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Pensions and Relief for Confederate Veterans and Widows
of Georgia

2002. Softcover.
8½ x 11. 316 pages.
$35.00 postpaid.

The purpose of this book is to examine the Acts, Resolutions, Amendments and Appropriations of the General Assembly of Georgia which relate to pensions and relief for Confederate veterans and their widows. The acts date from 1861 through 1983. These laws were changed many times over the years as is reflected here. Some appropriations helped the soldier during the war by providing his family with corn, salt, and yarn while he was gone. Some of the first laws passed after the surrender provided for artificial limbs for those who were maimed in combat. Later laws were expanded to provide indigent veterans and widows with financial aid.

These statutes included other forms of relief beside that of direct financial aid. Indigent and disabled veterans were exempted from the State Poll tax and were excused from paying other certain taxes when engaged in specific occupations. This book is valuable to genealogists in that it explains why they may not be able to find their ancestors on tax lists. Other laws are included which embrace the memories of those who served the Confederacy and gave their lives to the cause.

The State provided money for organizations to search out-of-state battlefields and bring Georgia soldiers home for a proper burial. Laws also cover such subjects as preservation of Confederate Battle flags, the Confederate Soldiers’ Home, and several Confederate Cemeteries around the state.

Many widows petitioned the Legislature for pensions and these are individually named.

The index includes the laws by subject, battlefields, occupations exempt from taxes, and over 900 individuals who were specifically mentioned in Appropriations Acts to receive pensions.

“This book is a very important reference book for any library or individual who wants to have a more complete understanding of this overlooked subject.”
Kenneth Thomas

“This book will prove valuable beyond genealogy, to legal historians and reconstruction authorities.”
Mike Brubaker

 
Some Specific Laws
Removal and burial of soldiers from battlefields in Tennessee and Georgia
Memorials to Georgia soldiers at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Antietam
Petitioned the United States government to pay Confederate pensions
Maimed veterans allowed to receive cash in lieu of artificial limbs
Required display of Confederate battle flags at the state capital
Appropriations for the Confederate Soldiers’ Home in Atlanta
Free transportation for veterans to receive artificial limbs
Which goods could and could not be peddled by veterans
Stone Mountain Memorial established and a coin minted
Certain professions of veterans exempt them from taxes
Appropriations for Confederate Cemeteries in the state
Veterans allowed to own race tracks and flying horses
Cigar and cigarette taxes used to supplement pensions
Individual acts of relief for 480 widows and veterans
Corn, salt and yarn dispersed to soldiers’ families
Jefferson Davis Park established in Irwin County
The engines “Texas” and “General” protected
Requested the return of the illegal cotton tax
Veterans relieved from paying poll taxes
Pensions immune from garnishment