Summary: Christian Kline filed this claim in 1872 for $555, claiming the General Hunter's Union army took two horses and three cows in 1864 during Sheridan's burning of the Shenandoah Valley. Christian was a 62 year old farmer and miller near Mount Sidney. He was a member of the Dunker (German Baptist) church. The claim was disallowed.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| The claim consists of 5 items amounting to | $555.00 | $0.00 | $555.00 |
Claims Summary:
It is a peculiar circumstance that Claimant fails to answer question 10 which amongst other items relates to the employment of a Substitute. He does swear however that he owned a Mill, and sold supplies to the Rebel Army and received pay therefore and that he obtained passes and used them to go to Staunton and to Richmond.
Only one witness and he of the same name, and probably a near relative is called to prove loyalty.
We are not satsified with the evidence of loyalty and therefore reject the Claim.
Testimony: Christian Kline
United States of America
State of Va.
I, W.H. Riley, a commissioner selected & designated by the commissioner 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 deposition is & the fact is the matter of claim of Christian Kline vs: the U. States of America and the witness herein named being first duly sworn answereth as follows.
Ques. 1. Witness says: I am 62 years old reside in Augusta Co.Va. have lived where I now do during my life time.
3. Witness says: I did not pass the military or naval lines of the U.S. & enter the rebel lines.
4. Witness says: Don't think I ever took an oath of allegiance to the Confederate States.
5. Witness says: I took the amnesty oath in 1865 in Staunton Va. Have never been pardoned by the Presdt.
6. Witness says: I was never directly nor indirectly connected with the civil service of the Confed. States.
7. Witness says: Never held any office under the Confederate Govt.
9. Witness says: I was never in any capacity in the military or naval service of the Confederate States.
11. Witness says: Never was in any service, employment, or business of any kind for the Confed. Govt. or in army or navy. I owned a mill & sold Flour to the Confederate Govt.
12. Witness says: I never was employed in the manufacture of any kind of goods for the Confederate army or navy.
13. Witness says: Not except in selling Flour & corn. My team was impressed to haul stones for the Confederate Govt. think the team was driven by my son.
14. Witness says: I never was engaged in blockade running.
15. Witness says: I did not leave the Confederate States between the 19th of April 1861 & April 19th 1865.
16. Witness says: Never owned nor had any vessel running from a confederate port.
17. Witness says: Was never arrested either by the Confederate or U. States Govts.
18. Witness says: They frequently took corn by impressment, they paid for it.
19. Witness says: I was never threatened injured nor molested in my person or any of my family on account of my union sentiments.
21. Witness says: I never aided the UStatesGovt. but I loaned money to men going into the union lines.
23. Witness says: Had no near relatives in the armies of either the confederate or U.S. except a nephew in the Confed. army. Did nothing to equip or assist him.
24. Witness says: Have never owned any confederate notes. Did nothing to support the credit of the Confed.Govt.
25. Witness says: I have done nothing that I know of to aid the Confed.Govt.
26. Witness says: I never was engaged in making raids into the U.S. from Canada or in destroying its commerce.
27. Witness says: I never was engaged in holding persons taken by the rebel Govt. as prisoners of war.
28. Witness says: Never was a member of any society for the execution or persecution of any person on account of their loyalty to the U.S.
29. Witness says: Never was a paroled prisoner of the U.S.
30. Witness says: Have never held any position in either the army or Navy of the U.S. was not educated at either West Point or the Naval Academy.
31. Witness says: Never recd any pass from any officer of the Confed.Govt. except to pass from my home to Staunton & to go to Richmond Va. took no oath to obtain such pass I suppose I used the pass.
32. Witness says: I was under no disability imposed by the 14th amendment. Have held no office under the U.S. Govt. since the war.
33. Witness says: At the beginning of the war I was for the union, & against the confederacy. I did not vote either for or against the ordinance of secession, I adhered to the union & did not go with my state.
34. Witness says: I was ready & willing to aid the Govt. of the U.S. at all times during the war except in bearing arms, which is contrary to my religion (German Baptist) & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sept. 8th 1871 Christian Kline
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 8th day of Sept. 1871
WG Riley
United States Commissioner and Special Com. for State of Va.
In pursuance of an application filed to take additional testimony, Christian Kline, claimant, being sworn deposes and says:
I saw all the property charge in my account taken. The roan horse item No. I.) was taken by Gen. Hunter's army in the year 1864. It was on the 8th day of June. The horse was in the stable when taken. A squad of men came and took the horse. I think there was an officer with them. No conversation took place when the horse was taken. I did not try to recover the horse. I did not ask for or receive any receipt. The horse was a young horse. I do not remember his age. I think he was about three years old. The other three horses and the three cows were taken by Gen. Sheridans army at the time he made his Burning Raid through the Valley. The horses were in the field except one and the cows were in the field. The army passed along the road by my house and drove all the stock away. I saw them driving the horses and cattle past my house. There was no conversation held at the time. There were a large number of soldiers present who took the horses and cattle. I heard one of the soldiers address one of the officers as "Captain." I do not know the names of any of the officers. One was a black mare 8 or 9 years old. She was worth $125. One was a gray mare about eleven or twelve years old and was worth $120. One was a bay horse about twenty years old, a very fine horse, and was worth $80. The three cows were milck cows. They were of moderate age. I do not know how many pounds of beef they would have made. They were worth on the hoof, $35 each. Further deponent saith not.
Christian Kline
Testimony: Martin Kline
Martin Kline, witness to prove property taken being sworn deposes and says:
I am 30 years old and live near New Hope, Augusta Co., Va. I am a farmer. Am a son of the claimant and have no interest in his claim. I was present and saw four one horse taken from the claimant at the time of the fight at Piedmont, by the U.S. army in the third year of the war and three horses and four (4) cows and one heifer at the time of the Burning Raid under Sheridan. I also saw four cows and one heifer taken at the same time. One was a roan horse about five years old. One was a black mare, about eight years old. One was a gray hors mare about nine ore or ten years old. The other was a bay horse, about nineteen yeas old. Two of these horses were in the field back of the barn & one was in the stable, and in when taken. I am not sure that I saw the bay horse taken saw my father ride the horse down to the river where the Union troops were and saw him come back in a few minutes without the horse. The army was passing my father's farm at the time, and it took all this stock away with them. The army was encamped three or four miles off. I did not hear any conversation between the officers or soldiers and my father at the time the horses and cattle were taken. Further deponent saith not.
Martin Kline
Testimony: Frederick M. Cline
Frederick M. Cline, witness for claimant, being affirmed by the Commissioner, deposes and says: I am 31 years old, and reside near Mt. Sidney, Va. I am a farmer. I am a son of the claimant and have no interest in this claim. I was present and saw the horses taken at the time of Sheridan's Burning Raid, by the United States troops. The horses were driven down the lane, from the barn, in my presence. I also saw them at the same time driving away four cows and one heifer belonging to my father at the same time. They were in a drove with other cattle. I was not near enough to hear any conversation. One horse was a bay, about nineteen years old, one a black mare about seven years old, and the color or age of the other I do not remember. I do not know that there was any officer along with the soldiers who had the cattle or horses. The bay horse was worth $90, the black mare was worth $120, and the other one about $120. The cows & heifer were worth, on the hoof, about $120. I do not know how much beef that would have made.
Further deponent saith not.
Frederick M. Kline
Testimony: John Wampler
John Wampler, witness to prove loyalty being affirmed by the Commissioner, deposes and says: I am 44 years old and reside near Mt. Sidney, Augusta Co. Va.I am a farmer. I lived about two miles from the claimant during the war. I am not related to him and have no interest in this claim. I lived about two miles from him during the war. I saw him about once every two weeks. I talked often with him in regard to the cause and progress of the war. He always expressed himself for the Union cause and the Union army. I heard him so express himself in the presence of others. I am a Union man and the claimant so regarded me. I knew what his reputation was for loyalty. It was that of a loyal man. He was regarded a Union man by his disloyal neighbors. He aided his sons to escape North. I do not know that he suffered any injury on account of his Union sentiment. He advised Union men to leave and go North. He contributed provisions to Union soldiers in the hospital near New Hope, Va. I never knew him to own any Confederate Bonds. I never knew him to render any aid to the Rebels, except what he was compelled to do. His language used in my presence would have prevented him from proving his loyalty to the Confederate government if it had suceeded in maintaining a separate existence.
Further deponent saith not.
John Wampler
Testimony: Joseph Click
Joseph Click, witness to prove loyalty of claimant, being affirmed by the Commissioner, deposes and says:
I am 53 years old and reside near Mt. Sidney, Va. I am a farmer. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in the claim. I lived about three miles from him during the war and saw him very often. I talked with him about the cause and progress of the war. He always expressed Union sentiments. I heard him so express himself in the presence of others. I knew what his reputation was for loyalty. It was that of a loyal man. He was so regarded by all men in the neighborhood. I was a loyal man and the claimant so regarded me. I never knew him to own any Confederate Bonds. I never knew him to do anything for either army, except what he was compelled to do by the rebels. I knew him to aid refugees in escaping from the Rebels. I never knew him to be injured or molested on account of his Union sentiments. His public reputation and his course, generally, during the war, would have prevented him from proving his loyalty to the Confederate government if it had succeded in maintaining a separate existence.
Further deponent saith not.
Joseph Click.
Testimony: Joseph M. Cline
Joseph M. Cline a witness introduced by the claimant to prove the taking and furnishing of the property mentioned in the claimants petition, being duly sworn answers as follows.
Ques 1. Witness says: I am 34 years old. I reside in Augusta Co., by profession a Minister of the Gospel. I was present when the articles mentioned in the claimants petition were taken, saw some of them taken. I saw one horse taken, & am satisfied two others were taken at the same time. I think the fourth horse was taken from the stable, but am not certain, I did not see the milck cows mentioned in the petition taken.
4. Witness says: The articles were taken during Genl. Sheridans raid, from the claimants farm by Union Soldiers.
5. Witness says: Three other persons were present when the property was taken.
6. Witness says: I suppose there were some officers present when the property was taken. Do not know their rank or the army to which they belonged but suppose they were Sheridans men.
8. Witness says: The property was removed by soldiers, one horse was ridden but dont know about the other property.
9. Witness says: I do not know to what place the property was removed.
10. Witness says: I do not know for what use the property was taken, except the bay horse was moutetd by what I supposed to be a cavalry man.
11. Witness says: No complaint was made to any officer on account of such taking.
12. Witness says: There was no receipt given, none asked for.
13. Witness says: The property was taken about 4 o'clock in the day.
14. Witness says: The army was encamped nearby the day before the property was taken but can not say whether they had moved when the property was taken. Don't know the Regt. or Brigade, it was Sheridan Army. There was no battle or skirmish just before the property was taken.
15. Witness says: The horses were in good condition. One roan horse was 4 years old, I think he was worth $120.00. One grey mare, 10 years old worth $100. One bay horse 20 years old worth $50.00. Don't know any thing about the cows.
19. Witness says: I believe the prosperity mentioned was taken for use in the union army & not for private use.
22. Witeness says: I think the property was taken for some purpose so necessary that the Govt. ought to pay for it.
23. Witness says: I don't know that those who took the property had orders to do so. & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sept. 8th 1871 Joseph M Cline
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 8thSept 1871
WG Riley
United States Commissioner and Special Com. for State of Va.
Testimony: Joseph M. Cline
Joseph M. Cline a witness introduced by the claimant to prove his loyalty, being duly sworn, answers as follows.
Ques 1. Witness says: I am 34 years old, reside in Augusta Co.Va. & by profession a Minister of the Gospel. Have known the claimant during my life time. Saw him all the time during the war. Talked with him often & believe that he was at all times loyal to the Govt. of the U.S. He was so regarded by his neighbors. Did not know him to do any thing for the U.S.govt. during the war, as he had no opportunity. He told young men to leave & go north. He sold supplies to the Confederate Govt. & had some impressed. I do not know that he was paid for any. I think he was too loyal to be called a southern man. I saw nothing in him like sympathy for the south. & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sept. 8th 1871 Joseph M. Cline
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 8th of Sept. 1871
WG Riley
United States Commissioner and Special Com. for State of Va.
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Christian Kline, September 8, 1871, Claim No. 2503, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C. RG 123, Congressional Jurisdiction #2503.
