Summary: John A. Mann filed this claim in 1874 for $982.05, claiming the Union army under General Sheridan's command took various goods (including corn, flour, hay, tobacco, rye, bacon, beef, molassas, vinegar, coffee pots, kettles, buckets, crocks, and bags) in 1865. John was a 45 year old merhcant in Waynesboro who was totally blind. The claim was disallowed.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| 10 Barrels of Flour | $80.00 | $0.00 | $80.00 |
| 2 tons of Hay | $30.00 | $0.00 | $30.00 |
| 23 Bushels of Corn | $23.00 | $0.00 | $23.00 |
| 2 1/2 Bushels of Rye | $2.50 | $0.00 | $2.50 |
| 250 lbs. of Bacon | $31.50 | $0.00 | $31.50 |
| 200 lbs of Beef | $16.00 | $0.00 | $16.00 |
| 15 Gallons of Molasses (deducted) | our | $0.00 | out |
| 55 Gallons of Vinegar | $18.33 1/3 | $0.00 | $18.33 1/3 |
| 224 lbs of Tobacco | $168.00 | $0.00 | $168.00 |
| 4 boxes No. 98. 99. 101. 102 lbs in all 400 lbs | $340.00 | $0.00 | $340.00 |
| 1 Box of 60 lbs | $48.00 | $0.00 | $48.00 |
| 1 Box of 40 lbs of extra Grandey | $54.00 | $0.00 | $54.00 |
| 1 Box of smoking 240 lbs | $144.00 | $0.00 | $144.00 |
| 4 Coffee Potts Tin | $3.00 | $0.00 | $3.00 |
| 3 Brass camp Kettles (2 1/2, 3, & 4 Gates each) | $7.50 | $0.00 | $7.50 |
| 2 Tin pans & 3 Tin Buckets | $3.12 1/2 | $0.00 | $3.12 1/2 |
| 28 New Crocks | $3.50 | $0.00 | $3.50 |
| 24 Bags | $9.60 | $0.00 | $9.60 |
Claims Summary:
The claimant resided in Augusta Co.Va throughout the war, was totally blind. His business was merchandising. The testimony fails to satisfy us that he remined loyal to the union cause. There is no doubt whatever had the Confederacy succeeded he could have proved his loyalty to it by scores of witnesses. He voted to ratify the ordinance of secession. There was no necessity for this. Nobody would have harmed this blind man if he had stayed at home & not voted at all. Such was the course pursued by many persons opposed to secession and they were not harmed. One of his own witnesses says "I do not know whether he was strictly a Union man or not." The claim is disallowed.
Testimony: John A. Mann
My name is John A. Mann, my age 45 years, my residence Waynesboro Augusta Co, in the State of Virginia, and my occupation a Merchant; I am related to the claimant, and have beneficial interest in the claim.
Ques. 2. Ans. I resided in Waynesboro Augusta CoVa. during the whole of the war. My occupation was a Merchant. Made no change in my residence or business.
Ques. 3. Ans. I did not pass out or in.
Ques. 4. Ans. I never took an oath of any description to the Confederate States.
Ques. 5. Ans. I took an amnesty oath in Staunton Va. after the war closed. I never asked for a pardon.
Ques. 6. Ans. I never was in any manner connected with the civil service of the Confederate States.
Ques. 7. Ans. I never held any place of trust, honor or profit under the Confederate government, State or territory.
Ques. 8. Ans. I never held any clerkship, agency or employment of any kind.
Ques. 9. Ans. I never was in any capacity in the military service of the Confederate States.
Ques. 10. Ans. I never was an officer or soldier in the Confederate Army.
Ques. 11. Ans. I never belonged to the State Malitia.
Ques. 12. Ans. I never was in the home guard, or vigilance Committee, or committee of safety.
Ques. 13. Ans. I was not conscripted.
Ques. 14. Ans. I furnished no substitute.
Ques. 15. Ans. I had no connection with any department of the Confederate government or army.
Ques. 16. Ans. I never was employed in any railroad, nor engaged in the transportation of soldiers or anything also for the Confederacy.
Ques. 17. Ans. I never had charge of any supplies or stores, teams, Wagons, or of any thing whatever.
Ques. 18. Ans. I never was in any service, employment or business of any kind, nor furnished any aid whatsoever for the Confederate States, or any Military force or organization. Nor did I give any information.
Ques. 19. Ans. I never was engaged or employed in the manufacture of any article whatsoever, for the use of the Confederate Government or its army.
Ques. 20. Ans. I had no employment of any kind, nor contracts for the Confederacy or any State in rebellion.
Ques. 21. Ans. I never ran the blockade, or engaged or interested in illicit traffic nor of goods, wares, merchandise brought into or exported.
Ques. 22. Ans. I never left the lines, during the time of the war.
Ques. 23. Ans. I had no interest in any vessel on any waters, for any purpose.
Ques. 24. Ans. I never was arrested by either the Confederate or the United States Government.
Ques. 25. Ans. I never had any property taken by the Confederate Government.
Ques. 26. Ans. I have no recollection of bein threatened and never was injured.
Ques. 27. Ans. I never was molested or injured.
Ques. 28. Ans. I never contributed anything for the United States. I never was called on.
Ques. 29. Ans. I never did anything for the United States Government, its army or the Union cause.
Ques. 30. Ans. I had one brother, Francis M. Mann, he is ded. I furnished him nothing.
Ques. 31. Ans. I bought a Confederate bond to pay Confederate tax. I made no bones. Nor did anything to support the credit of the Confederacy.
Ques. 32. Ans. I never give any aid and comfort to the rebellion.
Ques. 33. Ans. I never made raids from Canada or elsewhere.
Ques. 34. Ans. I never had anything to do with prisoners, in any way or for any cause.
Ques. 35. Ans. I never belonged to any society or association for the punishment of persons for any cause.
Ques. 36. Ans. I never was a parolled prisoner.
Ques. 37. Ans. I never held an office, nor was educated at any Military school.
Ques. 38. Ans. I had a pass from my home to Richmond and return. I went to purchase goods. I took no oath.
Ques. 39. Ans. I was under no disabilities.
Ques. 40. Ans. At the beginning of the rebellion, my sympathies were with the Union. I voted for Union Candidates to the State Convention I voted for the Ordinance of Secession against my consent owing to threats that was made against those who refused to do so and being totally blind and a family to support I feared the consequences of a refusal on my part, but my feelings and sympathies were all the time with the Union.
Ques. 41. Ans. I do solemnly declare that from the beginning of hostilities against the United States to the end thereof, my sympathies were constantly with the cause of the United States that I never of my own free will and accord did anything or offered or sought or attempted to do anything by word or dead to injure said cause or retard its success and that I was at all times ready and willing when called upon to aid and assist the cause of the Union or its supporters, so far as my means and power and the circumstances would permit.
Testimony of taking the property
Ques. 1. & 2. Ans. I was present when part of the articles were taken, but being blind could not see.
Ques. 3. Ans. The flour was at my residence and all the articles, except the tobacco and Coffee Pots, which were at my store room.
Ques. 4. Ans. The Flour, Corn, Rye, Bacon, Beef, Bags, Vinegar, Brass Kettles, Crocks & Hay were taken from my dwelling and the Tobacco & Coffee Pots from my store room. I think about the 2d day of February or March, in 1865 by Genl. Sheridan's Command. There were a large number of soldiers present and engaged in taking the articles.
Ques. 5. Ans. There was a colered woman by name of Nancy Brock present.
Ques. 6. Ans. I do not know whether there was an officer present or not, the Command belonged to Genl. Sheridan.
Ques. 7. Ans. The Flour was rolled out, and then emptied into bags, and the Vinegar in buckets, Coffee pots & pans.
Ques. 8. Ans. The property was removed to their camp by soldiers. I asked them not take my provisions that they saw my condition being blind, and they replied that they were obliged to have provisions that they had no prisoner train.
Ques. 9. Ans. The property was taken to the camps, in and around the town.
Ques. 10. Ans. They told me they wanted provisions. I did not follow.
Ques. 11. Ans. I made no complaint to any officer.
Ques. 12. Ans. I did not get a receipt, I did not apply for one.
Ques. 13. Ans. The articles were all taken in the day time, in the afternoon.
Ques. 14. Ans. The army was encamped in and around the town. They remained there but one night. There was a skirmish, with Genl. Early. I knew no Quarter Master or other officer.
Ques. 15. Ans. The Flour was a first rate article, I had refused the day previous ten dollars in gold per barrel. A portion of the corn was shelled and the balance on the cob. The hay was good, sound good Bacon. The Vinegar was of an excellent quality, the Kettles, Coffe Pots, Crocks & pans all new. The bags were all sound and good. I judged the quantity of hay, by the amount I knew my house held. I had purchased the Corn only three days previously, and none of it had been used. I made the Bacon and knew that that amount was taken. The boxes of Tobacco were unbroken, except one which contained 40 pounds. One Case of Smoking Tobacco, was unbroken and contained 200 pounds, and the balance was in 1/2 pound packages. The flour was in barrels and 10 of them. Every article taken was good and sound.
John A. Mann
Testimony: Susan A. Mann
Deposition of Susan A. Mann
Answer to first general question. My name is Susan A. Mann, my age is 39 years. I reside in Waynesboro. I am the wife of the claimant. I was present and saw the property taken. I saw all the property taken, which was from the dwelling, Flour, Corn, Rye, Bacon, Vinegar, hay, Crocks, Bags, & Kettles.
Ques. 3. Ans. The flour was rolled out of the house into the garden. The Bacon from the Smoke house, and hay and corn and everything taken from the dwelling was from the places where such articles are usually kept by families.
Ques. 4. Ans. The articles were taken to the camp, so far as I know. I have no recollection of the time, I know the year was 1865. Genl. Sheridan I understood was the Commander. There were a large number of soldiers present. I do not know whether there was an officer present or not. Nancy Brock, a colered woman was present. I know of no officer being present. I do not recollect anything that was said except that I told them my husband was blind, and asked them not to take my provisions, and the reply was that I "had better go to the house." The flour was emptied from the barrels into bags. The bags taken from us was used for that purpose. They hay was carried by the soldiers. The Bacon was carried by the soldiers in their hands and the Vinegar in Coffee Pots, Crocks pans &c. to the camp. I never saw the articles after it was taken away. There was no complaint made to any officer that I know of and no receipt given. The property was taken in the day time in the Afternoon. The army was camped in different places in and around the town. It remained one night.
There had been a fight with Genl. Early. The day that Genl. Sheridan came to the town. The property was sound and good as far as I know.
S.A. Mann
Testimony: Rufus M. Markwood
Deposition of Rufus M. Markwood.
Answer to 1stGenl. Question. My name is Rufus M. Markwood, my age is 53 years. I reside near Waynesboro. I am by occupation a Carpenter. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in the claim. I have known the claimant some 12 or 15 years. I was intimate with him during the war. I was in Waynesboro working at my trade most of the war. I saw him frequently and had frequent conversations about the war, he always denounced the south for going into the rebellion. I never heard him express himself in the presence of others. he was very free to talk with me, as he knew me to be a strong Union man. The Union men of the town and neighborhood regarded him as a good Union man. I have heard him say to others that it was very unwise for the South to rebel. There was a great many threats made against any who voted against Secession. There were parties banded together to lynch any one who voted against the Ordinance and my impression that alone caused the claimant to vote for it, for owing to his situation being blind, he was in a dependant situation and I do not believe that had he voted against Secession or refused to vote for it, he could have gotten patronage to support his family. I do not believe from what I knew of the claimant that he could have proven his loyalty to the Confederate States, if they had succeeded.
R. M. Markwood
Testimony: Benjamin M. Lines
Deposition of Benjamin M. Lines.
Ans. to 1st general question. My name is Benjamin M. Lines, my age is 73 years. I reside near Waynesboro. My occupation is Post Master, & Shoemaker. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in the claim. I have known the claimant for over fifteen years. I lived about 3 miles distant from the claimant during the war. I saw him frequently, probably once a week. I do not recollect of talking with him about the War. The claimant knew my sentiments to be in favor of the Union. I do not know whether he was strictly a Union man or not. I think however, that he was so inclined, but I had no particular conversation with him on the subject. It was not at all prudent in that town (Waynesboro) and neighborhood for a man to express himself against secession. The claimant being a blind man and having a small variety store would have been in danger of losing his goods and reduced to want, if he had expressed himself openly in favor of the Union. I know a part of his Union neighbors regarded him as a Union man. I never heard of his giving anything to aid the Confederates. When Stonewall Jackson, had a large number of prisoners enroute to Richmond the claimant sent or carried provisions to the prisoners. I do not know whether he could have proved his loyalty to the Confederacy or not.
Benjm. M. Lines
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of John A. Mann, 1874, Claim No. 20294, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington D.C., RG 123, Congressional Jurisdiction #8614.
