0 My file
Case file

What killed Seth Hobbs?

Seth Hobbs, a private in Company G, 18th Indiana Volunteers, died in St. Louis in the first autumn of the Civil War. His widowed mother, Mary, asked for a pension, and her file holds four papers about his death. His mother never says what disease it was, and one government office says it has no proof he died at all. Read all four and decide what you can say.

Exhibit AMary Hobbs's first declaration, Washington County, Indiana, May 28, 1863. The last figure of the year is written over another; the attestation lower on the page reads 1863.
Transcript
On this 28th day of May A. D. 186[3 written over 2], before me, (a) Clerk of the (b) Wash-
ington Circuit Court a Court of Record in and for the County and State above named, per-
sonally appeared Mrs. (c) Mary Hobbs aged 46 years, a resident of (d) Canton Wash-
ington County in the State of Indiana who being first duly affirmed [printed word struck out] according to law, doth, on
her affirmation [printed word struck out], make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, approved
July 14, 1862. That she is the widow of (e) Matthew C Hobbs and the
mother of (f) Seth Hobbs who was a (g) private
in Company (h) "G" commanded by Captain John Jones in the (i) 18
Regiment of (j) Indiana Volunteers, in the war of 1861, and who (k)
died at Saint Louis on or about the 28th day of November
1861, while in the service of the United States by reason of (l) Sickness contracted in said
Service
Pension file of Mary Hobbs, mother of Seth Hobbs, WC100903, page 4 (mother's declaration), Public domain
Exhibit BMary's second application, Washington Circuit Court, November 11, 1865.
Transcript
County of Washington
On this 11 day of November, A. D. 1865, personally appeared before the undersigned,
(1) Clerk of the (2) Washington Circuit Court, a Court of Record within and for the County and State
aforesaid, Mrs. Mary Hobbs aged 49 years, a resident of the (3) Town
of Canton in the State of Indiana, who, being first duly sworn according
to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the
act of Congress approved July 14, 1862: That she is the widow of (4) Mathew C. Hobbs de-
ceased, and mother of (5) Seth Hobbs, deceased, who was a private
in company "G" commanded by Capt. John W. Jones in the 18th regiment of
(6) Indiana Volunteers commanded by Col. Thomas Patterson
in the war of 1861, and who died (7) while in the service aforesaid, at Genl Hospital
St Louis, in the State of Missouri, on or about the 28th day of November A.
D. 1861, from (8) disease incurred in the service aforesaid and whilst in the line of his
duty (9). particular disease not known by applicant
She further declares that her said son, upon whom she was wholly or in part dependent for support, having left no
Pension file of Mary Hobbs, mother of Seth Hobbs, WC100903, page 16 (mother's application, 1865), Public domain
Exhibit CReply of the Adjutant General's Office, January 13, 1866, from the Army's muster rolls.
Transcript
Jany 13, 1866.
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office
of application for Pension No. 23459, and to return it
herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this
Office.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office, that
Seth Hobbs was enrolled on the 16
day of Aug, 1861, at Indianapolis in Co. G,
18 Regiment of Ind Volunteers, to
serve 3 years, or during the war, and mustered into
service as a Private on the 16 day of Aug
1861, at Indianapolis, in Co. G, 18
Regiment of Ind Volunteers, to serve 3
years, or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Co. G
of that Regiment, for the months of Sept & Oct
1861, he is reported "Absent sick." Roll for Nov
& Dec 1861 not on file. His name is
not taken up on any subsequent rolls
of said Co on file. No evidence of death on file.
I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Pension file of Mary Hobbs, mother of Seth Hobbs, WC100903, page 6 (Adjutant General's report), Public domain
Exhibit DReply of the Surgeon General's Office, February 9, 1866, from the Army's medical records.
Transcript
Surgeon General's Office,
Record and Pension Bureau,
Washington, D. C., Feby 9th 1866.
Sir:
I have the honor to return herewith application[s struck out] for Pension, No. 23,459
with such information as is furnished by the records of this Office, Private
Seth Hobbs, Co. G, 18th
Regiment Inda. Vols., is reported to this Office by
Surgeon J. H. Bailey as having died Nov 28, 1861, at
Genl Hosp New House of Refuge St Louis
Mo. of Typhoid Pneumonia
Pension file of Mary Hobbs, mother of Seth Hobbs, WC100903, page 9 (Surgeon General's report), Public domain
Which conclusion do these four records best support?