The complete pension file contained six pages written by Hugh Hannay confirming his arrival in 1857 and the time he spent in Toronto & Cincinnati, so it was worth getting. He lists all the battles and commands he served under. Some excerpts: Upon 29 lines I had met the enemy – that is pitched battle and in over 150 skirmishes – and yet in all was only wounded twice – on Sunday 20th Sept at Chickamauga I was shot in the ankle. On 27th July at Kennesaw’s bloody pinch – a bullet slashed my cheek but not to hurt much. Once was my horse shot dead under me, twice was another wounded and twice I have lain beneath a horse’s weight. Once I was stunned by a solid shot that passed so close over me that I was crushed down as if by a thousand pound weight and over two years a roof was not over my head at night – except perhaps a tent and often not even that….
I resigned my position and went to Stevenson, Alabama – to rest and recruit my worn out body – but rest was not for me – of this in some other place…
I was presented with a very handsome address by the officers & men and by a small gold medal. I was a volunteer without pay and was made very liberal offers as to appointments in the Regular Army – but refused for the sake of one – at a distance – will that one ever be – or can I ever hope – yet all looks dark indeed… Rather cryptic!
The 2nd pension application was rejected on the grounds that the claimant’s husband was not in the military or naval service of the US but was a civilian employee - hence the absence of a CMSR.
