Summary: The Commissioners disallowed Miller's claim for the value of one horse because he voted in favor of the Ordinance of Secession.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| One Horse | 140.00 | 0 | 140.00 |
Claims Summary:
Claimant swears that he went to the Polls with the intention of voting against Secession but was persuaded into voting for it, by the argument that if the State went unanimously the North would not go to war.
The act of voting for disunion under whatever pretence is inconsistent with loyal adherence to the Union, and we therefore reject the Claim.
Testimony: Daniel Miller
In answer to the First General Interrogatory, the Deponent says: My name is Daniel Miller, my age 53 years, my residence Mt. Sidney, in the state of Virginia, and my occupation a farmer; I am the claimant.
To question No 2 he answers, I resided where I now live near Mt. Sidney, Augusta Co. Va. on my own farm. It contained 140 acres - one hundred of which were under cultivation. I didn't change my residence or occupation during the war.
To questions No 3 to 24 inclusive he answered no in full to each question separately and fully put.
To question No. 25 he answers Myself, two horses and wagon were pressed into service in the year 1863, by a rebel officer whose name or command I did not know, to haul baggage from Staunton to Monterey Va. I was absent four days. I came directly home & got paid in Confederate money.
To question Nos. 26 to 39 he answers no in full to each question separately put.
To question No. 38 he answers, I received a pass from a Confederate officer to return home with my team when I was press in 1863. I took no oath to obtain the pass.
To question No. 39 he answers no
To question No. 40 he answers At the beginning of the rebellion I sympathised with the Union cause. I never said much about it. I felt that the Union army ought to come through and stop the rebellion. I did not vote upon sending delegates to Richmond to frame the ordinance of secession. When I went to the polls it was with the intention of voting against the ordinance, but they made me believe that the strongest front we presented to the North the less danger there would be of war. I was sorry after I had cast the vote for the Ordinance that I had done so. After the Ordinance of Secession was adopted I still adhered to the Union cause and did not go with my state.
For question No. 4 he answers, I do solemnly declare.
The claimant was here examined by the Commissioner as to property taken.
I did not see my horse taken. The horse was taken out of the orchard near the house. I was in the house at the time. He was from five to six years old, and was worth $140. He was in good order. Further deponent saith not.
Daniel Miller
Testimony: Christian Kline
Christian Kline, witness to prove loyalty of claimant, being sworn by the Commissioner, deposed and says:
I am 62 years old and reside near New Hope Augusta Co. Va. I am a farmer and miller. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in his claim. I lived about three miles from him during the war and saw him every few days. I had frequent conversations with him in regard to the cause and progress of the war & knew what his political sympathies and opinions were. I knew he was a union man. I knew what his reputation was for loyalty. It was that of a loyal man. He was regarded a loyal man by his loyal neighbors. I was a loyal man and the claimant so regarded me. I never knew knew him to do anything for the U.S. Army during the war. I never knew him to own any Confederate Bonds, I never know him to be injured or molested on account of his union sentiment. I know no act done or language used that would prevent him from proving his loyalty to the confederate Government if it had maintained a separate existence. Further deponent saith not.
Christian Kline
Testimony: John Wampler
John Wampler, witness to prove loyalty of claimant, being affirmed by the Commissioner, deposes and says:
I am 44 years old and reside at Mt. Sidney, Va. - about half mile from the claimant. I am not related to him and have no interest in this claim. I saw him once or twice a week during the war. I often talked with him in regard to the cause and progress of the war. He always expressed himself in favor of the Union cause. I heard him so express himself in the presence of other persons. I was a loyal man and the claimant so regarded me. I know what his reputation was for loyalty. It was that of a loyal man. His loyal neighbors regarded him a loyal man. I know that he contributed provisions to the Union Hospital near New Hope and at other places. I never knew him to be injured or molested on account of his Union sentiments. I never knew him to own any confederate Bonds. He always said if the Confederates gained their independence we could not live here - he was always for the Union cause and could not have proved his loyalty to the Confederate government if it had suceeded in Maintaining a separate existence.
Further deponent saith not.
John Wampler
Testimony: Barbara Wampler
Barbara Wampler, witness to prove property being affirmed by the Commissioner, says:
I am 39 years old and reside near Mt. Sidney, Va. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in his claim. I was present and saw his horse taken by the yankee army at the time of the Burning Raid. I don't remember what year it was in or what officer was in command at the time. The horse was in the yard at the house when two soldiers came and took the horse away. It was in day-time. I did not hear anything said at the time. The army was encamped about a mile off. It was a bay horse mare. I do not know how old it was. I think it was worth about $140. I don't know whether any officer was with the soldiers when they took the horse - and I don't know an officer from a soldier. I never saw the horse afterward. This is all I know about it.
Further deponent saith not.
Barbara Wampler
Testimony: John Miller
John Miller, witness to prove property being affirmed by the Commssioner deposes and says:
I am 58 years old, and reside near Mt. Sidney Va. I am a brother to the claimant. I have no interest in this claim. At the time of Sheridan's Raid - September 1864 - I saw a bay mare which I recognized as the claimant's, in the posession of the troops who were on the Burning Raid. They came to my house & had the mare. A Union soldier was riding the mare. No conversation passed in regard to the mare. The mare was a good one, and was worth $100 or $150 at that time. I recognized the mare from her general appearance - having known her from a calf. She was not branded.
Further deponent saith not.
John Miller
Testimony: John Wampler and Joseph Click
We the undersigned Loyal citizens of Augusta County Virginia, do certify on oath that we have known Daniel Miller for many years and know him to have been Loyal to United States Government before, and at the time of and since the taking of the property in the claimants petition mentioned.
John Wampler, Mt. Sidney Joseph Click, Mt. Sidney
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 29th day of April 1871 H.M. McCausland N.P.
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Daniel Miller, September 3, 1872, Claim No. 2541, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington D.C., fiche #482.
