Miller Affidavit

The following affidavit by James H. Miller is part of the pension file for Washington Marion Crawford.

State of Il
County of Macon

I James (H) Miller a resident of Decatur
County of Macon State of Illinois late
Private of Company H of the 2nd Regiment
of N.y. Cavalry vols; on oath depose
and say that I was well acquainted with
Washington M Crawford lad a sergeant of Comp
any H of the 2nd Regiment of New York Cavalry Vols.
in the war of 1861 and while in the military service
of the United States in the line of his duty and
without fault or improper conduct of his own
while confined in Andersonville prison in the
State of Georgia from March 1864 to the 9th
day of September same year said Soldier
contracted disease induced by starvation and exposure
which was usually  termed scurvy and rheumatism
but having no technical knowledge of such diseases can
only say that he was affected very much as a great
many others were by extreme loss of flesh and delib
itated condition and with swelling of the extremities
I was with him in other prisons besides Anderson
ville and it was the common talk among comrades of
my company that we never expected to see him get out
alive and my impression was when I saw him last
that he would not then live a month.
I pass this judgment on the symptoms he seemed
to have

2nd page

in comparison with men who died from the effects
of starvation
I am fully convinced in my own mind that his
entire dibility was caused
by lack of proper food and other cruelties perpetrated on
prisoners at Andersonville as he was always healthy
and ready for duty when with the company.
Such a length of time having now lapsed I do not
know that I could enumerate all the prisons
that he was in with me but if any stronger statement
is necessary on my part I shall cheerfully give it.
I know the facts above stated from my own
personal knowledge as I was with him before is
capture, during his incarceration and at the time of
his release, but cannot now state where I parted
with him after release.

I am not in any way interested in this claim for
pension my post office address is Decatur, Macon
Co. Ill. Box 167
James H Miller
A. G. Present

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st
day of November AD 1883 I certify that I read the
foregoing affidavit to the affiant before execution
and that the affiant is to me well known and
is respectable and worthy of full credit as a witness
and that I am not interested in this claim for
pension.
G. P. Hardy Clerk
(official signature)