Summary: Thomas Hayden filed this claim August 11, 1871, claiming that Union troops confiscated 3 horses from him during the march through the Valley of Virginia in 1864 and 1 additional horse in 1865 during army occupation. Hayden kept a livery stable in Staunton, Augusta Co., Va. His claim was disallowed in 1873.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| 1 Sorrel horse, valued at | $150.00 | 0 | $150.00 |
| 1 Bay horse, valued at | $125.00 | 0 | $125.00 |
| 1 Brown horse, valued at | $150.00 | 0 | $150.00 |
| 1 Gray Mare, valued at | $160.00 | 0 | $160.00 |
Claims Summary:
Claimant swears to his loyal sympathies, but states that he was Conscripted arrested and put into the Rebel Army and served for more than a year during which time he had a furlough and a pass to visit his home in Staunton where he kept a Livery Stable. Some time late in the year 1864 he deserted and went to New York and got employment in the Navy Yard at Brooklyn. One witness only is called in support of his loyalty and he but repeats in the main what Claimant must have told him for there is no indication that he knew it of his own observation.
Then there is one other witness and the only one in regard to the property who says that the horses were taken by Gen Hunters Command directly after the battle of Piedmont (June 1864). This was during the time that Claimant according to his own statement was in the Rebel Army
We are not satisfied with the sufficiency of the evidence and therefore reject the Claim.
Testimony: Thomas Hayden
United States of America State of Va
I, W.G. Riley, a Commissioner, selected and designated by the Comm'rs of Claims 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 fact is, the matter of claim of Thomas Hayden vs. the United States of America and the witnesses herein named being first duly sworn
Answereth as follows.
Ques 1st Witness says. I resided in Staunton, Va at my Home, I kept a Livery Stable.
Ques 2d. Witness says. I regarded Staunton as my residence during the time from Apr 1st 64 to 1st June 1865. I was at home until conscripted in 1863, was carried to Richmond, Va under arrest subsequently was sent to Imboden's command, rebel Army, from which I deserted and went through the lines to New York and worked in the U.S. Navy Yard at Brooklyn N.Y. until the War closed.
Ques 3d} Witness says. I did not.
Ques 4th} Witness says I took no oath to bear allegiance to the Confederate states, or to support them in any way.
Ques 5th} Witness says I have never taken any amnesty oath. Never was pardoned by the President.
Ques 6th} Witness says I was forced into the Confederate Army
Ques 7th} Witness says I never held any office or place of trust under the Confederate Government. I held no clerkship.
Ques 9th} Witness says None except I was forced into the Confederate Army.
Ques 12th} Witness says I was never employed in the manufacture of anything whatever to aid the Confederacy nor was I interested in anything.
Ques 13th} Witness says I never had any interest or share in contracts or purchases of stores or supplies for the Confed Government.
Ques 14th} Witness says I never was engaged in Blockade running or illicit traffic between the lines of the Confederacy and the U. States.
Ques 15th} Witness says I left some time in the year 1864, and passed through the lines and worked in the Navy Yard at Brooklyn until the War ended.
Ques 16th} Witness says I never interested in any vessel used in navigating the ocean to or from any port in the Confederacy or upon any waters in the Confederacy.
Ques 17th} Witness says I was arrested by the Confederate Government and carried to Richmond, and held about one week and then carried to Imboden's Command, I did not take any oath to the Confederate Government to get a release. I never was arrested by the U.S. Government
Ques 18th} Witness says the Confederates took one horse, but I received no pay for the same.
Ques 19th} Witness says I never was threatened with damage to family person or property by the Confederate Government on account of my Union sentiments
Ques 20th} Witness says I never was molested or injured on account of my Union sentiments
Ques 21st} Witness says I never contributed any money or property in aid of the U.S. Government or Army or cause expect to work in the U.S. Navy Yard in Brooklyn.
Ques 22d} Witness says I worked at Navy Yard, Brooklyn part of the War
Ques 23d} Witness says he had no relatives in either of the Armies
Ques 24th} Witness says I had a Confederate bond for One thousand dollars, I was told it was best to get a bond.
Ques 25th} Witness says I have never given aid and Comfort to the rebellion voluntarily
Ques 26th} Witness says I never was engaged in making raids from Canada or in destroying commerce on the rivers adjoining Canada
Ques 27th} Witness says I never was engaged in holding in custody any persons taken by the Rebel Government as prisoners of War, except as a soldier, commanded by Col. Imboden.
Ques 28th} Witness says No, except as above stated.
Ques 29th} Witness says I never was a parolled prisoner of the United States
Ques 30th} Witness says I have never held any office in the Army or Navy of the United States, I was not educated West Point, nor the U.S. Naval Academy.
Ques 31st} Witness says I received a pass from Imboden of the Confederate Army to come to Staunton, for three or 4 days. I did not swear or sign any obligation or promise to bear true faith and allegiance to the Confederacy to get it. I did use the pass for coming to Staunton.
Ques 32 Witness says I was under no disabilties imposed by the 14th Art. to the Constitution of the U.S. I have held no office since the War.
Ques 33d} Witness says At the beginning of the rebellion, my sympathies were for the Union. I voted to stay in the Union.
Ques 34th} Witness says I solemly declare that from the beginning of hostilities to the United States to the end thereof, my sympathies were constantly in the cause of the U.S. and that I never of my own free will and accord did anything by word or deed to injure said cause and was ready at all times to assist the cause of the Union so far as my means and power and the circumstances of the case permitted.
Questions by the Commissioner
Ques 1st How old are you, Residence, and occupation?
Ans. I am about 45 years old, I reside near Staunton and am a farmer
Ques 2.} What was the condition of the property when taken, and what was its value?
Ans. I do not know, I was not at home I expect I was in the rebel Army, under Imboden. In my opinion I did not charge the Government too much.
Further this deponent saith not.
Thomas Hayden
Testimony: Daniel Bohan
Daniel Bohan a witness introduced by Thomas Hayden the claimant being first sworn answereth as follows.
Question 1st How old are you where do you reside and what is your occupation?
Answer I am fifty years old I reside in Staunton Augusta County Virginia by occupation a gardener.
Question 2 Do you know the Claimant mentioned in the petition if so state how long you have known him and all about his loyalty to the United States Government.
Answer I have known the Claimant seventeen or eighteen years I knew him well throughout the war and resided in Staunton with him I saw him often during the war I conversed with him about the war its causes and progress. He was loyal to the United States Government during the war he was regarded by his neighbors as a loyal man I don't think he contributed any money to aid the Union cause or the Union Army or gave information to the officers or soldiers of the Union Army in aid of the movements and cause they arrested him and put him in the Confederate Army, he deserted the Confederate Army and went to New York and worked in the Navy Yard, he did nothing voluntarily for the Confederate Army that I know of he owned no bonds or did anything to sustain the credit of the Confederate States
Question 3 Do you know any act done or language used by the Claimant which would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate Government. If so state the same particularly.
Answer He was too loyal to the United States Government to have been considered loyal to the Southern Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate government.
Further this deponent saith not August 11th 1871
Daniel Bohan his mark
Testimony: John Hussey
John Hussey a witness introduced by Thomas Hayden the claimant being first duly sworn answereth as follows.
Question 1 Witness says - I was present when the horses were taken belonging to the claimant
2 Witness says - I saw three of the horses taken
4 Witness says - They were taken Tuesday or Wednesday after the battle of Piedmont, they were taken from the pasture of the claimant by officers and soldiers under the command of Genl. Hunter the Captain was from Pennsylvania
5 Witness says - My children were present when I saw them taken
6 Witness says - A United States officer or Captain from Pennsylvania he ordered the horses to be taken that he needed horses to be taken that he needed horses for the United States Cavalry
7 Witness says - They took them out of the pasture and led them along he the claimant had four horses one of them was poor that one the soldiers left with me & told me to fatten him but I told them I had no grain to fatten him on and I told them to take him along as he was too poor to fatten
8 Witness says - The horses were led off by soldiers
9 Witness says - They were carried to the camp just outside of Staunton I did not follow them to the Camp I did not see the horses afterwards but I saw them leading them towards the camp
10 Witness says - The soldiers told me they were for the use of the army that their horses were broken down I did not see any of them used by the army I did not see them after they were taken
11 Witness says - There was no complaint made there was no one to complain
12 Witness says - There was no voucher or receipt asked for and none was given. I do not know the name of the officer, rank or regiment but I was told by the soldiers that he was a Captain from Pennsylvania
13 Witness says - The property was not taken in the night time it was taken in the day time about three o'clock in the afternoon they were not taken secretly
14 Witness says - When the property was taken the Army was encamped in that vicinity about three miles from where the property was taken by soldiers and officers under the command of Genl. Hunter. They had not been encamped there long they stayed there three or four days. There had been a battle at Piedmont in Augusta County Virginia the Sunday before the property was taken I did not know any of the Quarter Masters of the Army.
15 Witness says - The horses were in good order when taken I do not know how old they were I think they were worth what the Claimant has charged the Government in his petitions.
19 Witness says - They told me that they needed them in the Army and I believe they were taken for the Army and not for individual officers or soldiers.
20 Witness says - The soldiers told me that they were for the use of the Army and nobody else.
21 Witness says - They told me they were ordered to take wherever they could get good horses.
22 Witness says - He was a poor man they were taken for the use of the Army of the United States he was forced into the Confederate Army and therefore I think the Government ought to pay him for them
23 Witness says - They told me that they were ordered to take them and that they had authority to take them.
Further this witness saith not August the 11th 1871
John Hussey his mark
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 11th day of August 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and special Com. for the State of Va.
Testimony: M. C. Fuller
Commissioner of Claims, Washington D.C. May 5th 1874
MEMORANDUM: No. 10.259 Thomas Hayden, Augusta Co. Va.
I know Thos. Hayden, living 4 miles N.W. of Staunton, was in 18th Va. Cav. Imbodens Brigade, he was certain a Confederate, I have known him since I was a boy, is a farmer 50 years old, P.O. address Staunton, don't know any other Thos. Hayden.
Informant, M.C. Fuller
From S.E. Chamberlin Spl Comr
Testimony: United States War Department
Archive Office, WAR DEPARTMENT, March 30, 1878
Book 3, Letters Sent, page 287
Case of Ths. Hayden: Augusta Co. Va.
Bill & voucher For services of Slave Wesley from Octr. 14th to 31st Decr. 1862 at $15.00 per month $36.00.
Paid at Staunton Va. Dec 31st 1862 by Capt. R. Tuck a Q.M. C.S.A.
Also for Hauling & Carage. Hire of Wagons & teams Commission on Horse & mules over & Training mules amounting to $125.75
Paid Fredericksburg, Dec 10th 1861 by Capt M. H. Clump Q.M. C.S.Army
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Thomas Hayden, August 11, 1871, Claim No. 10,259, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., fiche # 977.
