1. Albert G. Anderson [Albert Gallatin Anderson]
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Anderson
Petitioner Given Name: Albert G
2. Bedford Brown
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Brown
Petitioner Given Name: Bedford
3. Thomas C. Dodson
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Dodson
Petitioner Given Name: Thos C
4. G. J. Farish
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Farish
Petitioner Given Name: G J
5. Lazarus Fels
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Fels
Petitioner Given Name: Lazarus
6. John T. Garland
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Garland
Petitioner Given Name: John T
7. John T. Hambrick
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Hambrick
Petitioner Given Name: John A
8. Samuel S. Harrison
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Harrison
Petitioner Given Name: Samuel S
9. Samuel Hinton
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Hinton
Petitioner Given Name: Samuel
10. W. H. Holderness
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Holderness
Petitioner Given Name: W H
11. J. W. James
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: James
Petitioner Given Name: J W
12. T. D. Johnston
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Johnston
Petitioner Given Name: T D
13. Yancey Jones
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Jones
Petitioner Given Name: Yancey
14. James K. Lea
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Lea
Petitioner Given Name: James K
15. Thomas L. Lea
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Lea
Petitioner Given Name: Thomas L
16. W. S. Long
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Long
Petitioner Given Name: W S
17. James Malone
Publication Number: M1003
Publication Title: Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67
Publisher: NARA
Date Range: 1865-67
State: North Carolina
Petitioner Surname: Malone
Petitioner Given Name: James
_______________
"Amnesty Papers," 1865-1867
Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-1867, M1003
CREATED: 02 Aug 2007
by Craig R. Scott, CG
At the end of the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson’s proclamation of May 29, 1865 provided for a general amnesty with some exceptions. Former Confederates not covered by the general amnesty were required to request a pardon and amnesty. These requests were evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This series of images contains the individual letters of application and other records in response to the proclamations, and a few applications submitted to President Lincoln while he was president.
The applications consist of statements of the petitioner and an oath of allegiance. In many files there are recommendations from prominent citizens for clemency, or letters from relatives or friends asking for compassion.
Approximately half of the applications are from individuals excepted under the proclamation of May 29, 1865 because of their ownership of property valued at more than $20,000. Under Johnson’s proclamation there were 14 classes of persons were not covered under the General Amnesty (the first seven were from previous amnesty proclamations during the Lincoln administration):
1. diplomatic agents or officials of the Confederacy,
2. persons who left judicial posts under the United States to aid the rebellion,
3. Confederate military officers above the rank of Army colonel or Navy lieutenant,
4. members of the U.S. Congress who left to aid in the rebellion,
5. persons who resigned commissions in the U.S. Army or Navy and afterwards aided in the rebellion,
6. persons who treated unlawfully black prisoners of war or their white officers,
7. persons in military or civilian confinement or custody,
8. individuals who had absented themselves from the United States in order to aid the rebellion,
9. graduates of West Point or Annapolis who served as Confederate officers,
10. ex-Confederate governors,
11. persons who left homes in territory under U.S. jurisdiction for purposes of aiding the rebellion,
12. persons who engaged in destruction of commerce on the high seas or in raids from Canada,
13. voluntary participants in the rebellion who had property valued at more than $20,000, and
14. persons who had broken the oath taken under the provisions of December 8, 1863.
President Johnson would issue three later amnesty proclamations. One, which reduced the number of excepted classes to three, reducing the number of cases to about 300. His second proclamation covered all but a few Confederates, including Jefferson Davis and Robert E Lee. On Christmas Day 1868, Johnson’s third proclamation gave amnesty to all unconditionally, and without reservation to all who had participated in the rebellion.
These records are also called “Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons” or “Pardon Petitions and Related Papers Submitted in Response to President Andrew Johnson's Amnesty Proclamations of May 29, 1865, (“Amnesty Papers”)”.
Documents in an application file include the jacket (in this case the file is that of Governor John Letcher of Virginia), the application, endorsements, and the Oath of Allegiance.
Files also may contain notations from the president and his assistants regarding the individual applicant.
Records address the issues of the applicant’s background, activities during the war, and their attitude about the defeat.
These records are a rich source of information from the perspective of the applicant and give insight into the individual’s involvement in the war and how he felt about the rebellion. Remember, however, that the purpose of the application was to obtain a pardon and amnesty and not to demonstrate their love of the Confederacy.
Locate Amnesty Papers for an individual through the state hierarchy in the browse menu. Select the first letter of the last name, then the first two letters of the surname, locate the surname, followed by his given name in the next section of browse titles.
If the individual was residing in a state not listed at the time of application, search the “Other States” section at the end of the state list. Applicants who did not mention a state in their application are also included in “Other States.”
Records relating to the Confederate careers of many southerners whose applications are included in this series are found in Record Group 109, War Department Collection of Confederate Records. Many of these records are contained in National Archives Microfilm Publication M331, Compiled Service Records of Confederate Generals and Staff Officers, and Nonregimental Enlisted Men. Information about southern citizens can be found in National Archives Microfilm Publications M346, Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms (Citizen’s File); M345, Union Provost Marshal’s File of Papers Relating to Individual Civilians; and M426, Union Provost Marshal’s File Papers Relating to Two or More Civilians.
Records relating to earlier proclamations by President Lincoln are found in Record Group 59, General Records of the Department of State.
Records concerning wartime offences are found in Record Group 204, Records of the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Case files relating to many prominent Confederate officials are also found in this record group.
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