Summary: James W. Beard of Mint Spring, Augusta Co., Va., filed this claim in August 21, 1871, for $108, claiming that Union troops confiscated 13 tanned calf skins, 2 saddles, and 8 bushels of corn. The claim was disallowed December 8, 1873.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| 13 tanned calf skins | $55.00 | $0.00 | $55.00 |
| 1 saddle new | $25.00 | $0.00 | $25.00 |
| 1 saddle nearly new | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 |
| 8 bushels of corn at $1 | $8.00 | $0.00 | $8.00 |
Claims Summary:
Claimant is forty three years old, and was within Conscript age during the War. He seems to have been detailed as a tanner to prepare supplies for the Confederate Army as well as we can gather from his answers to questions, and was exempt therefore from service in the field. This employment was inconsistent with loyalty in itself, but aside from that the evidence of loyalty is not satisfactory. He had two brothers in the Rebel army and we see no clear indication that his sentiments differed from theirs. Moreover there is no evidence that the articles charged were taken as supplies for the Army or were so used - One witness swears that thirteen tanned calf skins were taken by soldiers of Hunter's Command but there is no evidence or inferences fairly deducible from circumstances that they were taken for the use of the Army. There A boy, now 15 years old and then seven or eight swears that some soldiers came in the night and took two saddles and eight bushels of Corn. That is all the evidence in support of the claim and it is of course utterly insufficient and unsatisfactory and we therefore reject it.
Testimony: James W. Beard
United States of America
State of Virginia
I W.G. Riley a commissioner selected and designated by the Commissioners of Claims appointed under the Act of Congress of March 3rd 1871 to take and record testimony Do hereby certify that the reason for taking the following depositions is, and the fact is, the matter of claims of James W. Beard, vs. the United States of America. And the witness herein named being first duly sworn answereth as follows -
Quest 1. Witness says - I am forty three years old. I reside in Augusta County Virginia, by occupation a tanner. Prior to the 1st of April 1861, I resided at Mint Spring, Augusta County Virginia.
2 Witness says - In October 1864, I left the Confederacy, and went into the Union lines, to the State of Ohio
3 Witness says - I did not pass beyond the Military or Naval lines of the United States, and enter the Rebel lines.
4 Witness says - I don't think I ever took any oath of allegiance to the Confederate States.
5 Witness says - I have never taken any amnesty oath that I know of
6 Witness says - I never was directly or indirectly connected with the civil service of the Confederate States
7 Witness says - I never held any office of honor or profit, under the Confederate Government
8 Witness says - I never held any clerkship or employment of any kind under the Confederacy. I never was in the Military or Naval service of the so called Confederate States.
10 Witness says - I never was connected in any way with the Confederate Government voluntarily
11 Witness says - I was ordered to finish some leather, being a tanner, or go into the Army. I did finish some leather sooner than go into the Army that was all I have ever done for the Confederacy
12 Witness says - I have never done anything except finish some leather as stated above for the Confederacy.
14 Witness says - I never was engaged in blockade running
15 Witness says - In 1864 I went into the Union lines. I went to keep out of the Confederate Army. I was absent six months. I was part of the time engaged in tanning, and part engaged in a foundry
16 Witness says - I never was owner or part owner of any vessel, in my life
17 Witness says - I never was arrested by the Confederate Government. I never was arrested by the United States Government
18 Witness says - None of my property was ever taken by the Confederate Authorities
19 Witness says - I was told after I went into the Union lines that I was threatened on account of my Union sentiments.
20 Witness says - I never was molested or injured on account of my Union sentiments
21 Witness says - I don't think I ever contributed any thing to aid the United States Government except that I worked in a tannery that furnished leather to the United States Government
23 Witness says - I had two brothers in the Confederate army. I did nothing to supply them with Military equipments
24 Witness says - I have never owned any Confederate bonds, I never did any to support the Confederacy. I have never given aid or comfort to the Rebellion.
26 Witness says - I never was engaged in making raids into the United States from Canada, or any where else.
29 Witness says - I never was a parolled prisoner of the United States
30 Witness says - I never held any office in the Army or Navy of the United States; I never was educated at West Point or the Naval Academy.
31 Witness says - They gave me a pass to go to Millborough for my sister. I did not use the pass -
32 Witness says - I was under no disabilities imposed by the fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. I do hold the office of Post Master under the United States Government. I took the Iron Clad oath.
33 Witness says - At the beginning of the Rebellion, I sympathized with the Union cause and not with the Rebellion. I don't know whether I voted for the ordinance of secession or not.
34 Witness says - I solemly declare from the beginning of hostilities against the United States to the end thereof, My sympathies were constantly with the Cause of the United States and never of my own free will did anything, to injure said cause, but was ready and willing at all times to aid the Union so far as I was able and further the witness saith not August the 21st 1871
James W. Beard
Testimony: John Montgomery
John Montgomery a witness introduced by the Claimant to prove the taking of the property, being first duly sworn answereth as follows -
Quest 1 Witness says - I am fifty nine years old, I reside in Augusta County Va. by trade a blacksmith.
I was present when thirteen tanned kiph skins calf were taken mentioned in the claimants petition. I did not see any paddles or corn taken
4 Witness says - They were taken from the house of the Witness. The claimant got me to take them to my house to keep the Confederates from taking them they were taken by soliders under Genl Hunter
6 Witness says - I think there were some officers present when they were taken. I did I do not know their names - the property that I saw taken was removed on horse back.
12 Witness says - No receipt was asked for and none was given
13 Witness says - The property was taken in the day time about the middle of the day.
14 Witness says - The Army was not encamped in the neighborhood when the property was taken.
15 Witness says - The property was in good condition. I don't know what it was worth
19 Witness says - I don't know what they were taken for
22 Witness says - I don't know what use they were intended for, and I don't know whether the Government ought to pay for them or not, and further the deponent saith not August the 21st 1871
John Montgomery
Testimony: Frank Beard
Frank Beard a witness introduced to prove the taking of the property being first duly sworn answereth as follows -
Quest 1 Witness says - I am fifteen years old. I live in Augusta County, by trade a tanner. I saw two saddles and eight bushels of corn taken by the United States soldiers, it belonged to the Claimant - the property was taken from the claimant's house in the night, no receipt was given and none asked for the property that I saw taken was in good condition. The saddles were almost new, one worth twenty five dollars and the other twenty I do not know what the corn was worth. I think the Government ought to pay for it, after taking it - further the deponent saith not August 21st 1871
X (his mark)
Testimony: John Engleman
John Engleman a witness introduced by the Claimant for proof as to loyalty being first duly sworn answereth as follows -
Quest 1 Witness says - I am sixty years old. I reside in Augusta County Va, by occupation a farmer. I have known the Claimant twenty years. I live about five miles from him. I saw him often during the war, so far as I know he was a loyal man to the United States. I don't know what the neighbors said about him, he was too loyal to the United States Government to have been considered loyal to the Confederacy if it had succeeded and further the deponent saith not August the 21st 1871
John Engleman
Testimony: William T. Fauber
William T. Fauber a witness introduced by the claimant to prove loyalty being first duly sworn answereth as follows -
Quest 1 Witness says - I am forty six years old. I live in Augusta County Virginia, by occupation a farmer. I have known the claimant twenty five years. I saw him often during the war until I went away - I always considered him loyal to the United States Government. He was so considered by his neighbors. He was too loyal to the United States Government to have been considered loyal to the Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate Government. He told me if the Confederate States gained their independence he would not have stayed in the Confederacy and further this deponent saith not August the 21st 1871.
William T. Fauber
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 21st day of August 1871
WG Riley
(seal)
United States Commissioner and special Com. for the State of Va.
Testimony: United States War Department
Archive Office,
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Jan 31, 187
Book 3, Letters Sent, page 268
Case of James W. Beard, Augusta Co. Va.
Sold to C. States one doz. sheepskins one hogskin + 6 lbs Deers Hair amounting in all to $19.00
Paid at Staunton 1862 by Capt. R. Turk a Q.M. C.S. Army
His signature is on voucher on file in this office
Dec. 8/73 Rejected
Testimony: United States War Department
Howell
Archive Office,
WAR DEPARTMENT,
October 31st, 1873
Book 2, Letters Sent, page 440
Case of James W. Beard of Virginia.
(No. 15.991)
This claimant had a contract with the Rebel Government to furnish leather. Had a tannery in the county of Augusta.
Writes to the Sec. of War from Staunton Va. on 22nd Oct. 1862 representing his inability to fulfill his contract for the want of hands and laborers. Asks the details of John J. Beard as a volunteer in 25th Regt. Va. Vols. to assist him in carrying on the business.
Attached to Mr. Beard's letter there is a certificate signed by a number of inhabitants of Augusta Co. certifying that Jas. W. Beard is proprietor of a tannery in said Co. &c.
Also certificate of one R. Turk Asst. Q.M. at Staunton Va. that Mr. B. had been furnishing leather to the Govt for the last six or eight months and had at the date of his letter a large quantity of leather to finish.
(W.D. 1511)
Testimony: United States War Department
Archive Office,
WAR DEPARTMENT,
April 15, 1874,
Book 3, Letters Sent, page 2
Case of James W. Beard of Augusta Co.
(No. 15.991)
Citizens of the Co. of Augusta. Va. petition for exemption of Thos. Montgomery who is a blacksmith by trade and much needed in said Co.
"He was prompt in answering the call of his Country and has rendered nine months service, we therefore pray that Thomas A. Montgomery may be exempted to work at his trade for the benefit of the agricultural interests of the country."
(W.D.S. 1862, W. No. 548, In file)
Dec 8/73 Reported to Congress rejected
Testimony: United States War Department
Archive Office,
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Feb 28, 1878
Book 3, Letters Sent, page 268
Case of Jms W. Beard of Augusta Co. Va.
Bill & voucher for furnishing and blacking 100 sides of leather at $1.00 per side also to finishing 48 sides at 50 cts per side amounting to $124.00
Paid at Staunton May 27th 1862 by Capt. R. Turk a Q.M. C.S.Army
Also for finishing 12 sides collar leather for $5.00
Dec 8/73 Rejected
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of James Beard, August 21, 1871, Claim No. 15,991, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., fiche # 948.
