State of Arkansas, County of Washington - "On this 10 day of Sept., A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty three (1883) personally appeared before me... a court of record within and for the County and State aforesaid James M. Phillips, aged 49 years, a resident of West Fork, County of Washington, State of Arkansas, who, being duly sworm according to law, declares that he is the identical James M. Phillips, on or about the 30 day of May 1864 as private in Company "A" of the 16 Regiment of Inf. Vols. [Infantry Volunteers] commanded by Capt. James A. Biggert and was honorably discharged at Madison, Wis. on or about the 12 day of July, 1865, by reason of close of war; that his personal description is as follows: age 49 years; height 5 feet 6 inches; complexion dark; hair black; eyes dark.

That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of duty at Cairo, in the State of Illinois, on or about the ___ day of April or May, 1864, he contracted chronic diarrhea and resulting piles; near Atlanta, Ga, July 1864, he contracted neuralgia of head, neck and breast, caused by exposure. That he was treated in hospitals as follows: by Regimental surgeon; That he has not been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above. That since the 12 day of July, A.D. 1865, he has not been employed in the military or naval service of the United States. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the ____ of ____, in the State of ____ [ location left blank] and his occupation has been that of a carpenter and wagon maker. That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a carpenter. That he is now ____ [ left blank ] disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries above described, received in the service of the United States, and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.

He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, George E. Lemon, of Washington, D.C., as his true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute his claim. That he has never received nor applied for a pension. That his Post-office address is West Fork, County of Washington, State of Ark."

Signed by James M. Phillips. Witnesses to Claimant's Signature: W. G. Gilbreath and [illegible -- but looks something like __. Jerdin]

Source: I obtained this military record from the U.S. Federal Government.