Affidavit of William T. Freeze

[Stamped Pension July 10, 1881?]

State of Illinois
County of Pulaski

In the matter of the Pension Claim of Miles J. Barnum Personally came before me, a ________ in and for aforesaid County and State, William T. Freeze a lawyer, a resident of the city of Mound City, Pulaski County, state of Illinois, age thirty-eight years, a person of lawful age; who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to the aforesaid case as follows: That he was a private of Company H 18th Regt. Ill. Vol. Infantry and was transferred by consolidation to Company A 18th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf., and afterward promoted to Hospital Steward; that this affiant served with Miles J. Barnum in said regiment and that while on the march from Pinebluff to the Saline River in the State of Arkansas in the month of April 1864, the claimant Miles J. Barnum then a Sergt. of Co. H 18th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf. and while obeying orders in the line of his duty was caught between the wheel of a wagon and a tree and ruptured just below the ribs on the left side, said rupture being about two inches long; that said injury was received about two or three miles from the Saline River while making a force march and aiding in getting a wagon out of a hole and that this affiant assisted the claimant to arise and proceed on the march and that claimant was placed in a wagon and that he was unable to endure the jar of the wagon and had to be removed; that this affiant aided in dressing and caring for claimant that in June following this affiant was detailed as Acting Hospital Steward and knows that claimant was treated by Dr. G. T. Garnett for said injury and that claimant while here-manned in service was unable to do any manual labor and was known to be willing and did do all that he could and received a detail that gave him a place requiring very little exertion and then he was often disabled and under care of regimental surgeon. And after the consolidation into Company A of said regiment the claimant was a private of said company and remained on detail until we were both discharged in July 1865, and this affiant saw and was acquainted with the claimant seeing him often for a year or two and he was in very poor health; that afterward this affiant saw claimant only at long intervals and that claimant did not seem then to get any better and that this affiant examined claimant yesterday and found the rupture that is described above and that in the former affidavit this affiant did not mention the fact of this rupture because he did not think of it not having seen claimant for a long time and it not being called to his mind. That claimant was almost wholly disabled for labor after said rupture at all times when this affiant saw him, the claimant. He further declares that he has no interest in said case, and is not concerned in its prosecution or related to the claimant.

(Witnessed) William Painter
(Witnessed) John Linegar
(Signed) W. T. Freeze

While serving together in the Union Army Hospital, Miles J. Barnum earned the respect and admiration of the younger William T. Freeze. After the war William decided upon a career in the law, leaving Anna to study for the bar. On his return, one of his first client must have been his old freind Miles J. Barnum as this pension application shows. From the Federal Pension File of Miles J. Barnum.