Monroe A. Pile reported in his three unsuccessful applications for a pension from the State of Tennessee that he suffered back injuries in Alabama when there “was a collision of cars while enroute to Vicksburg.” During the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, Monroe was shot in the hand. He lost three fingers on his right hand and sustained an injury to the thumb. Monroe made it to the regimental surgery and was still in hospital when Vicksburg fell on July 4, 1863. He was paroled and made his way home to Kingsport. On one pension application he reported that he “was never exchanged to my knowledge.” Monroe reported that he took the oath of  allegiance in Knoxville at the close of the war in 1865. It would seem that Monroe’s failure or inability to rejoin his regiment played a role in Tennessee’s refusal to grant a pension. The following is from his 1901 application: (45)

To the State Board of Pensions, Nashville, Tenn.

We the undersigned petitioners would most respectfully represent to you that M.A. Pile of Kingsport, Tenn., an old Confederate Soldier is in destitute circumstances and is totally unable to perform manual labor, and has no one on whom he can depend for support. We therefore earnestly request that his claim for Pension heretofore filed, and rejected by you, be again taken up and reconsidered, and that it be allowed. Respectfully submitted This August 6, 1901,

W.F. Friendly         K.R. Patton PM        Charlie Rogan       Walker Nelms
E.H. King               Peter Hutchins           J.F Howard            D.R. Sevis [?]
H. Nalles [?]           W.L. Harrison           J.F. Clyce              J.J. Roller MD.
David Roller           J. S. Vance JP           R.L. Lynch             J.G. Crum
Harvey Ludy           I. W. Keller [?]       T.R. Harper         W.D. Neil
G.L. Cloud              D. M. Davault           N.C. Bolton             C.W. Crum
Ed Lecity [?]           Ed. Smith                  J.W. Kelly               J.C. Neil PM
Ben R. Cloud          Sam’l Patton MD.     C.W. Nelms             E.L. Roller
Jas. Leedy               E.S. Hall                    D.F. Brown             L.G. Rogan
C.V. Patton             S.P. Davault               J.L. Pile                  J.V. Combs
W.E. Keefauer

Submitted by Charles Beauregard Pyle, Richmond, VA