Another civil war story from Cherokee Co., AL Here is an excerpt from a letter found in the pension file for CSA soldiers. It was written by Sarah Ann (Kimbrell) Weaver, widow of Joseph Alexander Weaver, Sr. of Cherokee Co., AL. She was trying to retain her widow's pension. On the 1910 census, she was listed as 84 years old with her son, Joseph H Weaver and his family. Thus she was 88 when the letter was written. <<<<begin quote>>>>> (dated) 26 Jan 1914; Letter from Gaylesville, ......I can not come to your office at Montgomery. I am nearly 88 years old & too feeble to come if I had the means which I have not. But two of my neighbors, who were with my husband in the civil war have made affidavits to that effect .........I know 2 or 3 other men who were with him who are yet living.. I can get their testimony if you so direct. I know, Joseph A Weaver, my husband served in the Southern Army- and that we had nearly all our property, above ground taken from us or destroyed by Sherman's army, part of which camped near my house for 10 days. If you take this little allowance from me you will do an unjust thing. But I have not many more years to live and be a burden to my State or any one. I am yours truly, Ann (herXmark) Weaver. <<<<<<<<end quote>>>>>>>> If one looks at the census records and the service records, it is clear that Sarah and her very young children were probably home alone when the soldiers camped near her home. This must have been a terrible time for her and thousands of others in the same circumstances. Sarah Ann was my husband's g-g-grandmother. Melba