Robert Castleberry joined the War of 1812 in August 1813. The fight
with the English was largely carried out in the northeastern states,
Canada and on the high seas. Many of the Indian tribes supported
Britain because of their desire to drive out the white Americans.
Tecumseh, a Shawnee leader, organized Indian resistance from
different tribes and they fought the Americans on many fronts in the
northeast. The Creek tribes in Mississippi Territory, now a part of
Alabama, were divided. The northern Creeks, sometimes called
Redsticks, because of their bright red war clubs, were united with
Tecumseh. The southern Creeks, many who had taken on the White Man's
way of life, supported the Americans and were viewed as the
"friendly" Creeks. The Redsticks went on the warpath in the summer
of 1813 and began attacking settlements. This war is often called
the Creek War of 1813-14, but is considered part of the War of 1812.
The Indians didn't get a lot of attention until they attacked Fort
Mims, about 45 miles north of current day Mobile, Alabama, in August
1813. The Indian force outnumbered the defenders by two to one and
all 340 American soldiers at the fort were killed, along with a
couple of hundred civilians. News of the massacre reached Tennessee
and Georgia quickly. Andrew Jackson assembled about 5000 volunteers
from Tennessee and was joined by friendly Creeks and Cherokee forces.
Men from Georgia and other states enlisted in the army to avenge the
Fort Mims massacre and kill or drive out the Redsticks.

Robert Castleberry, who was about 25 years old at the time, heeded
the call. He traveled over 100 miles from his home in Jones County,
Georgia to Augusta and enlisted for a 6-month term with the First
Brigade of the Georgia Militia, commanded by Brigadier General John
Floyd. His Company was the Augusta Regulars, commanded by Captain
Willoughby Barton. He enlisted on August 20, 1813. Robert's unit
marched to the Mississippi Territory (current day Alabama) and helped
with the construction of Fort Mitchell, near present day Columbus,
Georgia. Floyd's regiment set out from Fort Mitchell to Autossee
(sometimes spelled Auttose) on the Tallapoosa River, near present day
Montgomery and engaged Chief Mad Dog's Tookabatchee warriors there on
November 29, 1813. The militia had about 950 men and Mad Dog's
warriors numbered about 400. Eleven of the militia were killed and
54 were wounded, including Robert Castleberry. Two hundred Indians
were killed. Robert was wounded in the leg by a musket ball and his
wound was thought to be mortal, although he did survive. He remained
in the service for six months and was discharged on March 1, 1814 at
Milledgeville, about 15 miles east of his home in Jones County,
Georgia. He later returned to the Montgomery area to live. He
purchased land in Lowndes County, Alabama, about 50 miles from the
Autossee battle site.

Melissa Jones (melissa@satmel.com) obtained Robert Castleberry's pension file from the
National Archives. Melissa is a direct descendant of Robert and Mary
Castleberry. We believe that Mary Castleberry was the sister of John
Forrest. Robert applied for both a pension and a bounty land warrant
in the 1850s as a result of his War of 1812 service. The National
Archives has the two files mixed up. The Bounty Land Warrant file
was sent when the pension application was ordered and vice versa.
Because of the pension file's faded writing, cumbersome language and
long sentences, my wife, Judy, and I transcribed the file to make it
more readable. We have taken the liberty of adding punctuation to
clarify long sentences and our notes are shown in italics. Where
words are illegible either a blank, or a possible word followed by a
question mark is used. Capital and lower case letters seemed to be
used interchangeably in the original. Capitalization was corrected
in order to improve readability.

Robert Risley 1/5/2002


The first part of the file contains the original pension application
submittal, which contains statements from both Robert Castleberry and
John Forrest on December 19, 1854.

State of Arkansas Countynty of Bradley
On this 19th day of December A. D. 1854 personally appeared before
me, Alvin Bartlett, Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County
aforesaid, duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the
County and State aforesaid. Robert Castleberry, aged 66 years, a
resident of Bradley County in the State of Arkansas, who being duly
sworn according to law, declared that he is the identical Robert
Castleberry who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain W.
Barden in the Regiment of United ______ commanded by Maj. Gross & Col
Boothe & Col. Harris in the war with the Creek Indians under the name
of "Augusta Regulars".

That he volunteered at Augusta, Georgia the = [no date is shown] day
of August, AD 1813 for the six month [period] and was in general
service 7 months and honorably discharged at Milledgeville in Geo. on
or about last of Feb. A. D. 1814 as noted(?) by the muster rolls of
said company.

He makes this Declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Pension to
which he may be entitled to as a wounded soldier, that he was
disabled in the actual service of the United States, and in the line
of his duty, and that the disability he received was a shot in the
thigh and said wound was by my Surgeon, G. Williamson, pronounced
mortal, and he is still very much afflicted by said wound. /s/
Robert Castleberry

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of Dec. 1854. In
testimony whereof hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of my
Office at Warren this day & date as above.
/s/
Alvin Bartlett, Clerk

State of Arkansas Countynty of Bradley
I, John Forrest, of the aforesaid County & State, do Solemnly (swear)
that I am and was at the time set forth in the annexed and foregoing
Declaration of Robert Castlebury, personally well acquainted with the
aforesaid Robert Castlebury, and know the facts as they are set forth
in the foregoing Declaration to be correct in relation to his wound
and disability, So help me God.
Dec 19th 1854 /s/ John Forrest
Sworn to and subscribed before me. /s/ Alvin Bartlett, Clerk

The above pension claim was apparently sent to the Commissioner of
Pensions Office in December 1854, who referred the claim to the 3rd
Auditor in the Treasury Dept. for review on January 18, 1855. There
is one letter contained in the file, written January 19, 1855 from
3rd auditor, Robert Jamison, to the Third Auditors' Official in the
Treasury Department, who was probably his boss. He copied the letter
to L. P. Waldo, esq., Commissioner of Pensions.

Invalid Pension

Treasury Depart.
Third Auditors Official
Janr'y 19, 1855
Sir:
From documents on file in this Office, it appears that Rob't
Castlebury, a private of Captain Willoughby Barton's Company applying
_____ entered the service on the 20th of August 1813 until the 1st of
March 1814, the expiration of the Company's service.
The Muster Rolls of the above Company upon which the
applicant is simply mustered, "Present", without remark, furnish no
evidence of disability incurred, whilst in the service.
I am respectfully
Your Obt. Sevt.(Obedient Servant)
Robt. Jamison
Third Auditor
(Copy to)
L. P. Waldo, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions

The pension files contain an internal note that might have been an
attachment to the above letter because it was dated the same day:

Rec'd Jany. 19/55 Alleged.
En't. in Augst/13 for 6 mos. (Capt. Willoughby Barton
disch'd "last of February/14"

T. Houxey - 65
20 Augst/13 - 30 Sept/13 - 0
to 1 March/14 - 0

It looks like the auditor confirmed Robert's service for August 20,
1813 to March 1, 1814. Although we cannot say for certain, the word,
"Alleged" may have been noted to show that these were the facts given
by Robert that needed to be investigated. The date notations at the
bottom appear to be a summary of days absent during the timeframe of
Robert's enlistment.

The pension files contain two index cards, which reflect the actions
taken by the Pension Commissioner's office. The first action
referred the claim to the Third Auditor, who responded in the above
letter. The other two actions show that letters were sent,
presumably to Robert Castleberry, on February 23, 1855 and September
20, 1855. Unfortunately, these letters are not contained in the
files. The February letter apparently provided Robert Castleberry
the findings of the Third Auditor and requested more proof for the
claim. As a result, Robert obtained more affidavits. The Bradley
County, Arkansas County Clerk, took these affidavits between May 24,
1855 and July 28, 1855. They included: (1) statements by Robert
regarding his military service, whose signature was witnessed by John
Brady and Alan Bobo, (2) a statement from John Forrest, who stated
that he knew him in Jones County, Georgia at the time of his service
and that Robert was a truthful man, (3) a statement from Charles
Twain, a local doctor, who examined Robert's wound and described it
and finally, (4) a statement from Reverend Uriah Parker, who attested
to Robert's moral character and that he believed he should get the
pension. The affidavits are shown below.


State of Arkansas )
)
County of Bradley )
On this 24th day of May, One Thousand Eight Hundred and
Fifty-Five personally appeared before me, Alvin Bartlett, clerk of
the Circuit Court, and ex-officio clerk of the County Court for the
County aforesaid, Robert Castleberry, aged sixty-eight years, a
resident of Bradley County in the State of Arkansas who being duly
sworn according to law declares that he is the identical Robert
Castleberry who enlisted in the service of the United States as a
private in the company commanded by Capt. William Barton in the War
with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of
June 1812 and was honorably discharged on the 28th day of November
(time or near then) 1814 (Originally, February was written in and
then crossed out). On account of being wounded, or rather, his
discharge, was styled a furlough, which discharge has done been
consumed accidentally in the flames. On the 28th or 29th day of
November 1814 that while in the service and in the line of his duty
he received the following described wound, to-wit: a rifle ball shot
by an Indian as he was advancing, which ball struck him on the inside
of his leg, a little below the hip and passed out on the outside of
his leg or hip, the ball being shot from under the bank of the
Tallapoosa River and he, being on the bank, caused it to range
upwards. This was done at Attesee (Autossee) Town, then in the
Indian Nation, now Alabama. He states that to the best of his
knowledge this took place and the same day that he received his
discharge his wound was pronounced mortal by his physician. He
further states that in his situation it is impossible for him to get
the evidence of a commissioned officer in the support of his case,
that they are all out of his knowledge many of whom are dead. He
states his officers were first Gen'l. Hog, then Gen'l. Floyd, Col.
Boothe and Maj. Gross. Capt. Barton is dead and I have no knowledge
of the others. I have got my living by farming and have made shoes
when not able to farm and have so worsened(?) (or worried?) along;
was three years after the wound before I was able to do anything at
all. I then lived in Geo., and afterwards lived 19 years in Lowndes
County, Alabama. I then moved to Arkansas in 1840 where he has since
lived.
/s/ Robert W. Castleberry

Sworn to and subscribed before me Alvin Bartlett, Clerk. I
hereby certify that I have no interest in this claim.
/s/ A. Bartlett, Clerk

State of Arkansas Countynty of Bradley
Personally appeared John Brady and Alan H. Bobo, residents of
the County of Bradley, persons whom I certify to be respectable and
entitled to credit and who being by me duly sworn say that they were
present and saw Robert Castleberry write his name to the foregoing
declaration and they further swear that they have every reason to
believe from the appearance of the applicant and their acquaintance
with him that he is the identical person he represents himself to be
and that we reside in the County aforesaid and that said Castleberry
is a man of good moral character and a man who has become very deaf
and feeble and is not in a situation to obtain a livelihood by his
own exertions.
/s/ John Brady
/s/ Alan H. Bobo

Sworn to and subscribed before me
/s/ Alvin Bartlett, Clerk

State of Arkansas Countynty of Bradley
Personally appeared before me the undersigned clerk on the
24th day of May, John Forrest, personally well known to me as a man
of credit and honor, who after being by me duly sworn as the law
directs, doth depose and say that he was a neighbour of Robert
Castleberry whose name appears to the foregoing declaration at the
time said Castleberry enlisted into service. He was a ________nst
man at that time we both lived in Jones County, Geo. I did not see
him shot, but knowing him to be a man that never departs from the
truth I am as well satisfied with his statement as if I had been
present & saw the same. I saw him shortly afterwards and have often
heard persons speak of the circumstance, who saw the transaction, but
whether those persons are yet alive, I cannot say, as I left that
country many years ago and grew(?) or quite(?) old. I knew his
surgeon Geo. Williamson, who attended to his wounds, and have heard
him state that the said Castleberry was wounded at Attesee (Autossee)
Town on the Tallapoosa River by a rifle ball shot by the enemy and
that he considered him mortally wounded and returned him as such, and
further, it was the common talk of the community and I have never
heard the fact of his being so wounded as set out in his declaration
doubted. I knew his officers from report but was not intimately
acquainted with them. To the best of my knowledge they are either
dead or so removed that I know not how their testimony can be had.
/s/ John Forrest
Sworn to and subscribed before me.
/s/ Alvin Bartlett, Clerk


State of Arkansas Countynty of Bradley
It is hereby certified that Robert Castleberry who states he
was a Private in the Company commissioned by Officer Barton in the
1st Regiment of the United States Gov't(?), who I have every reason
to believe was such Private as aforesaid, is rendered unable of
performing the duty of a soldier by reason of a wound inflicted while
he was in actual Service aforesaid & in the line of his duty. By
satisfactory evidence & accurate examination, it appears that on the
29th day of November 1814 being engaged in Battle in the
Revolutionary War of 1812 at or near the place called Attesee
(Autossee) Town in the Indian nation, formerly but now Montgomery
County Ala~. I, Charles Swain, M. D. do hereby certify that I have
this day examined said wound and find that the said Robert
Castleberry received said wound in the thigh from a ball. Said ball
ranged obliquely upwards injuring in its course the Cunal(?) Nerve.
For two years the limb was entirely useless. Since that time it has
caused him much uneasiness, being troubled with Tetanis _______; it
does not entirely disable him but gives him great uneasiness, as he
is obliged to labor for a support. I would think that it injured him.
/s/ Cha. Twain
Sworn to & Subscribed before me
/s/ Alvin Bartlett, Clerk

State of Arkansas Countynty of Bradley
I, Alvin Bartlett, Clerk of the Circuit Court ex-officio
Clerk of the County Court do hereby certify that I have no interest
whatever in the aforesaid claim of Robert Castleberry and that in my
opinion it is impossible to obtain the certification of any of the
commissioned officers & through the urgent request of the claimant,
together with my belief of his being justly entitled to a pension, I
send this informal and imperfect Declaration.
In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affix the Seal of my
Office at Warren this 28th day of July 1855. /s/ Alvin Bartlett

State of Arkansas Countynty of Bradley
I, U. H. Parker, an ordained Minister of the Missionary
Babtist [sic] Church do say that Robert Castleberry is a man of good
moral habit and the man that he referred himself to be in his
Declaration and the parts as set forth in said declaration are true
to the best of my knowledge & belief. I did not see him wounded but
from report and all reasonable conclusion, it evidently is the case
as set forth in the declaration. My brother was a soldier in the
same army and have often hear him speak of it and I have often heard
many others who were in the army speak of the circumstance. I was at
that time a wagoner in the Army and was well posted up in the matters
& movements of the army generally and from the veracity of the said
Castlebury and from all circumstances, full perfectly confident that
the declaration, as set forth, is true in every respect, and further
I state that the said Castlebury is a very poor man and unable to
procure a livelihood by his own industry and I verrily [sic] believe
him to be justly entitled to a pension & hereby certify that I have
no interest in Said claim.
/s/ Uriah H. Parker
Sworn to & Subscribed before
Me. /s/ Alvin Bartlett, Clerk


State of Arkansas Countynty of Bradley
I, Alvin Bartlett, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex-officio Clerk of
the County and Probate Court for the aforesaid County of Bradley, do
hereby certify that I am personally well acquainted with John Forrest
and Rev. U. H. Parker, & have been for years, and know them to be
credible men, & men whose veracity cannot be doubted, both of whom
are residents of the aforesaid County of Bradley.
In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affix the Seal of my
office at Warren this July 28th 1855.
/s/ Alvin Bartlett, Clerk
Note in margin: I hereby certify that I have no interest in said clm.
/s/ Alvin Bartlett, Clk.


The above affidavits, completed on July 28, 1855 were apparently sent
to the Pension Commissioner's Office shortly thereafter. The
Commissioner was still not satisfied that the claim for pension was
justified and the September 20, 1855 letter was sent to Robert
Castleberry rejecting his pension claim. One of the index cards is
stamped "REJECTED". In order to receive the pension the veteran had
to show he was disabled as a result of a wound or injury incurred
while in the service. Robert's service record did not mention the
wound so he could not prove that he got it while in the Georgia
militia. Robert had stated that his discharge papers were lost in a
fire. The Commissioner did verify that Robert has served for six
months, so service was not the issue.

Robert put his statements together from memory about 40 years after
being wounded and some error or confusion can be expected. He stated
that he was in the battle of Autossee on or about the 28th or 29th
day of November 1814. He was right about the day, but was off on the
year, which was actually 1813. In his original affidavit on December
19, 1854 Robert stated correctly that he was discharged the end of
February 1814. In his second affidavit of May 24, 1855 he state that
he was discharged November 28, 1814. He apparently was mixing up the
date of his wound, November 28 or 29, 1813, with the date of his
discharge, March 1, 1814.

Robert also applied for an additional Bounty Land Warrant on May 24,
1855 for his War of 1812 service. That was approved and he was given
80 acres in 1856. This was in addition to the original 80 acre Land Warrant he received in 1851.


Robert Castleberry - War of 1812 Service
Pension Application File #13041