He was very, very
patriotic. As much as he liked to fish, he didn't like people that went fishing on Memorial
Day.
He fished commercially in Indiana with a camp on the river. In the summer, they would
stay in the camp, they had a cabin, and would put up a tent. One year he caught a cat
fish that weighed 80 pounds, the head weighed 16 pounds. He had trot lines set across
the river and his wife, Jennie and daughter, Lois, neither one could swim, but they used
to go with him to run his lines. If they caused him to lose a fish, they were in trouble
because he wanted to get all the fish he could get because he sold them.
He drew a pension of $90 a month when he passed away. That was quite a bit of money
at that time. He had a lot of guns, antique guns. He had one in every corner of the house
and one under his pillow.
He loved to play cards and he even had a game that he called "Chuck-a-luck" that he ran
during the Civil War. He played cards with an old Confederate Soldier that was in the
little town in Indiana where he used to live. He was the only Confederate Soldier that
lived in the town, but they used to play cards, sometimes all day. The old man was quite
sick and he would sometimes pass out and James would say, "Well, I should have killed
you while I was shooting at you while we were in the war and then I would have got you
out of your misery." And then he would laugh, of course.
He used to drink quite heavy but quit about the time Lois was born. Jennie sewed for
people and one day James came in the front door and he had fallen into some kind of
ashes and was an awful looking sight. This lady was trying on clothes that Jennie was
making for her. She went running out the back door when she saw James come in the
front because he scared her.
One thing about him, he was very, very patriotic and very proud of his war record. He would go the extra mile to help someone.