The name of Byron Churchill appears in the following form among Francis H. Wells' Pension papers:

Affidavit of Byron Churchill, dated 23 August 1865
"... states that he was a fellow prisoner with Francis H. Wells ... at Andersonville, Georgia."

"That he, the said Churchill, was a Private in Co. A 15th Regiment Michigan Infantry."

In 1865, Byron Churchill was "a discharged soldier with deformed feet" due to the fact that he "froze his feet at Florence Prison, South Carolina."

The following items are transcribed from copies of original documents contained in this soldier's Pension File- Washington, D.C.

Discharge Certificate of Byron Churchill
Signed by John H. Oliver- "Commanding the Regiment" and dated 23 February 1864

"To all Whom it May Concern-
Know Ye, that Byron Churchill, a Private of Lieutenant Jonathan Snooke, Company (A) 15th Regiment of Michigan infantry Volunteers who was enrolled on the twenty third day of February [1862] to serve three years or during the war, is hereby discharged from the service of the United States this twenty third day of February 1864 at Scottsboro, Alabama, by reason of Re-enlistment in .. [possibly "Vetrin"] Vols. (No objection to his being re-enlisted is known to exist)."

"Said Byron Churchill was born in the State of Michigan, is twenty years of age, five feet and six and 1/2 inches high, dark complexion grey eyes, dark hair and by occupation when enrolled, a farmer."

"Given at Scottsboro, Ala. this twenty third day of February, 1864."

"Signed John H. Oliver, Col. - Commanding the Regiment"

Certificate of Disability for Discharge, dated 6 July 1865 That Private Byron Churchill "was enlisted by Captain Tolean [?] at Scottsboro. During the last two months said soldier has been unfit for duty 60 days. Discharged in accordance with the order of War Department ... May 3, 1865."

Issued at "DeCamp General Hospital, David Island, New York Harbor, June 21, 1865."

Further into this same document, Assistant Surgeon H. E. Williams states the following:

"I certify that I have carefully examined the said Byron Churchill of 1st Snook's Company, and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of the loss of all toes on left foot and second and fifth toes of right foot, the result, as he states, of exposure and suffering at Andersonville, Charleston and Florence. Degree of disability- one half. Feb. to re-enlist in [Vetrens?] Corp."

"Discharged, this eighth day of July 1865, at DeCamp General Hospital, David's Island, NYH [New York Harbor]."

Affidavit of Byron Churchill, dated 15 April 1867
"I formerly belonged to Co. A in the 15th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was in prison at Andersonville, Charleston, and Florence S.C. [South Carolina] when I froze my feet and have lost part of them in consequence."

Memorandum from the Adjutant General's Office, Washington D.C., dated 12 October 1867
That Byron Churchill appeared "... On the Muster Roll of Co. A. of that Regiment dated August 13th 1865, he is reported "Was admitted to General Hospital, Wilmington, NC, March 4th, 1865 as a returned prisoner of war, discharged July 8, 1865 at New York Harbor- by reason of loss of all toes of left foot- and second and fifth toes of right foot." the result of exposure and suffering at Andersonville, Charleston and Florence, S.C."

Affidavit of Byron Churchill to Bureau of Pensions, dated 4 June 1898

"Q. Are you married? If yes, state your wife's full name and maiden name.
Answer. Yes, Rhoda Connett, maiden name"

"Q. When were you married, where and by whom?
Answer. January 12, 1867 [at] Union City, by Edwin Perry, J.P."

"Q. What record of marriage exists?
Answer. Certificate."

Document from the Record and Pension Office returned to the Commissioner of Pensions, dated 13 August 1900

Taken from date of enlistment to date of discharge, Byron Churchill held the rank of Private and during that period the rolls show him present except as follows-:

"August 31, 1864, absent without leave since 27 August 1864; October 31, 1864 Deserted, Absent without leave since 27 August 1864. Same to December 31, 1864."

"Prisoner of War Records show him captured in front of Atlanta, August 27, 1864. Paroled at Wilmington, N.C., March 1, 1865. Was admitted to General Hospital, Wilmington, N.C. March 4, 1865 as a returned prisoner of war. Captured in front of Atlanta, August 27, 1864."

"The medical record show him treated as follows... May 12 to 16, 1862, diarrhea and intestinal fever; May 18 to 21, 1862 (no diagnosis); March 4 to April 5, 1865, dry gangrene of feet, remarks, returned prisoner; April 5 to 11, 1865, (no diagnosis); April 11 to July 9, 1865, frost bite loss of all toes, discharged from service July 9, 1865, on Surgeon's Certificate of disability. Nothing additional found."

Declaration of Pension, dated 29 June 1912
"That he also served ... to July 8, 1865 as a veteran, being discharged at Hospital on Davis Island July 8, 1865."

Letter to Byron Churchill, dated 24 April 1913
from Department of the Interior

Request is made that "If there is a public, church or family record of your birth, you should forward a verified copy of such record."

Response to above request, dated 28 April 1913

As proof of birth, Byron Churchill presents a "framed family record" containing the following information:

"Hiram Churchill born September 7, 1820
Drusilla Miller born September 22, 1820
Married November 1, 1840
-Children Born-
Mercy Churchill born August 22, 1841
Wellington Churchill born January 5, 1843
Sarah Lucinda Churchill born July 3, 1844
Byron Churchill born March 6, 1846
James Edwin Churchill born July12, 1848
Hiram Wallace Churchill born December 3, 1850"

"Dated at Burr Oak, St. Joseph County, State of Michigan, this 28th day of April AD 1913"

Department of Interior Questionnaire, dated 2 May 1915
"No 2. State your wife's full name and maiden name.
A. Mrs. Rhoda Churchill, Rhoda Connett."

"No 3. When, where, and by whom were you married?
A. January 12, 1867. Union City, Michigan.
Edwin Perry- Justice of the Peace."

"No 7. If your present wife was married before ... include all former husbands.
A. Thomas Miles. March 12, 1863. Killed at the Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864. Private in Company K, 7th Regiment of Michigan Volunteers."

"No 9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children.
A. No Children."

Declaration of Pension, dated 6 February 1924
That Byron Churchill "was enrolled at Burr Oak, Michigan on the 23rd day of February 1862 in Company A, 15th Regiment, Michigan Infantry."

"... and was honorably discharged at Scottsboro, Alabama on the 23rd day of February 1864. That he also served as private in Company A, 15th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, re-enlisting at Scottsboro, Alabama on the 23rd day of February 1864, and being honorably discharged on July 8, 1865."

"That he requires the regular personal aid and attendance of another person on account of the following disabilities: All toes on left foot and last three on right foot were rotted off by reason of confinement in Andersonville prison during the war, this together with rheumatism have crippled [his] feet as to leave deponent helpless. Failing eyesight making it impossible for him to get around with safety."
"Since leaving the service he has resided at Burr Oak, Michigan and his occupation has been [that of] farmer."

Application for an Artificial Limb or Apparatus or for Commutation for the Same, dated 28 July 1927
"... that I (Byron Churchill] lost use of left limb by reason of confinement received at Andersonville Prison during the later part of '64 and early months of '65."

"I now apply for compensation for the loss of the use of the limb."

Letter dated 8 July 1927 from Winfield Scott, Commissioner of Pensions;
"I certify that Byron Churchill ... is now a pensioner on the rolls of this office, and draws $72.00 per month."

"Last paid to July 4, 1927."

Special thanks to Patrick S. McCleary from Petoskey, Michigan who submitted this important data. Patrick's discovery of this information was during his search for his ancestor's records. Patrick's ancestor, Francis "Frank" Wells, spent time in Andersonville Prison with Private Byron Churchill and Private Henry Cooper

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