Summary: John Brown filed this claim in 1879 for $250, claiming the Union army took two horses in 1864. John was a 41-year-old farmer. His dislike of the Confederacy forced him to seek refuge in the mountains after he was unable to reach Union lines due to an injury. He was threatened by Confederates and had a brother-in-law in the Union Army. The commission allowed $210.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| 1 grey mare | $140.00 | $110.00 | $30.00 |
| 1 black mare | $110.00 | $100.00 | $10.00 |
Claims Summary:
John Brown was a blacksmith. He says he ws always for the Union & hated the Confederacy. He left his house & went through the lines and was gone one or two years & did not return till the close of the war. "The rebels despised him & some said he ought to be hung, & one man told me he would not get him to do any more work for him that he would rather hang him than give him work to do." -Three witnesses testify to his loyalty. He had a brother in law in the Union Army.
Loyalty proved.
The horses were taken in June 1864 for Army Use -taken to the Camp at Staunton. We allow $210.
AO Aldis, O. Ferris, JB HowellCommrs of Claims
Testimony: John Brown
United States of America, State of Virginia SS
J.W.G. Riley a Commissioner selected and designated by the Commisioner of Claims appointed under the act of Congress of March 3rd 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 John Brown vs the United States of America and the witness herein named being first duly sworn answereth as follows.
1st Witness says -He resided in Augusta Co.Va. at home all the time-farming.
2d Witness says -I resided in Augusta Co.Va. except what time I was in the mountains trying to get through the Confederate lines. His occupation all the time a farmer.
3d Witness says -I never passed the military or Naval lines of the United States to enter the rebel lines, but tried to get into the U.S. lines.
4th Witness says I never took an oath or affirmation to bear allegiance to the so called Confederate States, or to aid or support them in any way.
5th Witness says, I have never taken any Amnesty oath. I never was pardoned by the President.
6th Witness says I was never directly or indirectly, or in any manner connected with the civil service of the so-called Confederate States.
7th Witness says I never held any office or place of trust, honor or profit under the so called Confederate States, or territories subordinate thereto.
8th Witness says I never held a clerkship or have any agency or employment of any kind for the benefit of the so-called Confederate Government.
9th Witness says, No.
10th Witness says I never was in any department or bureau of the Confederate Army or Government. I never had charge of stores, supplies, trains, teams wagons or wagons vessels or any thing else for the use of the Confederacy.
11th Witness says I never furnished any thing voluntarily.
12th Witness says, I was never engaged or employed in the manufacture of any article for the benefit or use of the Confederate Government whatever.
13th Witness says No, emphatically.
14th Witness says, I never was engaged in blockade running or illicit traffic between the lines. I had no interest or share in any such trade or traffic.
15th Witness says I did try to leave the Confederate lines, but got crippled and could not. I was leaving because of my hatred to the Confederacy and its cause.
16th Witness says, I was not the owner or part owner of any vessels whatever.
17th Witness says I was never arrested by any officer, or soldier of the Confederate Government. Efforts were made to do so, but failed.
18th Witness says I had one horse taken by the Confederate Government, I never received any pay therefor.
19th Witness says, I do not know that I was threatened with damage in any way, on account of my Unionism.
20th Witness says, There was a great deal of talk, but I was never molested.
21st Witness says I frequently fed the soldiers at my house, while they were in camp at Staunton, Va.
22d Witness says, I did nothing, not having an opportunity to do so.
23d Witness says I had a brother in law in the Union Army, but no relation in the rebel Army.
24th Witness says I never had any Confederate Bond, or any interest in any, and never did anything to support the Credit of the so called Confederate Government.
25th Witness says I have never given any aid or comfort to to the rebellion.
26th Witness says, No, I never was.
27th Witness says, I never was so engaged either directly or indirectly.
28th Witness says I have never belonged to any society or association for the imprisonment, expulsion execution or other persecutions of any persons on account of their loyalty to the United States Government.
29th Witness says I never was a paroled prisoner of the U.S.
30th Witness says I have never held any office Military or Naval in of the U.S. neither educated at any Military or Naval Academy of the U.S.
31st Witness says I never had a pass from the Confederate Government or Officer thereof, for any cause whatever, and took no Oath of any description.
32d Witness say I have never been under disabilities imposed by any article of the U.S. Constitution I have not held any office since the war.
33d Witness says I sympathised with the Union Cause. I said a great deal, said that I would never fight against the Union. I exerted my influence in favor of the Union. I did not for or against the ordinance of Secession.
34th Witness says, 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 U.S. that I never of my own free will and accord did anything or offered or sought or attempted to do any thing by word or deed 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 of the case permitted.
Questions by the Commissioner
1st How old are you, Where do you reside and what is your occupation? Answer-I am about 41 years old. I reside in Augusta Co. Va. My occupation is a farmer.
2d What was the condition and value of the property taken by the Government of the United States named in the petition? Ans. They were in good condition and worth all I have charged. Further this deponent saith not. August 14th 1871.
John Brown
Testimony: George A. Shuey
George A. Shuey, a witness introduced by John Brown, the claimant to prove his loyalty to the United States Government, being duly sworn answereth as follows.
Questions by the Commissioner
1st How old are you, where do you reside. My profession a minister and farmer. Answer, I am 57 years old, reside in Augusta Co.Va. I am a minister and farmer.
2d How long have you known the claimant? Answer-I have known him about fifteen years.
3d Did you know him to be loyal the United Government during the War. Answer-I think he was the most consistent Union man that I knew, and he was so regarded by all his neighbors.
4th Do you know any act or languaged used by the claimant which would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to Confederate Government had it maintained a seperate Government. If so, state the same particularly. Ans-He was so strong and consistent a Union man, and expressed himself so frankly in favor of the Union, that he could not have established any loyalty to the Confederate Government.
Geo A Shuey
Testimony: Jacob Wiseman
Jacob Wiseman a witnessed introduced by the Claimant John Brown, to prove the taking of the property mentioned in the petition first being duly swornn answereth as follows.
1st Witness says, I was not present at the time, but saw them have one horse the property of the Claimant mentioned in the petition.
4th Witness says The horse was taken in 1864, from the farm of the Claimant in Augusta Co. by United States soldiers.
11th Witness says No complaint made that I heard.
12th Witness says There was no receipt or voucher asked for, that I know of.
13th witness says The property was taken in the daytime and not secretly.
14th Witness says When the property was taken the Army was encamped at Staunton.
15th Witness says, The horses were in good condition about 8 years old, and worth fully what the claimant has charged ($110) in the petition.
19th Witness says I think the property was taken for the Army and not for private use.
22 Witness says I think that it was taken for some purpose so necessary and useful as to warrant and require the Government to pay for it.
23d Witness says, I think that they it was taken by the order or authority of some officer of the Government which justified him in taking or ordering it to be taken. It was taken by Officers (who were present) belonging to Genl. Hunter's Army. Further this witness saith not. August 14th 1871.
Jacob Wiseman
Testimony: Paul S. Bare
Paul S. Bare a witness introduced by John Brown, the claimant to prove the taking or funishing of property, being duly sworn answereth as follows.
1st Witness says, I was present when the two horses mentioned in claimants petition were taken, I saw them taken.
4th Witness says, The property was taken in June 1864, from the farm of the claimant by soldiers belonging to Genl. Hunter's Army. The claimant and a colered man were present with me at the time.
6th Witness says-that there were no officers present that I know of.
7th Witness says, One horse was taken from the plow, and the other from the pasture field. They (the (soldiers) said they wanted them for Cavalry horses. The claimant helped to catch them.
8th Witness says, One horse was rode off by soldiers and the other I think was led away.
9th Witness says The property was taken to Staunton, Va. I did not follow it.
10th Witness says-I know nothing except that the soldiers said they wanted them for Cavalry use. I did not see the property after it was taken.
11th Witness says-I know of no complaint being made. There was no voucher or receipt asked for or given.
13th Witness says The property was taken in the day time, in the afternoon, and was not taken secretly.
14th Witness says, There was no Camp nearer than Staunton, Va. where they remained some three or four days. There had been a battle at Piedmont a few days previous, about 18 miles from the claimant. I did not know any Quartermaster or any other Officer of the Army. I did not see any.
15th Witness says The horses were in good condition. They were young horses just in their prime. I think one of the horses was worth $150.00 to $175.00 and the other about $150.00. The claimant asked me what they were worth.
19th Witness says I believe that from what the soldiers said they were taken for the use of the Army and not for mere gratification of any one.
20th Witness says, I believe they were taken in consequence of a necessity in the Army. And such a necessity as justified the taken.
22d Witness says, I believe it was taken for purposes so necessary, and beneficial as to require its being paid for.
23d Witness says I suppose that it was taken by authority of some officer, whose rank justified in ordering it to be taken.
Questions by the Commissioner
1st How old are you, where do you reside and what is your occupation? Answer. I am about 62 years old. I reside in Augusta Co.Va. and a farmer by occupation.
Further this witness saith not. August 16th 1871.
P. S. Bear
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 16th day of August 1871.
WGR United States Commissioner and Special Comr for State of Va.
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of John Brown, 1879, Claim No. 22264, Source copy consulted: National Archives, College Park, RG 217, claim #22264.
