Summary: The Commissioners disallowed Wampler's claim for the value of four horses, taken in October, 1864, because they were not convinced that he had been loyal to the United States throughout the war.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| One Dun horse | 80.00 | 0 | 80.00 |
| One Bay Mare | 150.00 | 0 | 150.00 |
| One Iron Gray | 150.00 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Bay Mare 2 years | 90.00 | 0 | 90.00 |
| Total | $470.00 | 0 | $470.00 |
Claims Summary:
The Claimant is forty three years old now. He took Oath of Allegiance to the Confederate Government, & then sympathised with all his might for the Union.
Joseph Click a Witness talked with him during the War and regarded him as loyal.
The loyalty of Claimant is of too feeble and and negative a Character to find recognition here. After swearing Allegiance to the Confederate Government, if he had made his escape to the Union lines, and enlisted in the Union Army as some of his neighbors did we might let his oath of Allegiance to the Confederacy pass but he sat still accepted the situation and at the most simply sympathised, and we regard such loyalty as that under the circumstances as falling short of the requirements of the Statute and therefore reject the claim.
AO Aldis, JB Howell Commrs of Claims
Testimony: John Wampler
United States of America State of Virginia
I, W.G. Riley, a Commissioner selected and designated by the Commissioners appointed under the Act of Congress of March 3d, 1871 to take and record testimony do hereby certify that the reason for taking the following depositions is and the reason is the Matter of Claim of John Wampler, Vs. The United States of America and the witnesses here in named being first duly sworn. Answers as follows.
Ques. 1st Witness Say I am 43 years old, I reside in Augusta Co. Va. Am a farmer. I resided in Augusta all the time and never changed my residence.
3rd Witness Says - I never passed the military or naval lines of the United States and entered the rebel lines.
4th Witness Says - I did take an oath to the Confederate States. In June 1861 I was notified to appear at Mt. Sidney in Augusta Co. and there was required to take an oath, which through fear I did. I was threatened with arrest if I refused.
5th Witness Says - I took an Amnesty oath in 1865 at Staunton, Va. I never asked for any pardon from the President.
6th Witness Says - I never was in any way connected with the civil service of the Confederate States.
7th Witness Says - I never held any office or place of trust or honor in the Confederate Government, States or territories I held no clerkship, agency or employment of any kind.
9th Witness Says - I never was in any capacity in the Military or Naval service of the Confederate States.
10th Witness Says - I never was in the service of the Confederate Government, Army or Navy of the Confederacy. I furnished a substitute - I had nothing to do with any department or bureau of the Confederacy. Nor had any charge of any trains, wagons, teams, vessels, or munitions of War of any kind.
11th Witness Says - I never was in any way connected with the Army or navy of the Confederate States, I never furnished any thing voluntarily to the Army, Navy, Militia, Home guards or any other way. I never give any information.
12th Witness Says. I never was engaged or employed in the Manufacture of Munitions of War, or supplies for the Confederate Army or Navy.
Ques 13th Witness Says. I have never been in any way engaged in the collection of any stores, supplies or any article for the use of the So called Confederate States.
14th Witness Says - I never was engaged in blockade running or intercourse between the lines - nor in the traffick of blockade goods.
15th Witness Says - I did not leave the Confederate States between the 19th April 1861 and June 19th 1865.
16th Witness Says - I never had any interest in any vessel used in navigation to or from any port of the Confederacy or any of the waters.
17th Witness Says - I never was arrested by either the Confederate or United States Government.
18th Witness Says - The Confederate authorities, took Wheat and Corn from me and also hay, I received pay for the Hay, but not for the grain.
19th Witness Says - I was threatened by Confederate Soldiers, for my Union sentiments. I never was molested
20th Witness Says - I had no opportunity to contribute anything for the United States Government except to feed some of the soldiers.
23rd Witness Says - I had cousins in both Armies.
24th Witness Says - I never owned any Confederate Bonds, nor done anything to support the credit of the Confederate Government.
25th Witness Says - I give no aid and comfort for the rebellion.
26th Witness Says - I never was engaged in making raids into the United States from Canada, nor in the destruction of the commerce of the United States.
27th Witness Says - I never held in custody any person, taken and held as prisoners of War by the Confederacy or otherwise.
28th Witness Says - I never was a member of Society or association for the purpose of expulsion or punishment of any person because of his loyalty to the United States.
29th Witness Says - I never was a paroled prisoner of the United States.
30th Witness Says - I never held any office in the United States - Nor was I educated at West Point or Naval School.
Ques 31 Witness Says - I never had a pass, except to go from Staunton to my home. I took no oath to get it.
32nd Witness Says - I was under no disabilities imposed by the Constitution. I have held no office since the War.
33d Witness Says - My sympathies were at the beginning with the Union - I did not vote at all on the Ordinance of Secession, and after its adoption I went for the Union and against the State.
34th Witness Says - I do declare that from the beginning of hostilities against the United States to the end thereof my sympathies were constantly in favor of the Union - I never done or sought to do anything against the Union or its Cause, or retard its success, and I was always willing and ready to aid and assist said cause, so far as my means, power and the circumstances of the case permitted.
Further this deponent saith not.
September 11th 1871
John Wampler
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of Sept 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and special Com. State of Va.
Testimony: Peter S. Miller
Peter S. Miller, a witness introduced by the Claimant to prove the taking of property named in the petition being duly sworn answers as follows.
Ques 1st Witness Says - I am 22 years old, I reside in Augusta Co. Va., farmer by occupation - I was not present at the actual taking, but saw the property soon after in the possession of officers and soldiers belonging to the United States Army.
4th Witness Says - the property was taken on the 29th of September 1864, from the claimants farm by officers and soldiers of the United States Army.
6th Witness Says - I think there was a Captain present, who belonged to either Genl Custer or Genl Sheridan.
7th Witness Says - When I saw them some were being rode and others led.
9th Witness Says - the Horses were taken to Mt. Sidney, I did not follow it.
10th Witness Says - I suppose the Horses were taken for use of the Army. I did not see them after they were taken away.
11th Witness Says - I don't know of any complaint, being made.
12th Witness Says - I understood there was a receipt given for two of the horses but heard the claimant had lost it.
13th Witness Says - The property was taken in the day time, between 11 o'clock A.M. and 4 P.M.
14th Witness Says - The Army was encamped at Mt. Sidney, about one mile away. They only remained there a part of a day. I did not know the Quarter master.
15th Witness Says - The horses were all in good condition. Horse No 1 was about 12 years old, he was worth $100 to $125. Mare No 2 8 years old, she was worth about $175 - Grey horse No. 3 4 years old worth $165, Mare No 4 - 3 years old worth $100 to $125.
19th Witness Says - I suppose the horses were taken for the use of the Army - and not for gratification. I suppose the horses were absolutely needed for the use of the Army. The Army horses were very much broken down.
21st Witness Says - I believe there was such a necessity as justified them being taken.
22 Witness Says - I believe the necessities were so urgent as to require the Government to pay for it.
23d Witness Says - I believe the officers and soldiers who took the horses were acting under orders and were justifiable in taking them.
Further this deponent saith not.
September 11th 1871
Peter S. Miller
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 11th day of Sept. 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and special Com. for State of Va.
Testimony: Joseph Click
Joseph Click a witness introduced to prove the loyalty of the claimant to the United States, being duly sworn. Answers as follows
Ques 1st Witness Says - I am 52 years old, I reside in Augusta Co. Va., and am a farmer. I have known him from his childhood - I live about 3/4 mile from the Claimant, I saw him a great deal during the we were very intimate. We talked about the War, he was in favor of the Union and opposed to the rebellion - and he was so regarded by all his neighbors.
I do not know that he done anything for the United States, except he may have helped persons to leave the Confederacy. He done nothing for the Confederate States, but what he was obliged to do. I do not think that he would have been regarded as at all loyal to the Confederate Government had it succeeded.
Further this deponent saith not.
September 11th 1871
Joseph Click
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 11th day of Sept. 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and special Com. for State of Va.
Testimony: Peter S. Miller
State of Virginia. Augusta County To wit: This day Peter S. Miller personally appeared before me H.M. McCausland a notary Public for the County aforesaid and made oath that Genl Sheridan commanding the United States troop took from John Wampler on the 29th of Sept 1864, 1 Dun Horse, 1 large Bay mare, & 1 Iron Grey Horse.
Peter S. Miller Mt. Sidney
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 29th of Apl 1871 H.M. McCausland
Testimony: Barbara Wampler
This day Barbara Ann Wampler the wife of John Wampler personally appeared before me in my county aforesaid & made oath that Genl. Sheridan commanding the U.S. trooops took from John Wampler on the 29th of Sept. 1864 1 Dun Horse, 1 Bay mare, 1 Iron Grey Horse, 1 young bay mare.
Barbara A. Wampler Mt. Sidney
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 29th of Apl 1871 H.M. McCausland N.P.
Testimony: John Yates
We the undersigned Loyal Citizens of Augusta County Virginia do certify on oath that we have known John Wampler for many years and know him to have been loyal to the United states Government before, and at the time, and since the taking of the property in the claimant's petition mentioned.
John Yates, Mt. Sidney
Joseph Click, "
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 29th day of Apl. 1871 HM McCausland N.P.
Testimony: United States War Department
ARCHIVE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT May 29th, 1874
Book 3, Letters Sent, page 19
Case of John Wampler Augusta Co. Va.
Name appears on a petition to leg. for detail of a man.
Hon. J.B. Baldwin says The petitioners in this memorial are known to me to include most of the reputable people of Mt. Sidney.
W 37.WD 1863 (left in files)
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of John Wampler, September 11, 1871, Claim No. 2558, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., fiche #94.
