Summary: Ellinger's claim for over $200 worth of property was disallowed because he voted in favor of secession and had two sons in the Confederate Army. He filed an unsuccessful appeal with the Congressional Court of Claims in 1890.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| Two Barrels Flour @ $10 | $20.00 | 0 | $20.00 |
| Eight Hundred lbs Bacon @ 25c | 200.00 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Thirty gallons molasses @ 75c | 22.50 | 0 | 22.50 |
| Twenty Bushels Potatoes @ $1 | 20.00 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Ten Bags @ 50c | 5.00 | 0 | 5.00 |
| One Barrel vinegar | 10.00 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Twenty five pounds Beef @ 12c | 9.00 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Total | $286.50 | 0 | $286.50 |
Claims Summary:
Claimant swears that he voted for the Ordinance of Secession under threats of being driven away from his property, and that he was Compelled to serve in the "Reserves", and had two sons in the Rebel Army and gave them a little money.
These acts are all more or less inconsistent with loyall adherence to the Cause of the Union, and the Government of the United States; and we therefore reject the claim.
Testimony: Peter Ellinger
Deposition of Peter Ellinger Claimant
Ques 1 Witness says, I am 54 years old. I reside in Augusta Co. I am a farmer. I resided six months prior to April 1861 in Augusta Co.
2 Witness says: I resided in Augusta Co from April 19th 1861 to April 19th 1865.
3 Witness says, I never passed the military or naval lines of the United States to enter the rebel lines.
4 Witness says: I never took an oath of allegiance to the Confederate States. I took an amnesty oath in 1865 at Staunton, it was required of all. Have not been pardoned by the Presdt.
6 Witness says: I never was directly nor indirectly connected with the civil service of the Confed. States.
7 Witness says: I never had any office or place of honor, profit or trust under the Confed. Govt.
Witness says, I never held any clerkship or agency of any kind under the Confed States.
9 Witness says: I was out in the reserves by compulsion.
10 Witness says, I never was an officer soldier, sailor or Marine in the Army or Navy of the Confed. States. Never furnished any substitutes. Never was connected with any Dept or bureau, branch or service of the Confed Govt. Did not at any time have charge of any store or supplies for the Confed. Army or Navy.
11 Witness says: I never was at any time in any service or employment of any kind for the Confed. Govt. its Army or Navy. Never furnished any stores of any kind. Never gave any information to any officer or soldiers. Did nothing for the Confed. Govt. except what I was compelled to do.
14 Witness says, I never was engaged in blockade running, or illicit traffic. Never had any interest in any goods of any kind, brought into the Confed States.
15 Witness says, I did not leave the Confed States between the 19th of April 1861 & 14 of April 1865
16 Witness says, I never was interested in any vessel engaged in navigating to or from any port of the Confed. States.
17 Witness says, I never was arrested by the Confed. Govt. never was arrested by the U States Govt.
18 Witness says: I had grain & meat taken by the Confed. Govt. in 1863, I suppose for Govt. use, rec'd no pay for it
19 Witness says: I never was threatened with damage or molested in any way by the Confed. Govt. on account of union sentiments
21 Witness says: I did nothing to aid the United States Govt.
23 Witness says: I had some cousins in the Confed Army, & had two sons in the Army by detail & conscription. I gave them some little money while in the Confed. Army
24 Witness says: I never owned any Confed States. Never did any thing to support the credit of the Confed Govt.
25 Witness says, I have never given aid or comfort to the rebellion.
26 Witness says, I never was engaged in the United States from Canada or in destroying its commerce.
27 Witness says, I never was engaged 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 expulsion of any person on account of loyalty to the U.S. Govt.
29 Witness says, I never was a paroled prisoner of the U.S.
30 Witness says, I never held any office in the Army or Navy of the U.S. Was not educated at West Point or the Naval Academy.
31 Witness says: When I was in the conscript service I got a pass to go home. I got them from different officers to go home to see my family, lasted only a few days. Did not take an oath to get the pass.
32 Witness says: I am not & never was under any disabilities imposed by the Constitution of the United States Have not held any office under the US Govt since the War.
33 Witness says, At the beginning I sympathized with the Union. I voted for the Ordinance of Secession under threats of being driven away from my property. After the adoption of the ordinance of secession I adhered to the Union Cause.
34 Witness says, I solemnly declare that from the beginning to the end of the war my sympathies were with the Union Cause, & I was ready at all times to aid its Cause, to the extent of my ability, & so far as the circumstances permitted, & further this deponent saith not.
Sept. 16th 1871
Peter Ellinger
Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 16th day Sept. 1871
W G Riley
United States Commissioner and Special Comr. for State of Va.
Testimony: Elizabeth Stone
Deposition of Miss Eliz. Stone to prove taking & furnishing of the property.
Ques 1 Witness says: I am 27 years old. I reside in Augusta Co. I am a housekeeper. I was present & saw the property taken mentioned in the claimants petition.
4 Witness says: The property was taken in June 1864, by Soldiers & Officers of the Union Army, of Genl. Sheridans Crook & Averill Com'd.
5 Witness says, The family of the house & myself.
6 Witness says, There was no officers present when the property was taken.
7 Witness says: The flour was hauled away in ambulances, bacon, molasses, &c were taken in the same way
8 Witness says, The property was removed by Soldiers, in wagons.
9 Witness says, The property was taken to camp. I did not follow it & did not see it again.
10 Witness says: The property was taken to feed soldiers of the Union Army they told me they were hungry & must have it to eat.
11 Witness says, There was no complaint made on account of such taking
12 Witness says, There was no receipt given & none asked for
13 Witness says, The property was taken about 9 O'clock in the day.
14 Witness says, When the property was taken no part of the Army was encamped near. Had been a skirmish about 5 miles off Did not know any of the quarter Masters or any of the officers.
15 Witness says: The bacon & flour was of the very best quality.
19 Witness says, I am confident it was taken for the use of the Army, & not for private use
20 Witness says, I believe it was taken because the Soldiers were not supplied with rations by the Govt.
21 Witness says, I believe it was taken on account of some necessity
22 Witness says, I believe it was taken for the necessary use of the Govt. & that they ought to pay for it
23 Witness says: I do not think they were ordered to take, but they had no rations & were not supplied by the Govt.
General Interrogatory
Do you know of any other matter relative to said claim? If you do state it fully
Answer. The soldiers took every thing he had on the place, inside the house, and outside. Nothing was left except a poke of Flour which I hid & further this deponent saith not.
Sept. 16th 1871 Eliz. Stone her mark
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 16th day of Sept 1871
W G Riley
United States Commissioner and Special Com. for State of Va.
Testimony: Henry Mish
Deposition of Henry Mish to prove loyalty
Ques 1 Witness says: I am 58 years I reside in Augusta Co. I am a farmer. I have lived in Augusta Co. 36 years. Have known the claimant 36 years. Lived near him during the war. Saw him often, & talked with him often about the War. I believed him to be a loyal man. I think the most of his neighbors regarded him as loyal. Never knew him threatened on account of loyalty. Never knew him to do anything for the United States Govt. did not have the chance. Never knew him to do anything for the Confed Govt. I think he was too loyal to the U.S. Govt to have been loyal to the Confed. Govt. had it succeeded, & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sept. 16th 1871 Henry Mish
Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 16th day of Sept. 1871
Wm G Riley
United States Commissioner and Special Com. for State of Va
Testimony: William Glover
Deposition of Wm Glover to prove loyalty
Ques 1 Witness says: I am 67 years old I reside in Augusta Co. I am a farmer. Have lived in Augusta 47 years. Have known the claimant 20 years. Live near him. Saw him often during the war. Talked with him about the war. Regarded him as a loyal man, he was so regarded by his neighbors Never knew him threatened on account of his union sentiments. Never knew him to do anything for the US Govt. he was forced in the reserves of the Confed States. I do not think he could have stayed here, if the South had succeeded, he was too loyal to the U.S. Govt. & further this deponent sayeth not
Sept 16th 1871 Wm. Glover his mark
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 16th day of Sept. 1871
W G Riley
United States Commissioner and Special Com. for State of Va.
Testimony: United States War Department
Archive Office, War Department, Nov 3, 1877
Peter Elinger, Augusta Co. Va.
A man by the above name was Paid $30.00 for arresting John Wilson a Deserter from Co. H. 52 Va. Regt. Staunton Va Sept 17th 1862.
His signature on voucher on file in this office
Testimony: Assistant Adjutant General
June 10, 1892
Respectfully returned to the Department of Justice, by authority of the Secretary of War, inviting attention to the following report, viz:
There are on file in this office two vouchers in favor of Peter Elinger & signed P. Elinger at Staunton, Va. one, for arresting a deserter & the other for beef.
One Peter Elinger was a private in Co. D. 3 d Battn, Va. Reserves, organized in Augusta Co. Va.
No further information found.
J. O. EilmoreAss't Adjutant General
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Peter Ellinger, September 16, 1871, Claim No. 6477, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., RG 123, Congressional Jurisdiction #6811.
