Shortly after this marriage he moved his family to Weakly County where he remained until his death. His children and grandchildren all stayed in the county.
 
James ADKINS applied for a Soldiers Pension while living in Palmersville, TN filed in July of 1903, and a later statement added in 1907.He enlisted as a member of Company H in the 38th Virginia Infantry. He was wounded in the breast at Gettysburg, Antietam, Maryland while fighting in the battle of Pickett's charge July 1-3, 1863. The 38th was in Armistead's Brigade, Pickett's Division. 
 
On the application to the question "What was the exact nature of your wound?" he answered "Shot in the calf of leg, shot in breast, shot slightly between shoulders, shot by spent ball on side of head."
 
State fully your disability: "The wound in breast causes a weakness which prevents doing hard labor and pain when I cough,"
 
How did you get out of the army and where? "Just before the close of the war on James River, surrendered together with about 100 others who were on Pickets."
 
Did you take an oath of allegiance? "I did"
 
If so, when and under what circumstances? " at the time i surrendered. Was cut off from the army by high water. We all did it to save ourselves from many dangers that were eminent."
 
Are you married? "I have been married"
 
If so what is the size of your family living together? Ages? "Myself and three children." "one son of 26 years, one daughter 28, one daughter 22"
 
Are not some of your children able to support you? "No, they own no property"
 
In what business are you now engaged, if any, and what do you earn? "Farming- Just a 'sort' of living."
 
What estate have you in your own right, real and personal, and what is its value? "one hundred and ninety acres of land, worth about $500.00, two horses worth about $150.00, household goods $100.00.
 
Do you use intoxicants to any extent? "I do not"
 
How long have you been a resident of Tennessee? "thirty-three years"
 
The witnesses to this application were: Dr. R.M. BIGGS, D.A. MCWHERTER, E.P HODGES, B.B. ADKINS
 
Also that Dr. R. M. BIGGS "thoroughly examined" J.C. ADKINS and found: "Chronic bronchitis and general disability and find him disabled to perform manual labor by reasons of this disability"
 
"And I futher make oath to the following facts touching the applicants service in the Confederate army: I can stiatify that I was with J.C. ADKINS in the same regiment and he made a good soldier so far as I know. This is E.P. HODGES statement."
 
"I can Testify that I was with J.C. ADKINS in the same regiment and he made a good soldier so far as I know. This is B.B.ADKINS statement."
 
Notary Publics: T.G.BYARS, F.H.MILLER, J.B.BARBER
 
There was a letter written from Dresden, TN on August 1, 1907 to the Board of Pension Examiners, Nashville, TN. (This letter was written on Weakly County Fair Association letterhead. It listed the Fair Dates as October 16, 17, 18, and 19 of 1907) The letter was in response to the question of proof of J.C. ADKINS oath of allegiance: "...asking for more proof...I will state that I have more proof to offer...And as stated in my application was surrounded at the time with high water and had to get out the fast way I could. Would further state that this was a detail of 100 men at the front of the line. When our captain realized that we were going to be swept away by water, marched over to the federals who where there and surrendered. We took some kind of obligation and some kind of paper was given us by, I do not know what it was. But after this was done they then gave us our choice to either go in prison or on public works. We took the public works and were at Bermuda... on James River. So it could not possibly have been the oath of allegiance or we would not have been held in this way.  Trusting that you will give this matter your prompt attention because I know that I fought through the fiercest part of the war."

Yours Truly, J.C. ADKINS
P.S. Please address me as Palmersville, TN Route No. 2
 
On the front of the records it is marked OATH, REJECTED.
 
J.C. ADKINS had five children: John (Jack) Braxton (my great grandfather), Emma, William Walker (Uncle Wid), James Edgar and Urania (Rannie) Virgina. Emma (1873-1908) never married. William 1874-1947) also never married. He is buried in Thompson Cemetery in Weakley. James Edgar (1876-1949) married Theodocia Ellen BIGGERS. Urania (1878-1946) married Charles Monroe WOODRUFF. Jack ADKINS (1871-1892) although we do not know if he was born in Virginia before the family came to Weakley County he lived his entire life in Weakley. He married twice. First to Emma Lucinda MORRIS, and after her death to Mary Carmel BROWNING PIRTLE (Miss Mollie). According to the pension application of 1903, J.C. had no living wife. We do not know when Harriet died, but before this date. J.C. died on January the 28th of 1919. 
 
We find it interesting that J.C.'s great-grandaughter married a GATEWOOD. The GATEWOOD's fought on the Union side of the war.
 
 Submitted by Chris Gatewood Bean