Summary: Landes' claim for the value of 1 horse was disallowed because he paid a substitute for Confederate Army service. He went through the lines in January 1863, and worked as a farm laborer in Ohio for two years.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| 1 Horse | $150.00 | 0 | 150.00 |
Claims Summary:
The clmnt a young man lived on his father's land. In '61 he was in the Militia at Staunton 8 days. In 1862 he furnished a substitute.
Had a brother in the Confedte. Army.
Did not vote on Secession.
Erastus Landes was in the rebel Army. They arrested him (a rebel soldier) put him on a horse & led him away.
We are not satisfied that the claimant was loyal.
AO AldisJB HowellO. FerrissCommrs of Claims
Testimony: William A. Landes
In answer to the First General Interrogatory, the Deponent says: My name is William A. Landes, my age 39 years, my residence Augusta Co, in the State of Virginia, and my occupation a Farmer; I am the claimant, and have beneficial interest in the claim.
Ques 2 Ans. I lived near Mount Sidney in Augusta, where I still reside, I live on my fathers land. The tract contains 120 acres, there is about 15 acres in wood and the balance is cleared, it situated three miles N.W. of Mount Sidney near Auguta Co. Va. My occupation during a part of the time was farming. I changed my residence in January 1863, to the State of Ohio, I was a farm laborer.
Ques. 3 Ans. I never passed the United States lines into the rebel lines.
Ques. 4 Ans. I never took any oath to bear true faith or yield obedience to the so called Confederate States.
Ques. 5 Ans. I took an oath to the United States, at New Creek Station, in West Va. after having passed out of the lines of the rebels. I have never had a pardon from the President.
Ques. 6 Ans. I never was connected in any way with the so called Confederate States.
Ques. 7 Ans. I never held any office or place of trust or honor or profit under the Confederate government or any State or Territory subordinate thereto.
Ques 8 Ans. I never held any clerkship, or had any agency or employment of any kind for or under the Confederate States.
Ques 9 Ans. I never was in the military or naval service of the Confederate States.
Ques 10 Ans. I never held any office of any kind, nor was I a soldier.
Ques 11 Ans. I was in the Malitia Camp at Staunton, Va. I suppose I was in Camp about 8 days. I was kept there until a certain number of volunteers were enrolled, then discharged, this was in the year 1861.
Ques 12 Ans. I never was in the home guard, nor belonged to any committee of vigilance or safety.
Ques 13 Ans. I was not conscripted.
Ques 14 Ans. I furnished a substitute in 1862. There was a call or order for more men, I was determined never to bear arms against the United States Government, I furnished the substitute in order that I might be permitted to remain with my wife and children, and I supposed that I could not succeed in getting them through the lines.
Ques 15 Ans. I never was directly or indirectly connected with any department or branch of service of the Confederate States.
Ques 16 Ans. I never was employed on any Railroad, nor aid in the transportation of Soldiers, munitions of War, or supplies for the Confederate government.
Ques 17 Ans. I never had charge of stores, supplies, or any thing belonging to or for the use of the Confederate States.
Ques 18 Ans. I never was in any service, employment or business of any kind at all. I never furnished any aid or supplies, stores of property of any kind to the Confederate government or to any State in rebellion, nor to any military organization thereof, or to any soldier or sailor. Nor did I ever give any information of any kind whatsoever.
Ques 19 Ans. I never in any manner was employed in the manufacture of any article of any description for the use of the Confederate Army or navy. Nor did I ever assist in any such manufacture.
Ques 20 Ans. I was never directly or indirectly employed in the service of the Confederate government, or for any state in rebellion. I never had a share or interest in any contracts for any purpose whatsoever.
Ques 21 Ans. I never was engaged in blockade running or illicit traffic, between the lines, nor had I any interest in goods of any description brought into or exported from the so called Confederate States.
Ques 22 Ans. I left the Confederate States in the month of January 1863. I went on foot through the mountains to New Creek Station, in W. Va. Thence to the State of Ohio. I went to escape the rebellion and Confederate service and was absent until the fall of 1864, when I returned through the mountains to my home where I now reside, and was hid from that until the surrender. I was engaged as a farm laborer.
Ques 23 Ans. I never had any interest in any boat or vessel of any kind or for any purpose.
Ques 24 Ans. I never was arrested by the Confederate authorities - I was arrested by the Military authorities, after I left New Creek Station in W.Va. but was released in a short time and was then given money to take me beyond the Ohio river.
Ques 25 Ans. I had no property taken by the Confederate authorities.
Ques 26 Ans. I was never threatened.
Ques 27 Ans. I was never molested or injured on account of my Union sentiments.
Ques 28 Ans. I never contributed anything to either.
Ques 29 Ans. I did nothing for the Union Cause, except by leaving the rebel lines.
Ques 30 Ans. My brother Erastus Landes, was in the Army a short time, he is living and resides near Mount Sidney in Augusta Co. I furnished him nothing. I was then in Ohio.
Ques 31 Ans. I never owned a Confederate bond nor any share, nor no interest in loans or done any thing to support the credit of the so called Confederate States.
Ques 32 Ans. I have never given aid and comfort to the rebellion.
Ques 33 Ans. I never made raids, nor never engaged in the destruction of commerce of the United States anywhere.
Ques 34 Ans. I never was engaged in holding in custody in any way persons as prisoners of War, for political purposes or otherwise.
Ques 35 Ans. I never belonged to any association whatever, for the purpose of punishment or for anything else.
Ques 36 Ans. I never was a parolled prisoner.
Ques 37 Ans. I never held any office of any kind, nor was I educated at any school of the United States.
Ques 38 Ans. I never had a pass from the Confederates.
Ques 39 Ans. I never was under disabilities. I have held no office since the War.
Ques 40 Ans. At the beginning of the rebellion my sympathies were for the Union. My feelings were bitter, and I said that I never intended to go into the Confederate or rebel army. I voted for the Union Candidates to the Convention - I did not vote for the ordinance of Secession - I went for the Union and opposed Secession all the time.
Ques 41 Ans. I do declare that from the beginning of hostilities against the United States, to the end thereof, my sympathies were constantly with the cause of the Union, and I never of my own free will and accord did anything, or offered or sought or attempted to do anything by word or deed to injure said cause or retard its success and that I was at all times ready and willing when called upon to aid and assist the cause of the Union, or its supporters, so far as my means and power and the circumstances of the case permitted.
I was not present when the horse was taken and will rely on the testimony of others to prove that, the horse was taken in the fall of 1864, before my return from the State of Ohio.
I never received any pay for my horse.
William A. Landes
Testimony: John Landes
Deposition of John Landes
Ques 1 My name is John Landes, my age 70 years. My residence is near Mnt. Sidney in Augusta Co. Va. I am the father of the claimant, but have no interest in the claim. I was in about 50 yards of the stable, and saw the horse taken.
Ques 3 Ans. There was two soldiers, who come through the field, and passed the stable, but hearing the horse neigh they went back to the stable and took him. I do not know whether they had a bridle or halter.
Ques 4 Ans. The horse was taken from my stable, at my own residence, he was taken on the 26th of September 1864. Taken by two soldiers. There was a number come up the road at the same time the two soldiers come through the field. I suppose in all there were about a dozen of men, but only the two were at the stable. They only remained a few minutes.
Ques 5 Ans. My family was the only ones present, I did not know any of the soldiers.
Ques 6 Ans. I do not know whether there were any officers present or not. The two soldiers come through the field passed the stable, and they went back to the stable and opened the door and took the horse out. I heard nothing said. I was at my house about 50 yards from the stable - They had arrested my oldest son, Erastus Landes, and put him on the horse, and rode off.
Ques 9 Ans. They went in the direction of Staunton. I did not follow.
Ques 10 Ans. I did not know what use they made of the horse, as I never saw him afterwards - I made no complaint at all, I didn't speak to any of them - Their was no receipt given or asked for. The horse was taken in day time, I reckon about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The horse was taken as I have described.
Ques 14 Ans. I do not think there was any camp near there, I heard of none. The horse was in tolerable good order, a good work horse, but not a very good riding horse. he was six years old, and I judge about 15 hands high. I think he was worth about one hundred and fifty dollars. There was nothing paid on the horse. There had been no battle or skirmish near, that I know of. I suppose the party who took the horse belonged to Genl. Sheridan's Command, as at that time he made a raid up the Valley.
Further this deponent saith not.
John Landes
Testimony: Erastus Landes
Ques 1 Deposition of Erastus Landes
My name is Erastus Landes, my age is 42 years. I reside near Mount Sidney Augusta Co. Va. My occupation is a farmer. I am a brother of the claimant. I was present when the horse was taken, and was then a prisoner, he was taken out of the stable, and I was ordered to mount him, which I did, and rode him to Staunton.
Ques 4 Ans. The horse was taken from my fathers stable, near Mt. Sidney, on the 26th of Sept. 1864, I reckon. There was one soldier, who led the horse from the stable to the road. I do not recollect how many were in the squad, but I suppose there was 30 or 40 - I only one soldier come from the Stable. We only remained a few minutes. I saw my father at the house.
Ques 6 Ans. I do not know whether there was an officer present or not. The squad belonged to Genl. Sheridan's command. I heard nothing said at all about the taking of the horse - then or afterwards - A Soldier brought the horse from the stable to the road, about 70 yards I suppose. I was then ordered to mount which I did - and rode him to Staunton.
Ques 10 Ans. The horse was used by a Cavalry man, I saw him so used. There was no complaint made that I heard.
Ques 12 Ans. No receipt given or asked for that I know - The horse was taken about the middle of the afternoon. There was no regular Camp. The night after taking the horse we camped at Staunton, next day marched to Waynesboro and on that night returned to Bridgewater in Rockingham Co. and then to Harrisonburg, and then to Winchester.
Ques 15 Ans. The horse was in good order, he was a splendid work horse and rode tolerably well, he was about six years old, and a good size - I think he was worth one hundred and fifty dollars. The claimant has asked me what I thought he was worth, and I have told him I thought about one hundred and fifty dollars. There never was anything paid that I know of.
Further this deponent saith not.
Erastus Landes
Testimony: Robert E. Alexander
Deposition of Robert E. Alexander to prove Claimants loyalty
Ques 1 Ans. My name is Robt. E. Alexander my age is 30 years. I reside in the vicinity of Mt. Sidney. Augusta Co. Va. The claimant married my sister. My occupation is a farmer.
I have known the claimant for 20 years, I was very intimate with him before and during the war, during part of the war, we were together and all lived within a mile of each other - I saw him every few days, we talked together about the War, and he thought it was an unjust war on the side of the South. He was tolerably bitter against Secession. He never believed that the rebel government would succeed and always rejoiced over a Union victory - He generally spoke freely in regard to the sympathy he felt for the Union cause. I know his opinions, and feelings were all the time in favor of the Union, and in 1863 he deserted the rebels and went to the West, and was gone about one year, when he returned to his family, and kept hid until the surrender, I never knew him to be threatened or molested for his being a Union man, nor his family either that I know of. His reputation in the neighborhood was that of a Union man - He never to my knowledge contributed anything to the confederate cause in any way - He never owned any bonds to my knowledge nor did anything to countenance the Confederates, except he did put in a substitute in the year 1862. He told me that he hired the substitute in or to keep out of the army and he told me that he never would bear arms against the United States. His loyal neighbors all regarded him as a truly loyal man.
His language and feelings were such that he could never have established loyalty to the Confederate government had it succeeded, in getting its independence - My opinion is that he would not have lived in this country.
Robert E. Alexander
Testimony: Albert Sheets
Deposition of Albert Sheets
My name is Albert Sheets, my age is 33 years. I reside near Mount Sidney in Augusta Co. My occupation is a farmer. I am not related to the claimant - I have known the claimant about 15 years. I live about two miles from him. I knew him well during the war. I saw him frequently, I do not recollect of ever talking with him about the War, but I always heard he was a Union man. I know the claimant always regarded me as adhering to the Union Cause. He went away during the War, I believe in 1863, and when he returned I do not know what he did, as I was in the State of Ohio. We both went through the lines together. I have heard him converse on the subject of the war in presence of Union men. I do not recollect names. I never knew the claimant to do anything to aid or countenance the Confederacy. I know nothing of his hiring a substitute. I never knew him to furnish anything to the rebels at all. I do not know that he ever owned any Confederate bond. I do not think that he could have lived in the South, if it had gained its independence. He told me that he would not live in the Confederate States, if they succeeded. I never heard him give any information to the Union Officers or Soldiers. Nor do I know that he ever give information to the rebels. I never knew him say or do anything against the Union cause, nor in favor of the rebels. I have heard the Union men of the neighborhood say they believed him to be a good Union Man.
Further this deponent saith not.
Albert Sheets
Subscribed & Sworn to before Me United States Commissioner for the Western District of Virginia, this 28 day of April 1871 And I hereby certify that I have no interest in this Claim or its prosecution. David Fultz United States Commissioner for the Western District of Virginia
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of William A. Landes, February 13, 1873, Claim No. 596, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington D.C., fiche #2202.
