Veterans Problems of the Past
Francis (Frank) Metty was born 31 August 1834 at St Antoine, River Raisin, Monroe County, Michigan. He was the son of Richard and grandson of our common ancestor, Felix. He died on 2 April 1915 at River Rouge, Wayne County, Michigan. On 2 February 1865 he enlisted as a Pvt Co D Reorganized 11th Michigan Infantry. Frank was described at time of enlistment as being 5'5", light complexion, gray/black hair and blue eyes. He was discharged on 16 September 1865 at Nashville, TN.
Among the documents in his pension file is an affidavit of a comrade in arms, which gives insight into the life of a soldier during the Civil War. It reads as follows: “That while we served together in said Company we were frequently on duty together and some of the time we were engaged in train guard service accompanying United States Military Railway trains running between Chattanooga and Knoxville, in the State of Tennessee.:
“That on or about the 20th day of April 1865, in Camp at Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Claimant Francis Metty, while serving with me in said regiment and in the line of duty was attacked with Inflammatory Rheumatism, evidently caused by exposure to cold, damp and rainy weather which prevailed for over a week, and which he was exposed while in the line of duty as stated.”
“He was also afterwards exposed to a great rain in or Camp at Chattanooga, which fell in the night and came down in torrents and sheets, as if the windows of Heaven had been opened. This DELUGE of RAIN was then called a CLOUD BURST, and it soaked everybody and everything in our Camp.”
“Soon after this great rain the Claimant was laid up in his tent with Inflammatory rheumatism, and was unable to get out and walk. I visited him in his tent frequently, and looked at his feet, ankles and legs, and advised him to put on some liniment that was said to be good for Rheumatism. He then complained of great soreness and stiffness of his feet, ankles and legs, which then looked RED and SWOLLEN, and were HOT when touched by my hand, and evidently caused him great pain and suffering.
Then “on or about the 30th day of April 1865, I was disabled by sickness (having Pneumonia and Rheumatism) and was sent to General Hospital at Chattanooga, and was discharged from the service there from, on July 24, 1865, and did not return to said regiment.
“That on or about the 25th day of September 1865, at Jackson, Michigan I saw the Claimant in the Camp of said regiment which was there for final payment, and the Claimant was then in very poor health, and was greatly affected with Rheumatism of his feet, ankles and legs, and had to be assisted by others to the Pay-Masters Table, where he received his final pay in my presence. He was then very lame and unable to walk.”
Among the documents in his pension file is an affidavit of a comrade in arms, which gives insight into the life of a soldier during the Civil War. It reads as follows: “That while we served together in said Company we were frequently on duty together and some of the time we were engaged in train guard service accompanying United States Military Railway trains running between Chattanooga and Knoxville, in the State of Tennessee.:
“That on or about the 20th day of April 1865, in Camp at Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Claimant Francis Metty, while serving with me in said regiment and in the line of duty was attacked with Inflammatory Rheumatism, evidently caused by exposure to cold, damp and rainy weather which prevailed for over a week, and which he was exposed while in the line of duty as stated.”
“He was also afterwards exposed to a great rain in or Camp at Chattanooga, which fell in the night and came down in torrents and sheets, as if the windows of Heaven had been opened. This DELUGE of RAIN was then called a CLOUD BURST, and it soaked everybody and everything in our Camp.”
“Soon after this great rain the Claimant was laid up in his tent with Inflammatory rheumatism, and was unable to get out and walk. I visited him in his tent frequently, and looked at his feet, ankles and legs, and advised him to put on some liniment that was said to be good for Rheumatism. He then complained of great soreness and stiffness of his feet, ankles and legs, which then looked RED and SWOLLEN, and were HOT when touched by my hand, and evidently caused him great pain and suffering.
Then “on or about the 30th day of April 1865, I was disabled by sickness (having Pneumonia and Rheumatism) and was sent to General Hospital at Chattanooga, and was discharged from the service there from, on July 24, 1865, and did not return to said regiment.
“That on or about the 25th day of September 1865, at Jackson, Michigan I saw the Claimant in the Camp of said regiment which was there for final payment, and the Claimant was then in very poor health, and was greatly affected with Rheumatism of his feet, ankles and legs, and had to be assisted by others to the Pay-Masters Table, where he received his final pay in my presence. He was then very lame and unable to walk.”
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