Summary: Martin Garber filed this claim in 1871 for $799, claiming Union forces during General Hunter's raid of the Valley took four horses, bacon, cattle, wheat, and a harness in 1864. Martin was a 54 year old farmer near New Hope who did not vote on the Ordinance of Secession question. The commission allowed $557.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| 1 Grey horse | $100.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 1 Grey mare | $150.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 1 Bay horse | $130.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 1 Black horse | $60.00 | $300.00 | $140.00 |
| 50 pounds Bacon | $7.00 | $7.00 | $0.00 |
| 8 Cattle | $320.00 | $240.00 | $80.00 |
| 8 bush. wheat | $12.00 | $10.00 | $2.00 |
| Saddle & harness | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 |
Claims Summary:
The claimants loyalty is established by his own Statement and that of his neighbors, who testify in his behalf.
The property for which he asks Compensation was taken by Gen Hunters Command in June 1864.
We allow the sum of five hundred and fifty seven dollars.
A.O. Aldis, JB HowellCommrs of Claims
Testimony: Martin Garber
United States of America, State of Va. SS
JWG Riley a commissioner selected and designated by the commissioners 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 depositions is, and the fact is, the matter of claims of Martin Garber vs the United States of America and the witness herein named being natural and necessary, being first duly sworn deposed as follows.
Question, Where do you reside.
Answer, I reside near New Hope Augusta Va, by occupation a farmer, age fifty four.
2 The witness says, Same place.
3 The witness says, No.
4 The witness says, I never did take an oath of allegiance to the so called Confederate States.
5 The witness says, I have never taken any amnesty oath. I have never been pardoned by the President. I have done nothing to be pardoned for.
6 The witness says, He says he never was directly or indirectly connected with the civil service of the so called Confederate States.
7 Witness says, He held no office of honor or profit under the Confederate Government.
8 Witness says-No
9 Witness says-No
10 Witness says-He never aided the Confederate Government in any way whatever.
11 Witness says-No nothing except that which was impressed the witness says he nver rendered any aid whatever to the so called Confederate States.
12 Witness says-He never was employed in any way for the Confederate Government.
13 Witness says-No he never was employed by the Confederate Government in any way.
14 Witness says-He never was Engaged in Blockade running never had any interest or share in any goods or wares, brought into or exported from the so called Confederate States during the war.
15 Witness says-I did not leave the Confederate States between the 19th April 1861 and the 19th April 1865.
16 Witness says-I never was an owner or part owner or in any way interested in any vessel used in navigating the Ocean to or from any port in the Confederacy or upon any waters in the Confederacy.
17 Witness says-I never was arrested by the Confederate Government or by any Officer, soldier or other person professing to act therefor or for any State in rebellion & never was arrested by the United States Government.
18 Witness says-I had a good deal of property taken by the Confederate authorities, some was payed for and some was not.
19 Witness Says-I never was threatened to my face with damage or injury to my person, family or property on account of my union sentiments, but I was threatened behind my back.
20 Witness says-I was molested and somewhat injured on account of my Union sentiments more than I otherwise would have been.
21 Witness says-I never contributed anything to the Union Cause until Genl. Hunter made a raid through our Valley, and then they gathered up my property that way viz: horses & cattle for the use of the Army.
22 Witness says-No sir I do not recollect that I did unless by talking in favor of it.
23 Witness says-I had two nephews in the Confederate Army until they run off. I had no relations in the Union Army that I know of. I contributed nothing to supply them with military equipments or with money.
24 Witness says-I did own one Confederate bond which I used to pay taxes
25 Witness says-I have never given aid or comfort to the Rebellion
26 Witness says-I never was engaged in making raids into the United States from Canada, or engaged in destroying the Commerce of the United States
27 Witness says-I never was engaged in holding in custody any person taken by the Rebel Government as prisoners of war
28 Witness says-No sir I never was
29 Witness says-I never was a parolled prisoner of the United States
30 Witness says-I have never held any office in the Army or navy of the United States I was not educated by the United States at the Military Academy at West Point or at the United States Naval Academy.
31 Witness says-I received no pass from the Confederate Government, except to go home from town.
32 Witness says-I was under no disabilities imposed by the fourteenth article of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States. I have held no Office under the United States Government since the war
33 Witness says-I sympathized with the Union Cause and not with the Rebellion. I did not vote for or against the ordinance of Secession. I went to the polls to vote against the ordinance of Secession, but the excitement was so great that I came away without voting at
34 Witness says-I from the beginning of hostilities against the United States to the end of thereof my sympathies were with the cause of the United States and that I was at all times ready and willing when called upon to aid 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
What was the condition of the property charged in your petition when taken by the Government?
All the stock mentioned in the petition was in good condition when taken by the United States Government. I think that the prices charged in the petition are fair, they would have brought that before the war. The rest of the articles were good and were sold at fair prices. Further this deponent saith not. August the 8th 1871.
Martin Garber
Testimony: Jacob Stover
Jacob Stover a witness introduced by Martin Garber, being duly sworn answereth as follows
Questions by the Commissioner
1st How old are you, where do you reside, and what is your occupation? Answer I am fifty three years old. I reside in Augusta County Virginia, by occupation a farmer
2 How long have you known the Claimant in this petition Answer I have known him twenty or twenty five years. I reside seven miles from him. I knew him during the war. I saw him often during the war. I took him to be strictly loyal to the United States Government during the war. I did not know any man more so in Augusta County Virginia. He was so regarded by his neighbors. I never heard him threatened on account of his union sentiments but Union people were generally threatened. I never knew him to do anything to aid the Confederate Government, nor do I believe he would have done it voluntarily.
3 Do you know of any act done or language used by the Claimant which would have prevented him from establish his loyalty to the Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate Government if so state the same particularly. Answer He was so loyal to the United States Government he could not have been loyal to the Confederate Government if it had been maintained as a separate government.
Further the witness saith not. August the 8th 1871.
Jacob Stover
Testimony: David Perry
David Perry a witness introduced by Martin Garber being duly sworn answereth as follows
1 By Commissioner How old are you where do you reside, and what is your occupation. Answer I am forty nine years old. I reside in Augusta County Virginia by occupation a farmer.
2 Are you acquainted with the Claimant in this petition Answer I have known him for eleven years. I saw him often during the war. So far as I know and believe he was loyal to the United States Government during the war and so regarded by his neighbors.
3 Were you acquainted with the property or any part of it mentioned in the Claimants petition Answer I was acquainted with his horses and cows they were in good condition when I saw them last. I saw one of his horses in the posession of the Army of the United States then being commanded by Genl Hunter, and from my knowledge of his stock I do not think he has charged the Government too much in his petition.
4 Do you know any act done, or language used by the Claimant which would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate Government if so state the same particularly. Answer he was too loyal to the United States Government to have been considered a loyal man to the Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate Government.
Further this witness saith not. August the 8th 1871.
David Perry
Testimony: Martin Garber
Martin Garber the Claimant having been duly sworn deposes as follows.
Witness says-I was present when the cattle were taken. When the horses were taken which was by another portion of the Army, the Cavalry. I was a quarter of a mile distant, they being in the pasture meaning my horses.
3 Witness says-I saw the grain, the bacon and the harness taken.
4 Witness says-I say that they were taken the day after the battle of Piedmont which I think was the 6th of June 1864 they were taken from my house by Officers and soldiers under the command of Genl. Hunter
6 Witness says-I saw the cattle taken by the Quartermaster, he gave me a receipt for the same which is filed with my petition, he said the army was making a raid and that they had orders to take horses and cattle and flour and bacon and everything else necessary for the use of the army that the Army had lost a good many horses the day before, and that cattle they must have that they had to get their living in the country they passed through.
8 Witness says-The property was removed by the soldiers. The horses were rode and the cows driven
9 Witness says-It was removed to Staunton I followed it there. I saw the saddle and one horse the property of Isaac Coffman which was in the pasture with mine at the time they were taken.
11 Witness says-I complained to the Provost Marshall as they had taken all my horses he told me to come on to Staunton and as they had taken all my horses he would do what he could for me. I went to Staunton the next day and found the Provost Marshal, he told me he was very busy and the Cavalry was all scattered about, and if he would give me an order to hunt my horses unless I was a deity I could not find them he told me to come back some other day. The reason I did not come back, both armies were in the neighborhood and the pickets were fighting.
12 Witness says-A receipt was given for the Cattle without being asked for which receipt is filed with the petition. There was no other receipt given for any other articles mentioned in the Claimant's petition no other receipt was asked for
13 Witness says-The property was taken in the day time about ten O'clock and none of the property was taken secretly.
14 Witness says-It was taken the day after the battle of Piedmont when the Army was on its way to Staunton where it was encamped for several days
15 Witness says-The horses and cattle were in good condition the cattle were good beef, they were worth what the Claimant has charged the Government in his petition and the Quartermaster's receipt that was given me corresponds precisely with the amount charged by the Claimant in his petition the age of the horses is state in the petition. The wheat mentioned in the Claimant's petition ws threshed and in the barn and was worth at that time what I have charged the Government, as well as the bacon and all other articles mentioned in the Claimant's petition
16 Witness says-I knew what was in the barn they did not take all. I measured what was left behind which enabled me to know what was taken.
19 Witness says-I am satisfied that the property which was taken, was taken for the use of the government and for no other purpose.
20 Witness says-The property was taken for the use of the Government
21 Witness says-the articles were taken for the use of the Government because the Government needed them
22 Witness says-I know that it was taken for some purpose so necessary useful beneficial or justifiable as to require the Government to pay for it
23 Witness says-I do believe that the persons that took the property were authorized, empowered, and justified in taking it or ordering it to be taken.
Further the deponent saith not Aug 8th 1871
Martin Garber
Testimony: Isaac Coffman
Isaac Coffman a witness introduced by Martin Garber being duly sworn answereth as follows.
Questions by Commissioner
1 How old are you where do you reside and what is your occupation? Answer I am forty three years old I reside in Augusta County Virginia by occupation a farmer.
2 Do you know the claimant? Answer I have known him all my life time I reside in a half mile of him. I saw him often during the war, he was loyal to the United States during the war, he was so regarded by his neighbors. He always spoke in favor of the United States Government
3 Do you know any act done, or language used by the claimant which would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy, if it had been maintained as a separate Government if so state the same particularly. Answer He was too good a Union man to have been considered loyal to the Confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate government
And further this witness saith not August the 8th 1871
Isaac Coffman
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 8th day of August 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Comr for State of Va
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Martin Garber, 1871, Claim No. 2537, Source copy consulted: National Archives, College Park, RG 217, claim #2537.
