Thanks Charlie, I believe your right as being a Sgt. and under the rank of a Lieut., then he wouldn't be classified an officer. And it wouldn't be of any value or help to mention on the application that he had been a Sgt. during the war. Also the Pension Board may have considered any soldier under the rank of a Lieutenant as a Private in the eyes of obtaining a pension. I'm sure the pride angle had something to do with it, as he turned down a hospital stewardship to enlist as a private with his two brothers in Co B, Oates' 15th Alabama Infantry.