BUREAU OF PENSIONS BOARD OF REVIEW I.C. 522561 Joseph L. Ray Co. H 5th O. Vol. Cav. I, Joseph L. Ray, Of Bosworth, Carroll County, Missouri, who first being duly sworn upon oath states with relation to the above claim as follows: It is true I went to the war from North Carolina. My father and my brother and myself were for the Union, and I went to the front with the expectation of fighting for the Union and with as strong a resolve as any soldier from the North. That I gave aid, comfort and encouragement to the rebellion is not true. I was misled when I was mustered into the Confederate cause as after events clearly show, for at my first opportunity to wit at Yorktown, Va. on May 1st 1862, I deserted the Confederate cause and returned home. It is also true that I was taken prisoner by Captain Wilson and carried back to the Confederate Army. I was court martialed for this desertion and sentenced to forfeit eight months wages. I was sent to the front in the Battle of Fredricksburg and there I did not fire a gun against the Union, instead I surrendered myself to the Union Soldiers, was prisoner one day and night and then allowed myself to be exchanged for some poor fellow who was starving in some Southern prison, obtaining his release in so doing. While considering myself a prisoner in place of the Union man for whom I was exchanged. I was again pushed into the thickest of the fight at Chancellorsville, Va. I did not raise my hand or fire a gun against the Union and after the battle ceased, and smoke had cleared away, I got up from behind an oak tree where I was hiding and walked straight forward across the battlefield passing many wounded soldiers in Gray, beggin for water, and who told me to go no farther for the Yankees were just ahead. Not heeding them I soon found a wounded federal soldier boy, wounded in the leg and begging for water and assistance to get off of the battlefield. Taking his gun which he still retained in his hand, I assisted him along to a pontoon bridge across a stream and to a spring of water on the other side where I got him water. No one halted us on the way and the scene was so novel, the question could have been easily asked who was the prisoner, the boy in Blue or the boy in Gray. I left the boy near the spring and going north a short distance alone I came to the Federal prison pens. Looking among the prisoners, I saw one J. W. Higgins whom I knew. I asked permission of the guard to enter. He replied " If you enter you cannot get out". So entering I told Higgins of my intention of going North. He decided to go North also with me. So we sere sent to Philadelphia, Pa., took the oath of allegiance to the U.S. I worked at various jobs for fair wages for some time and until I got a letter from my home in North Carolina informing that all my brothers had gone North and that my father, then 60 years old, was a prisoner because of his Union sentiments and failure to support the Confederacy. Then I thought it was my duty to join the fighting forces of the Union and help turn my father out of prison. I went West with the hope of finding my brothers and enlist with them, but failing to find them I enlisted at Cincinnati, Ohio, and volunteered as the records show, Feb. 16. 1865. I have given here a brief statement of all actions and conduct of myself during the Civil War. I make this Statement truthfully and frankly and unreservedly with the hope that I may be retained on the pension roll. I can say I never fought nor aided the rebellion although I was a member of a Southern regiment for a while. I am now 69 years of age, and on account of my weakened physical condition, I am unable to earn a living my manual labor. I also have a wife and five small children, the youngest 5 months old, who are unable to make their own support. And finally I am very much interested in being retained on the roll and it will be a serious blow if I am not. Thanking you for privilege of making this statement I subscribe myself as ever, Joseph L. Ray State of Missouri County of Carroll Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of May 1911. Lawrence H. Woodyard Notary Public My term expires July 22, 1911 SOURCE: National Archives Pension File, Joseph L. Ray