It is very rare to see both a parole and an Oath of Allegiance document for the same Confederate soldier. This set has the added bonus of the parole being from Appomattox and for a soldier who had long service in the 49^th Georgia.

The first item in the set is the Appomattox parole. These paroles were pre-printed and then filled out in ink. Unfortunately the left third of this parole document is missing but the rest is present and very readable. The portion present reads;

APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, VA.

APRIL 10, 1865

H. A. LAWSON OF CO. E, 49^TH REGT.

A PAROLED PRISONER OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA HAS PER-

…ME, AND THERE REMAIN UNDISTURBED.

J. B. DUGGIN

MAJ. CMD. 49^TH GA. VOLS

The reverse has official notations and a stamp for a government office in “….MACON, C.S.A.” Document meas. approx. 5.25 inches x 3.00 inches and has several vertical fold lines and light surface stains.

With the parole is a modern label that explains the importance of the item to the individual soldier. “This parole pass was one of thousands printed on an army press at Appomattox on April 10 and 11, 1865. Under the surrender agreement, Confederate officers submitted muster rolls of their units and signed a parole before issuing the passes to their men. Many ex-Confederates carried their passes for years after the war, at first for protection and later as proof that they had been with Robert E. Lee to the end.”

Also present is Lawson’s Oath of Allegiance document. It meas. approx. 7.75 x 5.00 inches and is complete. It reads;

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I, HENRY A. LAWSON, OF THE COUNTY OF WILCOX STATE OF GEORGIA, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, IN THE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, THAT I WILL HENCEFORTH FAITHFULLY SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE UNION OF THE STATES THEREUNDER, AND THAT I WILL, IN LIKE MANNER, ABIDE BY AND FAITHFULLY SUPPORT ALL LAWS AND PROCLAMATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE DURING THE EXISTING REBELLION WITH REFERENCE TO THE EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES-SO HELP ME GOD.

H. A. LAWSON

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME AT HAWKINSVILLE, GA., THIS 21^ST DAY OF JULY, A.D. 1865.

STEPHEN A. JONES

1^ST LIEUT. 8^TH IND INFTY + ASST PROVOST MARSHAL

The document is pre-printed and filled out in ink. It is clearly readable and in good condition. There is one vertical and one horizontal fold line and moderate light surface stains. Reverse is blank.

Henry A. Lawson enlisted as a Private in the “STATE RIGHTS GUARD” which was Co. E, 49^th Georgia Infantry on March 4, 1862. At the time he was 24 years old. At some point during his service he was promoted to Corporal though his records from the National Archives do not show a promotion.

The 49^th Georgia was assigned to the Division of A. P. Hill and after May of 1863 in Pender/Wilcox’s Division. The regiment saw action with the Army of Northern Virginia from Seven Pines to Appomattox. Private Lawson was present with his Company throughout its service except for a small block of time in July and August of 1862 when he was in the hospital sick. During the closing days of the war Lawson was wounded in action to an undetermined degree in the fight for Fort Steadman at Petersburg.

Lawson died December 13, 1915 and is buried in Cedar Creek Baptist Cemetery, Abbeville, Wilcox County, Georgia.

With the documents are numerous pages of research on the 49^th Georgia as well as on Lawson himself. Lawson’s military records from the National Archives are present as are rubbings of his, his wife’s and his mother’s grave stones. There are also some pictures of the stones and a small amount of information of Major James B. Duggan who signed the Appomattox parole.

This is a well-researched small group of rare documents.  [ad]

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