Summary: Dr. William D. Ewing filed this claim in 1875 for $383.50, claiming the Union army took Cattle, sheep, oats, & sacks in 1864 during Sheridan's burning of the Shenandoah Valley. William was a 43 year old physician who resided near Burns Mills. As a Doctor and Prisoner of the Union Army, he treated both Confederate and Union soldiers. Included in this claim is the testimony of his African American servant, Nancy Becks. The claim was disallowed.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| Cattle, sheep, oats, & sacks | 383.50 | 0.00 | 383.50 |
Claims Summary:
Claimant is a physician. Was opposed to secession & voted for Union candidates to the secession Convention. But when the ordinance was submitted to the people he voted for its ratification & in his own language "Went with the state of course" when it seceded. He was commissioned as a surgeon & served as such in the Confederate Army & was taken prisoner by the federals.
Dr. Ewing did not remain a loyal adherent to the Cause & the government of the United States during the war and the claim is disallowed.
AO Aldis, Orange Ferriss, JB Howell
Commrs. of Claims
Testimony: William D. Ewing
My name is Wm. D. Ewing, my age 43 years, my residence Augusta County, in the State of Virginia, and my occupation a Physician; I am related to the claimant, and have beneficial interest in the claim.
2. I Burns Mills in Augusta County I period of the war.
3 & 4. No sir
5. Yes, I took it at Harrisonburg after the war.
6 to 8. inclusive no sir.
9 to 11. inclusive I was elected a surveyor of the company I belonged to before the war but was never commissioned as a surveyor in the Army. I acted as assistant with the medical corps and was taken prisoner at Winchester in 1864 and served Frederick Cityunder B.F. Ardice Surgeon of the U.S. Army where I was put with some wounded to Frederick City, Md. and to Balt; from whence I was sent Richmond under parole.
12 to 14. Inclusive No Sir
15. I was in the medical department.
16 to 21. Inclusive No Sir
22. Never only as afore related.
23 to 24. No Sir
25. Only when taken prisoner of the U.S.
26. Yes they killed some of my hogs and my wife for
26 to 29. Inclusive No sir
30. Yes I had a brother who was a member of a company before the war and he went with the company. He tried to get released on account of his age being over 45 but did not succeed. I tried to secure his release also. I did not furnish him with my equipments, money, nor clothing nor did I aid in any way while in the service. He was over 45 years of life and did not live with me. He was taken a prisoner and died before he came home.
31. No sir
32. In my capacity as a medical man I assisted the sick and wounded of both armies but not with the intention of aiding the rebellion.
33 to 35. inclusive No Sir
36. I was a paroled prisoner with the priveledges of the City of Winchester.
37. No Sir.
38. Yes I had a pass to come home with. I was not required to take any oath in order to get it.
39. No Sir.
40 & 41. I sympathized with the union cause. I was greatly distressed at the secession of So. Carolina. I voted for the union candidates for the convention but voted for the ratification of secession as a peace measure. It was maintained by our public men that if we were united in this measure it would lead to a reconciliation of our national difficulties and bring about a peace. That is the reason I voted for the ratification. When the State seceeded I went with the state of course.
In answer to the interrogatories as to the taking of the property deponent says, I was not present to witness the taking but was informed by my family that it was taken by a portion of the army under Gen. Sheridan at the time of the burning in the fall of 1864.
Item 1. Cows. My cows were of the improved stock good milkers and butter makers. I had 6 of them taken. They were worth on an average $40. a head.
I had a very fine heifer 5 or 6 head of sheep 5 bushels of oats and 3 sacks taken at the same time as I am informed and expect to - and further the deponent saith not.
Wm. D. Ewing
Testimony: Margaret A. Ewing
Deposition of Margaret A. Ewing as to the taking.
Property. I am 40 years old. I live with the claimant; he is my husband. I was present when the property was taken and saw it all taken except the sheep. The stock were all taken on the 29th day of Sept. 1864. They were driven away by five cavalry men about the time of the burning.
Item 1. Cattle. The Cattle were taken from a field in front of our house in plain view. The soldiers were taking other cattle also. There were 6 taken from us. 4 were milk cows and two were large heifers as fine as the cows and nearly as large.
Item 2. Heifer. The heifer was with the cows and was driven off with them. It was a calf if I recollect right about 2 months old.
Items 4 & 5. The oats were taken from our grainery by the parties that burned the barn. They took three of our sacks full of them and carried them away with them. After setting fire to our barn.
And further deponent saith not.
Margaret A. Ewing
Testimony: Mary A. Crawford
Deposition of Mary A. Crawford as to taking of
Sheep. I am 44 years old, live near to the claimant. He married my sister. I have no interest in his claim.
In the fall of 1864 when Gen. Shermans army was in this country collecting Stock and burning barns. I saw some of his troops come to the place where I was living and drive away a flock of 42 sheep. 6 of whom belonged to Dr. Ewing. I know there were 42 of them because I had salted and counted them about an hour before they were driven away. We had 36 head of sheep driven off at the same time. I was an eye witness to the taking and driving of them away.
The 6 sheep belonging to Dr. Ewing were in the habit of going with ours and they were all together when taken. The troops that took the sheep were all cavalry. There were a good many of them. They set our barn on fire at the same time.
and further the deponent saith not.
Mary Ann Crawford
Testimony: Nancy Becks
Nancy (colored) Becks duly sworn deposeth as follows. I am about 53 years old. I live with Dr. Ewing the claimant. I lived with him during the war. I was one of the servants of the family.
I was present and saw the northern soldiers drive off 6 head of cattle belonging to Dr. Ewing in Sept. sometime. I cant tell what year but it was when his barn was burnt by the soldiers.
There were 4 milck cows and 2 heifers nearly as big as the cows. I used to milk the cows; they were first rate ones for milk and butter.
There were 5 or 6 soldiers in the party. 3 of them went into the house to look for arms, one went to the barn and set it on fire and two of them drove the cattle away. The men who came to the house took all my money. I had five dollars.
They took 3 sacks and carried them away filled with oats. I held the bags for them to put the oats into them.
and further deponent saith not.
Nancy Becks her mark
Testimony: Mary A. Crawford
Deposition of Mary A. Crawford as to the Loyalty of Dr. William D. Ewing
I am 44 years old. I live near the claimant. He married my sister. I have no interest in his claim.
I hard him often speak in opposition to secession before the State seceded and I believe he was strongly opposed to it. When the war came on he was compelled to go and when taken prisoner at Winchester was engaged as an assistant Surgeon for the soldiers of both armies and when he came home I heard him say he was treated better by the yankees than by our own soldiers and if he had not a family here, he might have staid with them. I am confident he would not have staid in the confederacy if his family had not been here.
Everybody who was able to do military duty was drafted and there was no escape except at the risk of ones life.
and futher deponent saith not/
Mary Ann Crawford
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of William D. Ewing, 1875, Claim No. 17910, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., RG 123, Congressional Jurisdiction #8942.
