Summary: Buchanan's claim for one horse was disallowed because the Commissioners believed that Buchanan, as a minor during the war, could not have owned the horse outright.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| One Bay Horse | $175.00 | 0 | $175.00 |
Claims Summary:
If he gives his age correctly, the claimant was born in 1844 & consequently was but 20 years of age when the horse was taken in 1864. In the year 1863 he left as he says to avoid the rebel conscription & went to Ohio & remained until after the war. The horse was taken by Gen. Hunters command while the Claimant was in Ohio. He says nothing about ownership.
David Buchanan is called as a witness - says he is 68 years of age resides in Augusta Co. & the property was taken from his farm in June 1864. He says nothing about the claimant's owning the horse nor whether he is any way related to the claimant. How this claimant then a boy became the owner of the horse should have been shown by the most conclusive proof. We suspect David Buchanan is the father of the claimant & that he was the real owner of the horse. We are not willing to report favorably upon the claim as the proofs now stand. It is rejected.
Testimony: John R. Buchanan
Before the Commissioners of Claims, under the Act of March 3d 1871. Jno. R. Buchanan vs. The United States
On this fourteenth day of Sept. 1871 at Staunton in the County of Augusta and State of Va personally came Jno. R. Buchanan claimant, and David Buchanan and David Sansibaugh his witnesses, in a cause now pending before the commissioners of claims in the name Jno. R. Buchanan vs. the United States, before me a U. States Commissioner and also Special Commissioner appointed by the Commissioner of Claims. Present Jno. R. Buchanan claimant and Attorney for said claimant. The said claimant, and each of said witnesses, were first, before any questions were put to them, properly & duly sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, & nothing but the truth, relative to the matters in which they were to testify; and the testimony of the claimant and said witnesses were taken down by me, or in my presence, and I read over to said claimant and to each of said witnesses their respective depositions; and the said depositions were duly signed in my presence.
Wm G Riley
U.S. Commissioner and Special Com. for State of Va
Deposition of Jno. R. Buchanan
Ques 1 Witness says: I am 28 years old. I reside in Augusta. I am a farmer. I resided six months before the war in Augusta, hav lived in Augusta all my life, except when I was in Ohio. I went there in Dec. 1863, & remained until after the War. Was farming while there.
3 Witness says, Never passed the Military or Naval lines of the U.S. & enter the rebel lines
4 Witness says: I never took an oath of allegiance to the Confed. States
5 Witness says: I took an amnesty oath in 1865, in Staunton Va.
6 Witness says: I never was indirectly nor directly in any manner connected with the Civil Service of the Confed States.
7 Witness says, I never held any office or place of honor, profit, or trust under the Confed. States.
8 Witness says: Held no office or clerkship of any kind under the Confed. Govt.
9 Witness says: I was in no way in the military or Naval service of the Confed States.
10 Witness says: I never was an officer soldier sailor or marine in either the army or Navy of the Confed. had nothing whatever to do with them.
11 Witness Says: I never was in any service or employment of the Confederacy.
12 Witness says: I never was engaged in the manufacture of any goods of any kind for the Confed. Govt.
13 Witness says: I never was engaged in the purchase of any stores for the Confed. Govt.
14 Witness Says, I never was engaged in blocade running.
15 Witness Says: I left the Confederacy in Dec. 1863 & went to Ohio. I left to keep out of the rebel army, & stayed away until after the war. Was engaged in farming while there. I came back to Augusta Co.
16 Witness says, I never was engaged in a vessel navigating to or from any port of the Confederacy.
17 Witness says, I never was arrested by either the Confederate or U. States Govt.
18 Witness says: I had one cow taken by the Confederates recd. no pay for it. Was taken by Frank Hite for the use of the Confederate Govt. he was impressment officer
19 Witness Says: I was threatened, to be shot, by Confederates, & to burn my property.
20 Witness says, I never was molested or injured in person, except my health was injured by laying out in the woods, to avoid Confederate service
21 Witness says: I never contributed any thing to aid the Union Cause
22 Witness says: I never did anything for the US Army
23 Witness says: Had near relatives in both armies. Contributed nothing to supply them with either equipment or money.
24 Witness says, I have never done anything to support the cause of the Confederate Govt. Have never owned any bonds.
25 Witness says: I have never given aid or comfort to the Confederacy in any way
26 Witness says: I never engaged in making raids into the US, or in obstructing its commerce.
27 Witness Says: I never was engaged in any manner, in holding in custody any persons, taken as prisoners of war by the Confed. Govt.
28 Witness Says: I never was a member of any society for the imprisonment or execution of any person on account of Union sentiments
29 Witness says: I never was a paroled prisoner of the United States
30 Witness Says, I never held any office in either the Army or Navy of the U.S. Was not educated either at West Point or the Naval Academy.
31 Witness says, I never received any pass of any kind from any officer of the Confederate Government.
32 Witness Says: I am not & never have been in any degree under any disabilities imposed by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the U.S. Have not held any office under the U.S. Govt. since the war.
33 Witness Says: At the beginning of the War I sympathized with the Union Cause, & continued to do so during the war. I exerted my influence for the Union. Did not vote either for or against the ordinance of secession, had no vote. After its adoption I adhered to the Union Cause, & did not go with my state.
34 Witness Says: I do solemnly declare, that from the beginning to the end of the war my sympathies were with the Union Cause, & I was at all times ready & willing to aid it so far as the circumstances permitted, & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sept. 14th 1871 Jno. R. Buchanan his mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of Sept. 1871
W G Riley
U. States Commissioner and Special Com. for the State of Va.
Testimony: David Buchanan
Deposition of David Buchanan to prove taking & furnishing property.
Ques 1 Witness says: I am 68 years old. I reside in Augusta Co. I am a farmer. Have lived in Augusta during my life I was present when the property mentioned in this petition was taken.
Ques 2 Witness says: I saw the horse mentioned taken
Ques 3 Witness says, Did not see anything else taken
4 Witness Says, The property was taken by Union Soldiers, from my farm, June 1864, Hunters Comd.
5 Witness says: Myself & wife
6 Witness says, No U. States officers were present
7 Witness says: The horse was taken, & ridden away by Union Soldiers.
9 Witness says: The property was taken to the Army. Did not see it again.
10 Witness says, I suppose it was taken for the use of the army
11 Witness says: No complaint was made.
12 Witness says: No receipt was given none asked for.
13 Witness says, The property was taken in the day time.
14 Witness says, No part of the Army was encamped near. No battle or skirmish near. Did not know any of the Officers.
15 Witness says: The horse was in tolerable condition, a large bay worth One Hundred & fifty Dollars in Cash.
19 Witness says, Taken for the use of the Army. Not for private use
22 Witness Says, I think it was taken through necessity, & therefore the Govt. should pay for it.
23 Witness Says: I believe it was taken by proper authority & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sept. 14th 1871 David Buchanan his mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 14 day of Sept. 1871
W G Riley
U. States Commissioner and Special Com. for the State of Va.
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of John R. Buchanan, September 14, 1871, Claim No. 6893, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., RG 123, Congressional Jurisdiction #6857.
