Summary: George Craun of Mossy Creek, Augusta Co., Va., filed this claim October 26, 1871, for $422.50, claiming that Union troops confiscated 1 bay horse, 1 mare, 3 bridles, 3 halters, 2 saddles, and 4 grain bags. His claim was disallowed in 1872. Note that one witness who testified to the confiscation, Isaac Miller, was an African American laborer.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| one very fine bay horse | $250.00 | 0 | $250.00 |
| one sorrel mare 4 years old | $140.00 | 0 | $140.00 |
| two blind bridles $2.50 each | $5.00 | 0 | $5.00 |
| one riding bridle $2.50 | $2.50 | 0 | $2.50 |
| three halters $1.00 each | $3.00 | 0 | $3.00 |
| four grain bags $0.50 each | $2.00 | 0 | $2.00 |
| one wagon saddle | $5.00 | 0 | $5.00 |
| one riding saddle | $15.00 | 0 | $15.00 |
Claims Summary:
This claimant is 51 years of age and is a farmer & has resided in Augusta Co. Va for 24 years - he swears that he was subject to conscription & put in a substitute to keep out himself - Says he assisted parties to escape into the Union lines & gave them money for that purpose - does not name them or detail the circumstances - Had three brothers in the Confederate Army - gave them food & money "the money belonged to my brother." He was never arrested or molested on account of his Unionism - In the beginning he sympathized with the Union Cause, but does not remember whether he voted for the Ordinance of Secession or not -
Daniel M. Craun is called as a witness - he is 37 years of age & had known the claimant all his life thinks he was loyal & so regarded by his neighbors - says the claimant furnished him & his family with gold to go through the Union lines & furnished others in the same way - What relationship Daniel M. Craun is to the claimant we do not know.
Wm Evans is also called as a witness. He says the claimant was regarded as a Union man, but states no facts - this witness was absent in the west about 15 months - Neither of these witness states whether he himself was loyal.
We are not satisfied with the proof of loyalty & reject the claim.
Testimony: George Craun
Ques 1 Witness says: I never passed beyond the military or naval lines of the U.S. & entered the rebel lines
4 Witness says. I never took an oath of allegiance to the Confed States
5 Witness says. I took the amnesty oath in 1865 at Staunton Va. have never been pardoned.
6 Witness says. I never was directly nor indirectly connected with the civil service of the Confed. States.
7 Witness says. I never held any place or office of honor profit or trust under the Confed. States
8 Witness says. I never held any clerkship agency or employment of any kind for the Confed. States.
9 Witness says. I never was in any capacity in the military or Naval service of the Confed States.
10 Witness says. I never was an officer Soldier Sailor or marine in the Confed. Army or Navy. I furnished a substitute for the Confed. Army. I was subject to conscription & put in a substitute to keep out myself. Never had any connection with any Dept. of the Confed. Govt. Never had charge of any stores wagons trains or teams
11 Witness says. I never was in any service or employment of any kind under the Confed. Govt. never furnished any aid or supplies. Never gave any information to anyone in the employment of the Confed. Govt.
12 Witness says. I was never engaged in the manufacture of munitions or war, or goods of any kind for the Confed. Govt.
13 Witness says. I never was employed in the collection or impressment of goods of any kind for the Confed. Govt.
14 Witness says. I never was engaged in blockade running or illicit traffic between the lines.
15 Witness says. I did not leave my home during the war.
16 Witness says. I was neither the owner nor part owner of any vessel engaged in navigating to or from any port of the Confederacy.
17 Witness says. I was never arrested either by the U.S. or Confed. Govt.
18 Witness says. I had stray corn, cattle, wheat & my field pastured by the Confed. Govt, and recd no pay for any of it.
19 Witness says. I was frequently threatened & was told if I do not go for Secession I would have to leave & give up my property after the war.
21 Witness says. I assisted parties to escape through the Union lines, & gave them money for that purpose
23 Witness says. I had three brothers in the Confederate Army. I gave one ofthem nothing except money & food when he had nothing to eat. They were in the army against my will & earnest protest. The money belonged to my brother.
24 Witness says. I never owned any Confed. bonds. Never did anything to support the credit of the Confed. States.
25 Witness says. I never gave any aid nor comfort to the rebellion.
26 Witness says. I never engaged in making raids into the US not in destroying its commerce.
27 Witness says. I never engaged in holding in custody persons taken as prisoners of war by the Confed. Govt.
28 Witness says. I never was a member of any society for the persecution or imprisonment of persons on account of Union sentiments.
29 Witness says. I never was a paroled prisoner of the U.S.
30 Witness says. I never was an officer in the army or navy of the U.S. was not educated either at West Point or the Naval Academy.
31 Witness says. I never rec'd any pass from any officer of the Confed. States.
32 Witness says. I am not & never have been under any disabilities imposed by the 14th amendment of the Constitution, have not held any office since the war.
33 Witness says. At the beginning of the war I sympathized with the Union. I do not remember whether I voted on the Ordinance of Secession or not do not think I was at any precinct the day of the voting. After its adoption I adhered to the Cause of the Union I did not go with my State.
34 Witness says. I constantly sympathized with the Union during the whole war. Never did any thing to injure its cause & was ready & willing at all times to aid it to the extent of my means & ability & further this deponent saith not.
Oct 26th 1871
George Craun
Testimony: Isaac Miller
W.G. Riley
(seal)
United States Commissioner and special Com for State of Va.
Deposition of Isaac Miller (Col'd) to prove property
Ques. 1 Witness say. I am 69 years old. I reside in Augusta Co. Va. I am a laborer. I was present & saw some of the property taken mentioned in the claimant's petition.
4 Witness says. The property was taken in 1864, from the deponent on the road, by officers & soldiers of the U.S. Army under Genl. Sheridan.
6 Witness say: There were officers present when the property was taken.
10 Witness say. The horses were taken from me & put at once in the Army for the use of the U.S. Govt.
13 Witness say. The property was taken in the day time, it was not taken secretly.
14 Witness says. When the property was taken the army was on the march.
15 Witness says. The horses were in good condition. Item #1 Saw one very fine bay horse taken. I think he was 7 or 8 years old, think he was worth at least $200.00. Item #2 Saw one sorrel mare taken, was 5 years old was worth about $150.00. Item #3 Saw two blind bridles taken, were worth $2.00 each. Item #4 Saw one riding bridle taken, was worth $1.50. Item #5 Saw 2 halters taken, the other was taken at the house before I got there, were worth $1.50 each. Item #6 Saw 4 grain bags taken, were worth .50c each. Item #7 Saw one wagon saddle taken, was worth $6.00. Item #8 Saw one riding saddle taken was worth $12.00. All the above property was taken from me & put at once in the US service.
19 Witness say. I think the property was taken for the use of the U.S. Army & not for private use.
22 Witness say. I know the property was taken & used by the U.S. Army & the Govt. ought to pay for it.
23 Witness says. The officers ordered the men to take the property & further this deponent saith not.
Oct. 26th 1871
X (his mark)
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 26th day of Oct. 1871
Testimony: William Evans
Deposition of Wm Evans to prove loyalty
Quest 1 Witness say: I am 48 years old. I live in Augusta Co. Va. I am a farmer. Lived near him during the war. Saw him often, & talked to him about the war. I regarded him as a loyal man to the US Govt. & he was so regarded by his neighbors. Never knew him to do anything for the U.S. I was in the west 15 months. I never knew him to do anything for the Confed. Govt. I have heard him abused for being a loyal man to the US Govt. & disloyal to the South. I think he was too loyal to the US Govt. to have made a loyal citizen to the Confed. States had they succeeded, if he was not loyal no one was loyal & further this deponent sayeth not.
William Evans
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 26th day of Oct 1871
WG Riley
(seal)
United States Commissioner and special Com for State of Va.
Testimony: Daniel M. Craun
United States Commissioner and special Com. for the State of Va.
Deposition of Daniel M. Craun to prove loyalty
Ques. 1 Witness say. I am 27 years old. I reside in Augusta Co. Va. I am a farmer. Have known the claimant all my life. Lived near him during the was. Saw him often & talked with him about the war. I think he was a loyal man to the US Govt & he was so regarded by his neighbors. He furnished myself & family with gold, to go through the Union lines, & assisted us in going through, & he furnished others with gold & assisted them through. He had a substitute in the Confed. Army. I have heard that he was threatened, but I did not hear any threats myself. I think he was too loyal to the US Govt to have made a loyal citizen to the Confed. Govt. had they succeeded, he could not have lived here & further this deponent saith not.
Oct 26th 1871
D. M. Craun
Testimony: United States War Department
Archive Office,
WAR DEPARTMENT
March 21, 1876
Book 3, Letters Sent, page 169
Case of George Craun Augusta Co. Va.
Bill & voucher for 1140 lb of Hay at $3.00 amt. $34.00
Sold to R.S. Bell, Capt & Asst. Q. master for the use of the C.S.A. Paid at Staunton Sept. 21 1864
Testimony: United States War Department
Archive Office,
WAR DEPARTMENT
July 31, 1878
Book 3, Letters Sent, page 327
Case of George Craun Augusta Co. Va.
Mr. Craun sold the Confed. States Com. Department Fifty barrels of flour in the year 1863.
This flour was paid for by Commissary Agent Wm.J. Nelson on the 3d day of June 1863, at Staunton Va.
See receipt signed George Craun for the sum of $985.00 in payment for said flour.
Disallowed 1872.
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of George Craun, October 26, 1871, Claim No. 8944, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., fiche # 448.
