George Beatty, Company "C" 7th Tennessee Cavalry, widow Zilpha Beatty (application # 200,371) The following letter, written June 11, 1872 explains to some extent the manifestly unfair action taken on this pension: Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C. Sir, Referring to your letter of 31 ultimate requesting to be informed whether objection still exists to the taking up of the "Beatty Scouts" pension claims for action, I have the honor to inform you that in view of the fraudulent claims against the Government successfully manipulated by members of that force, objection still exist to the consideration of claims in favor of any person connected with Beatty's Scouts & Guides, unless each & every claim shall be severally submitted for the examination of this office. It is therefore suggested that such Beatty Scout claims as have been presented to the Commissioner for settlements be referred to this office, as, in view of the foregoing the ultimate care is necessary in the examination of each claim. I am Sir, Very Respectfully Your obedient servant E. D. Townsend Adjutant General On November 18, 1871 Zilpha Beatty of Jamestown, Fentress County, Tennessee filed an application for a widow's Pension. She states that she is the widow of George Beatty and she was married to said George on May 12, 1852 by Joshua Owens at the house of Austin Choates; her maiden name was Beatty. [See Bounty Land Claim for Eleazor Beatty, Zilpha is his daughter-- Abeazor or Aby (also Eleazor) Beaty, Act of 55-120 Wt # 36,241; Private in Capt. Carson Co. Tenn. Mil. COPIED Excerpts: William Dabney is the guardian of Zilpha Beaty, wife of George Beaty and daughter of Abeazor or Aby Beaty who is 17 years old. State of Tennessee, Fentress County. I certify that I live about one mile and a half from George Beaty & his wife Zilphy that I have known them ever since they were small children that said Zelphy was the daughter of Aley Beaty who was a soldier in the war of 1812. I further certify that I have been intimately acquainted with Aley Beaty for thirty years before his death, that he died in Fentress County Tennessee about six or so years ago?? nine miles from me. That his wife Viney(?) Beaty deceased on Stone(?) River about 14 years ago. That he never married after the death of said Viney. That I well know all his children that they was all over twenty years of age on the 28th day of September 1850 except Zilphy Beaty who married George Beaty & she is now just turned into her 17th year of age. I married her & said George last May was a year ago. Given under my hand this 6th day of August 1853. Joshua Owen Justice of the Peace.] Zilpha had the following children under the age of 16 at the time of George Beatty's death: Mary Elizabeth born July 12, 1854 James born October 31, 1856 Margaret A. born January 27, 1858 Zilpha states that George Beatty enlisted January 1862 as a Private in Captain David Beatty's Independent Scouts and was captured by Bledsoe's Rebel Company on or about April 1, 1862 and has not been heard from since April 1, 1863. (Oct. 31, 1871) Charlotte Stephens a resident of the 4th Civil District of Fentress County, Tennessee states that she was present at the birth of James Beatty on October 31, 1856. She is a near neighbor to Zilpha and knows her other two children as well. (Oct. 31, 1871) Armilda (??) Beatty, a resident of the 3rd Civil District of Fentress County, Tennessee, states that she was present at the birth of Margaret Armilda on Jan. 27, 1858. Armilda is also a near neighbor to Zilpha. Zilpha's claim was rejected and the following letter sent from the War Department: War Department Adjutant General's Office March 20, 1874 Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions. An examination of the record of George Beaty shows that if he ever belonged to Beaty's Scouts and Guides he left in March 31, 1862 and did not there after rejoin it. It is further shown that a fraudulent claim against the Government has been successfully manipulated in behalf of Zilpha Beaty, the present claimant and Treasury Certificate # 577,346 for $910.20 awarded her for alleged service of her husband from Jan. 25, 1862 to Oct. 19, 1864 when it is positively known that he rendered little if any service to the government. In view of the voluminous evidence of fraud connected with the claims of this force on file in this office the affidavits presented with this application for pension cannot be relied on and the War Department declines to recognize or make a record of the case of George Beaty. Zilpha A. Beaty filed another claim for Pension on December 11, 1879; she is now 45 years old. She states that George Beaty died in a Rebel Prison in Saulsboro, N. Carolina of a disease not known to her. Another note from the War Department, dated May 4, 1880: Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions- The data requested in the case of George Beaty, an alleged member of "Captain David Beaty's Company of Scouts and Guides," cannot be furnished, the roll of that company (one only, being on file in this office) having been established to be incorrect and untrue. A careful examination of the Prisoner of War Records shows the following in the case: "George Beaty, citizen, Fentress County, Tennessee, confined at Salisbury, N. C., March 1863; admitted to Hospital 21, Richmond Va., March 17, 1865 and died March 24, 1865 of Diarrhea, Ch. Another notation in the same record shows: George Bady (?), citizen captured at Fentress Co. Tenn. April 1, 1862, confined in Richmond Va. March 15, 1865 and died March 24, 1865. In an affidavit dated April 9, 1889, Zilpha states: "affiant received a letter from her said husband when he was at said place (Salsbury, North Carolina) and have never heard of him since. The letter is dated in 1863 affiant has no doubt of his death." She also states that one of her children has died: "Armilda Beaty who was born on the 20th January 1859 and died on the 13th Nov. 1876." R. A. Winningham makes the following statement under oath: "during the late war he was a soldier in the Federal Army and was a member of Company B Second Tenn. ?? Infantry commanded by James Carter. That he was captured during the war and taken Saulsbury, North Carolina that George W. Beaty applicant's husband had been captured also by the Confederates and was confined in the same prison with affiant. Affiant and others escaped from the prison and left said Beaty and others in the prison. Affiant further states that said Beaty was in bad health at the time he escaped and could have got out of prison at the same time affiant did if he could have walked but he was sick and barefooted and could not have possibly left when affiant did. Affiant had been with said Beaty in prison for about one year and knows all about his condition at the time he made his escape. Affiant heard that he either died or was killed trying to make his escape at any rate affiant has no doubt but what he is dead." Zilpha filed an appeal to the Secretary of the Interior on September 18, 1891 stating the following reason for an appeal: "I think there must be a mistake or oversight in the record in the War Department somewhere. In the first place I received pay as the widow of George Beaty. When the Beaty Company was paid for their military service by act of Congress. In the second place 2nd Lieut. C. Beaty a member of said Beaty's Scouts has a copy of the original roll of the Beaty Company said copy of said roll being in the handwriting of Lieut. Clap of the U. S. Army, sent here to investigate the Beaty Company or the affairs of the same. My late husband's name is on said copy of said roll and opposite his name these words "Captured by the Rebels in March 1862." Being said George Beaty, deceased, lawful wife and he being captured and imprisoned by the rebels and died and did not return to me. I therefore ask that my said claim (line cut off)." Zilpha's claim was again denied on the ground that her husband was not in the service of the United States. In January of 1893 Zilpha Beaty, aged 57 and a resident of Fentress county, Tennessee makes the following declaration: "I am the widow of George Beaty who was a member of Captain David Beaty's Co. of Independent Scouts Tenn. Vols. In March 1862 my said husband was captured by the Rebels; and carried away from this country. I was informed that he was dead, which report I believed to be true as he never returned home. Consequently I filed claim No. 200,371 for pension as widow of said George Beaty. Said claim has been disallowed on the ground that said George Beaty's name did not appear on the roll of the Beaty Company in the War Department. I can prove conclusively by members of said Company that said George Beaty was a member of said Co. Application is hereby made to have said George Beaty recognized as a member of said Company. Said Co. was by act of Congress enrolled in January 1862 and discharged 1st June 1865." In an Affidavit dated 1893 C. Beaty states: "He is personally acquainted with Zilpha Beaty, widow of George Beaty. That he C. Beaty was 2nd Lieut. in Beaty's Independent Scouts Tenn. Vols. That he was personally acquainted with George Beaty mentioned in the above cited claim. That said George Beaty was a Private in said Company, done duty in said Company and was subject to the orders of Capt. David Beaty. That said George Beaty was captured by the Rebels in Fentress County Tenn. in March 1862 and was carried away from the County by them and never returned any more." William Tipton, Orderly Sergeant in Capt. Beaty's Company gives a similar account of George Beaty's capture. Pension is never allowed on Zilpha's claim. 1870 District #1 Fentress County, Tennessee p531 Zilpha Beaty 34 TN Mary Beaty 16 TN James Beaty 13 TN Margret Beaty 11 TN Mar Wallas 64 servant Zilpha Wallas 15 1880 District 1, Fentress County, Tennessee p 508D James Beaty, Jr. 23 TN Zilpha Beaty 45 mother TN Mary Mullenax 25 sister TN Sarah Mullenax 8 niece TN Laurel Baty, L252