Depostion of Albert S. Norton, March 22nd, 1897
67 yrs of age
355 4th St.
Jersey City, NJ
Occupation: paper hanger – but I have not been able to work for about 3 years.
I was a member of Co. D 21st NJ Vols. From May 29th 1862 to 19th June 1863 – discharged at Trenton NJ. I was not in any other service.
I was living here in Jersey City NJ when I enlisted. Was a (?) hearty man, had nothing whatever the matter with me- was free from every disease. Was stripped naked and thoroughly examined when I enlisted.
I am a pensioner under act June 27 1890 at $12 a month for rheumatism.
June 1889 I made application for a pension under the general law asking for rheumatism.
On May 4th 1863 at Fredericksburg (or Chancellorsville) Va. I was taken prisoner [while on picket duty] to Belle Island Va., and while there from exposure to the weather had no cover or blanket, and in going there I had as a prisoner to wade the North Anna and the South Anna river – got wet breast high – and my clothes had to dry on me while marching under guard to Belle Island Va.
In January of 1863 I was taken with Typhoid fever – near White Oak Church Va. And treated by surgeon McNeal in regimental hospital. In that regimental hospital at least three weeks to a month. I was not sent to a general hospital [an error in the records], but I recall the fact that I was in line to go to the hospital but I was not sent, but a man named Staples was sent in my place, and I stayed in the regimental hospital and in that ward getting better. I went into the fight at Fredericksburg Va. – called I think Chancellorsville battle. I had been blistered badly and when I went into the battle I had a piece cut out of my coat as there was yellow water dripping from my left side all the time – and I wore a cloth bandage that hung down through the hole in my coat so the water could drip to the ground.
This was my condition when taken prisoner – and laying in the hot sand on Belle Island Va. During the day and cold sand at night without cover or blanket. After I had been there some three days my legs – both of them – and left arm began to pain me. I became so it hurt me to move about – walked lame. My legs swelled up. Had no medical treatment. I was on Belle Island Va. About a month, when I was taken to Annapolis Maryland by way of City Point Va., when I was kept 4 or 5 days and then sent to convalescent camp near Alexandria Va. From there I was sent to Trenton NJ and discharged with the co. All that time I suffered with rheumatism. At Annapolis Md. I had treatment by the surgeon. Who he was I do not know. At Alexandria I got some better as I had a good place to sleep with warm blankets, but was not able to stand erect – was lame. I did not desert from the convalescent camp in Va., nor did I ever desert while in service. That came about [an error in the records] by my getting a pass to visit Washington – did not return on time – but two days after I returned to camp and was as lame as I could be from rheumatism.
I was not wounded [an error in the records] during the war. It was thought I had been wounded when taken prisoner but I was not, and it was reported all over the company, I understood after the war, that I was nearly killed – but I was not woulnded any time. I was never in Hospital St. Mary in Washington – that was the hospital Staples was sent to when I was expecting to go – but I never went, never was in a general hospital.
At my discharge in June 1863 I came back here to Jersey City, NJ, and have lived here ever since. When discharged I had rheumatism badly both legs and left arm – unable to do any work for 3 or 4 months. Dr. Kuistine (?) treated me for rheumatism right away after I got home in 1863. He is dead. Dr. Halcomb also treated me – he ran away with a woman and has never been heard of since. Dr. Eddy and Dr. Morgan and Dr. Cahill all dead. Dr. Cadmus kept a drug store – he is alive. These physicians have treated me. Dr. Cadmus was the last. He gave me no regular treatment – sold me all kinds of medicines. I have bought every thing I could hear of that might help me – every physician I ever had told me they could never cure me. I am a paper hanger by trade, and am positive I have never been able to do over ¼ of my time since my discharge, on account of rheumatism in my legs, arms, body, all over. 18 years ago it began to get all over me. 1867 I was taken very bad with rheumatism – worse than I had ever been. Dr. Kierster (?) treated me then for over two weeks. I also was a butcher as well as paper hanger but I was never able to butcher after I came out of the army. I am totally disabled at this time, and I have not struck a lick of work for three years. I am all lumped up – my toes lay over each other – cannot walk a block to save me – am lame. In 1875 I was in the Fire Dept. here in Jersey City in the neighborhood of two years. I was a member of No. 2 truck. But my rheumatism was such that I had to give it up. Could not do my duty.
Wm Sheldrake of Paterson NJ, Louis J. Smith, Greenville NJ were prisoners with me on Belle Island Va. In 1863, and they know of my rheumatism.
I recall the names of every comrade you name on the list you had. Staples full name I never knew.
I understand the questions and my answers are correctly recorded.
Albert S. Norton