Exemption of Personalty Under the Homestead Act.

E. M. Crow; F. H. Yarborough.

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Page 4.

Mr. Samuel Collins.

In the year 1862, my regiment, the first Georgia Cavalry, was camped at “Camp Morris,” two miles above Cartersville.  During our stay there, Dr. Felton when he would meet our boys would tell them “go ahead my brave boys.”  Finally our command went forward, and in the winter of 1863, after many hardships, in December, I got a furlough on account of being sick.  I left my command at Nashville, Tenn., and started home.  On my journey home, one evening the sun about one hour and a half high, I arrived at Dr. Felton’s house.  It was a very cold December evening, and I asked the doctor if I could stay all night with him.  He replied “No.”  I told him I was sick, and had been for some time and if he wouldn’t let me stay in his dwelling be kind enough to let me stay in some old out house that had a fire place in it to build a fire and keep warm, and I would regard it as a great favor.  I told him I was one of the soldiers from the first Georgia cavalry that had camped there in 1862, whom he urged to the front.  He said, “You can stay somewhere else—I will not let you stay here, for I have been bothered enough.”  I live six miles southeast of Acworth, and the above is true.  Samuel Collins.

Letters of enquiry are continually being received as to the standing of Mr. Samuel Collins.  The following with creditable signatures attached, will satisfy everybody that there is such a man as Samuel Collins and that he worthy of being believed:

Acworth, Ga., Sept. 3, 1878
We do certify that we have known Samuel Collins for twenty years or more.  That we believe him to be an honest, upright and truthful citizen, and we do not believe that he would make a statement that was not strictly true in every particular.  He is poor it is true, but belongs to a good and respectable family.  His grandfather was an officer in the Revolutionary war.  Some of us at least have heard the statement that Dr. Felton turned him away from his house sick, cold and hungry, several years ago, and know that the statement had its existence before the campaign* was started.

J. C. Cooper
M. C. Awrery
A. Smith, M. D.
S. Lemon
E. L. Litchfield
R. M. Mitchell
Geo L. Avery
S. R. Stroud
L. H. Tanner
A. M. Northcutt

[* This letter relates to a political campaign for Congress between Dr. Felton and Judge George N. Lester.]