Valley Southern Claims Commission Papers



Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Frederick K. Kline, 1871, Claim No. 2580

Summary: Frederick K. Kline filed this claim in 1871 for $895, claiming the Union army took three horses, two cows and eleven cattle in 1864. Frederick was a 43 year old farmer who spent 5 weeks in Indiana to avoid Confederate service and was threatened by Confederate neighbors because of his Unionist sentiments. The commission allowed $568.

Items Claimed:

Item Claimed: Amount Claimed: Amount Allowed: Amount Disallowed:
One Bay Mare $125.00 $100.00 $25.00
1 Brown Mare $175.00 $0.00 $175.00
2 Gray Mares $240.00 $200.00 $40.00
2 Milk Cows $80.00 $70.00 $10.00
11 head Young Cattle $275.00 $198.00 $77.00


Claims Summary:

The loyalty of Claimaint is established by his own Statements under Oath and the testimony of B.F. Wampler and Samuel Click to loyal Acts, Conversations, and reputation of Claimant And to his adherence to the Cause of the Union throughout the war.

Property was taken in the fall of 1864 by soldiers of Gen Sheridan's Command. The taking of the Brown horse is not proved except referentially and we disallow the claim.

We allow five hundred and sixty eight dollars.

A.O. Aldis, JB HowellCommrs of Claims


Testimony: Frederick K. Kline to prove loyalty

I am 43 years old. I reside in Augusta Co Va. I am a farmer. Have lived where I now am for fifteen years.

3. Witness says: I went to Indiana in 1861 & came back to my home in about 5 weeks. I worked on a far while there.

4. Witness says: I never took an oath of allegiance to the Confed.Govt.

5. Witness says: I took the amnesty oath in 1865 at Staunton Va. All were required to take it. I have never been pardoned by the Presdt.

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 office or place of honor profit or trust under the Confed States.

8. Witness says, I never held any clerkship agency or employment of any kind under 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 either the army or navy of the Confed. States. I furnished a substitute for the Confed. Army. Never was in any way connected with any department of the ConfedGovt. Never had charge of any stores, supplies or goods of any kind for the Confed.Govt. Nor any teams wagons or wagon trains. My team was impressed once, & I went part of the time with it.

11. Witness says, I never was directly nor indirectly employed in the manufacture of munitions of war, shoes, clothing or goods of any kind for the Confed.Govt. & had no interest or share in any.

12. Witness says, I never was in any service or employment of any kind under the Confed.Govt. Never furnished any aid or supplies, or gave any information to any officer soldier sailor or Marine of the Confederate States.

13. Witness says, I never was directly nor indirectly employed in the collection or impressment of stores or supplies of any kind for the ConfedGovt, nor aided others in so doing.

14. Witness says, I never was engaged in blockade running or illicit traffic between the lines, & had no interest therein.

15. Witness says, I left the Confed. States in 1861 & went to Indianna to avoid the war. Stayed about 5 weeks, & returned to my home in Augusta Co.Va. worked on a farm while in Indianna.

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 never was arrested by either the U.S. or Confederate Govts.

18. Witness says, I had no property taken by the ConfedGovt.

19. Witness says, I was threatened while I was west. Some of my neighbors threatened to sell my property, because I was a union man.

21. Witness says: I never contributed any thing to the USGovt. except I helped men through the lines to go north.

23. Witness says, I had no near relatives in either the Union or Confed armies.

24. Witness says, I have never owned any Confed. bonds, nor done any thing to support the credit of the Confed. States.

25. Witness says, I have never given aid or comfort to the rebellion.

26. Witness says I never was engaged in raiding into the U.S. nor in destroying its commerce.

27. Witness says, I never was 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 persecutuion or imprisonment of any person on account of Union sentiments & never assisted in such acts.

29. Witness says I never was a paroled prisoner of the U.S.

30. Witness says: Never held any office in either the Army or Navy of the U.S. was not educated either at West Point or the Naval Academy.

31. Witness says: I recd a pass from the Confed.Govt. to come from Richd. home. I had been selling stock to a Dom: Merchant. I took no oath to get the pass.

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 under the U.S. since the war.

33. Witness says, At the beginning of the war, I sympathised with the cause of the Union. I did not vote either for or against the ordinance of secession. After its adoption I adhered to the cause of the Union & did not go with my State.

34. Witness says, I was ready & willing at all times to aid the cause of the Union, so far as my circumstances permitted, & further this deponent saith not. Oct 4th 1871.

Frederick R. Cline

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 4th day of Oct. 1871.

WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Com for State of Va.


Testimony: Samuel Glick

Deposition of Samuel Glick to prove taking property.

1. Witness says: I am 47 years old. I reside in Augusta Co. Va. I am a farmer. I was present & saw some of the property mentioned in the claimants petition taken.

4. Witness says, The property was taken in 1864 from the farm of the claimant, by officers & soldiers of the Union Army under Comd. of Genl Sheridan.

6. Witness says: I have no doubt there were officres present, the whole army was there.

15. Witness says, I saw item #4, 2 cows taken, were worth $40.00 each. Item #5, 11 young cattle, were worth $25.00 each 2 1/2 years old, they were all in good condition & firm stock, & were taken by Genl Sheridans army.

19. Witness says: The property was taken for use of the U.S. Army, & not for private use.

22. Witness says, I think the property was taken for the necessary use of the Govt. & ought to be paid for.

23. Witness say, I think those who took the property had authority to take it, or order it taken, & further this deponent sayeth not. Oct. 4th 1871.

Samuel Glick

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 4th day of Oct. 1871.

WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Comr for State of Va.


Testimony: Emma C. Cline

Deposition of Miss Emma C. Cline to prove taking of the property.

1. Witness says I am 18 years old. I reside in Augusta CoVa. I am a Lady. I was present & saw four horses taken, mentioned in the claimants petition.

4. Witness says The horses were taken 29th day of Sept. 1864, from the farm of the claimant, by officers & soldiers of the Union Army under comd. of Genl. Sheridan.

6. Witness says: There was an officer present. I did not know his name rank or regt. The Soldiers said the officer ordered the property to be taken.

7. Witness says, The soldiers drove the horses off as far as I could see.

9. Witness says, The army was marching by. I do not know where the horses were taken.

10. Witness says: I do not know for what use the property was taken.

15. Witness says, The horses were all in good condition except one. Item #1, one mare, don't know her age or worth. Item #2, I did not see taken, but I know it was taken. Item #3, 2 mares, don't know their ages or worth, the bay mare I think was 4 years old. Saw no other property taken mentioned in the claimants petition.

19. Witness says, I think the property was taken for the use of the U.S. Army, & not for private use.

22. Witness says, I think the property was taken for the necessary use of the Govt. & ought to be paid for.

23. Witness says: Those who took the property said they had orders to take it, & further this deponent sayeith not. Oct. 4th 1871.

Emma Cline

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 4th day of Oct. 1871.

WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Comr for State of Va.


Testimony: Benj. F. Wampler

Deposition of Benj. F. Wampler to prove loyalty.

1. Witness says, I am 37 years old I reside in Augusta CoVa. I am a farmer. I have known the claimant 15 years. Live near him. Saw him very often during the war. Talked with him about the war. I regarded him as loyal to the U.S. Govt. & he was so regarded by his neighbors. He talked & acted that way at any rate. I do not know that he ever did anything for the U.S.Govt. I do not know that he ever did anything for the rebel Govt, except by compulsion, he preferred to let private individuals have his property rather than the Confed.Govt. The Confederates threatened to tar & feather him on account of his Union sentiments he went west & came back.

I think he was too loyal to the U.S.Govt to have made a loyal citizen to the ConfedGovt, had it suceeded. He told me he could not & would not live in the Confed if it suceeded. He inteded to move away & further this deponent sayeth not. Oct. 4th 1871.

Benjamin F Wampler

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 4th day of Oct. 1871.

WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Comr for State of Va.


Testimony: Samuel Glick

Deposition Samuel Glick to prove loyalty.

1. Witness says: I am 47 years old I reside in Augusta Co.Va. I am a farmer. I have known the claimant 30 years. Live half mile from him. Saw him often & talked with him about the war. I regarded him as loyal to the U.S.Govt, & he was so regarded by his neighbors. Never knew him to do anything for either the U.S. or Confederate Govts. The Confederates came to his house one night & threatened to tar & feather him on account of his union sentiments. They threatened to confiscate his property after he returned from the north. I think he was too loyal to the U.S.Govt to have made a loyal citizen to the Confed.Govt had it succeeded. He would have left the state, & further this deponent sayeth not. Oct 4th 1871.

Samuel Glick

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 4th day of Oct. 1871.

WG Riley United States Commissioner and special Comr for State of Va.


Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Frederick K. Kline, 1871, Claim No. 2580, Source copy consulted: National Archives, College Park, RG 217, claim #2580.



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