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REUBEN CARLTON, CIVIL WAR & PENSION RECORDS |
By Spessard Stone
Reuben Carlton, eldest son of Daniel Wilson Carlton and Sallie Ann (Murphy) Carlton, was born December 16, 1842, Thomas County, Georgia. He moved with his parents in the 1840s to Alachua or Marion County, Florida and then to the Alafia Settlement in Hillsborough County, Florida, being enumerated with his family in the 1850 census. Before 1855 they had relocated to Fort Meade and later to Troublesome Creek in Manatee County (now Hardee County), Florida.
During the Civil War, Reuben enlisted April 10, 1862 at Camp Lee by Lt. June for 3 yrs. or the war as a private in Capt. Blount's Company (C), 7 Regiment Florida Infantry, C.S.A. The company subsequently became Company E, 7th Regiment Florida Infantry. Pvt. Carlton appears on company muster rolls from April 1862 to February 1864. Also, Pvt. Reub. Carlton, of Co. E, 7 Regt. Fla., appears on a "Report of Stoppages to be entered on Company Muster rolls of the Florida Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. J. J. Finley, for losses and damages of Ordnance Stores, during the month of Jan & Feb 1864."
Due to the humiliating mistreatment by Confederate agents of his father Daniel , Reuben deserted Co. E. At Fort Myers, Florida on May 28, 1864, Reuben was enrolled as a private by Capt. Henry A. Crane in Company B, Second Florida Cavalry, United States Army. Company B records described Reuben as: "Born in Thomas County, Georgia; age 23; refugee from Confederacy; grey eyes; light hair; dark complexion; 5 feet 9 inches; promoted to 5th Sgt. on June 29, 1864." He was reported "on roll to June 30/64. Sergt. present -Same to Aug. 31, 1865 Sept. & Oct. 65, not on file." Sergeant Carlton was mustered out with his company November 29, 1865 at Tallahassee, Florida.
After the Civil War, Reuben and family first settled on the shores of the Caloosahatchee River, near now LaBelle, and from there up the river near Okeechobee. They then removed to Ten Mile Creek for two years and later settled at Fort Pierce. The Carltons were prominent cattlemen and also farmed.
Reuben Carlton died September 12, 1917, Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, with burial in the Carlton Cemetery, about ten miles west of Fort Pierce, Florida. "Standard Certificate of Death" listed his occupation as stock raiser, with the cause of death being chronic heart disease, pneumonia being a secondary contributory. W. E. VanLandingham, M.D., had attended the deceased from September 2, 1917 to September 12, 1917.
On October 8, 1888, Reuben Carlton began application for an invalid pension from his service in Company B, which, certificate no. 672141, was granted. Selections from his Confederate service and Union pension application follow:
February 19, 2002 & Col. Ballou theme from Ken Burns' "Civil War," March 11, 2002.