Pension Application of Elijah Dickenson: S6796

                        Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

Virginia State}

County of Floyd}  S.S.

            On this 15^th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the County Court of Floyd now sitting Elijah Dickenson a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged 77 years, who being first sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7^th 1832.

that he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated: That he entered the said service as a private soldier in a Regiment of militia raised in the part of Virginia in which he now resides for the purpose of marching against the Cherokee Indians then settled on the Tennessee River, this Regiment was commanded by Colo Christie [William Christian], who resided in what was then Botetourt, afterwards Montgomery, and now Floyd County  the Company to which the Claimant belonged was commanded by Capt Hugh Crocket [sic: Crockett], and was called Christies life guards, Samuel Eason was its Lieutenant and Joshua Mastin its Ensign. The Claimant cannot remember the day or the year when this his first Term of service commenced, he is wholly uneducated and consequently could never have the assistance of any written memorandum. The month however is better impressed on his memory which he feels quite sure was August. Colo Christies force was augmented by another Corps commanded by a Colo Lewis, of Botetourt, whose Babtismal name he has forgotten but not Colo Andrew Lewis; This united force was further augmented in its march by a Regiment from North Carolina, which was commanded by a Colo Wilson at least the claimant is strongly impressed with the belief that that was his name. This Corps joined us at Horse Creek a stream which was two days march below Long Island in the Holstein River [sic: Long Islands of Holston River at present Kingsport TN]. The expedition then continued its march to the place of its destination on the Tennessee River. The hostile Indians abandoned their Town on our approach which we destroyed to the number of seven. This was our only achievement the swiftness of the Enemy having rendered it impossible to perform any other. after remaining in the Theatre of our ravages about 20 days we returned and arrived at our homes. The claimant well recollects after the cold weather had set in with much severity but he is sure before Christmas  The claimant believes the whole expedition occupied something less than Five months. The claimants second term of service was performed under the command of Ensign William Hungett [sic: Hungate] who had orders to lead a company of militia to guard two small Forts on sinking creek a water of New River. this service was effectually performed without any Bloodshed. This company was drafted for a month and the claimant thinks it was discharged when that period expired. Besides these regular Terms of service in the militia the claimant was one of the band of volunteers commanded by Capt Joseph Rentfro [or Renfro] who marched to the relief of one of our Forts situated on a stream of the Holstein River, and which was then called Westoger[?]. This company was raised on the borders of Little River, and marched as far as the neighborhood of the place where Abingdon now stands when they received information that the Fort to whose relief they were hastening had already received [word illegible], which placed them out of danger. The whole time of their (this company’s) actual service did not much exceed a fortnight. The claimant therefore does not claim to have served as a militia man & volunteer together in the War of the Revolution more than six months. The claimant ought to have stated and now states that his second Term of service was performed as the substitute of one Obadiah Dickenson. In none of these expeditions aforesaid did the claimant serve with any Regular or Continental Troops, he has no documentary evidence of service, and knows no one whose Testimony to his services he can procure except Capt Daniel Howell. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.      Elijah his X mark Dickenson