After the Civil War, the Virginia Legislature provided pensions for those who served the Confederate Army. This included soldiers, widows and daughters of deceased Confederate veterans.
One criteria was that the pension applicant had to have proof of service. One way was to have a letter from a commanding officer providing proof. Urbanna resident Nannie Sadler Palmer applied in 1908 for a pension because her husband, Charles Henry Palmer Sr., had passed away in 1904. He had served in the Confederate Army.
On Jan. 19, 1908, Major William S. Christian wrote this letter as a “record of C.H. Palmer in the War Between the States — 1861-65” to confirm Palmer’s service. “Charles Henry Palmer volunteered at the beginning of the war, while a boy of 16, and was mustered into service of the Confederate States, as a member of the infantry company commanded by Captain William Christian, afterwards known as Company C 55th Virginia regiment, in which command he (Palmer) rendered continued service as a brave and efficient soldier,” wrote Christian.
“He was severely wounded on the 30th day of June 1862 at the Battle of Frazier’s Farm in the seven days of fighting around Richmond, while in line with his company and regiment most gallantly charging a battery at close range, supported by a heavy line of federal infantry which battery was captured, comrade Palmer receiving a ball (bullet) in his face which carried away a portion of his lower jaw, and other wounds.”
“This wound was so severe that he was for a time unfitted for service in the field, but was detailed to one of the departments in Richmond, where he rendered important service and was much esteemed by his superior officers and comrades.
“When Richmond was evacuated he moved out with the army, was captured three (3) days before the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, taken to Point Lookout (federal prison in Maryland) and remained there until after the war had been over 30 days.”
“This brief sketch is written by his old commander . . . Colonel Williams S. Christian, who is throughly acquainted with the above facts.”
Until her death in 1939, Nannie Palmer received a small annual pension from the state of Virginia for her husband’s service in the war.
It Happened Here in Rivah Country!
