Summary: Samuel D. Humbert filed this claim in 1874 for $598, claiming Union forces under General Sheridans command took two horses, eight cows, and four cattle in 1864 during Sheridan's "Burning Raid". Samuel was a farmer near New Hope and a member of the Dunker Church. He was arrested by Confederate forces in 1862 while trying to escape to the Union line and paid a $500 fine to secure his release. He also harbored refugees and helped them escape to Union lines. The commission allowed $500.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| Two Horses | $328.00 | $280.00 | $48.00 |
| 8 Cows | $210.00 | $160.00 | $50.00 |
| 1 steer & 3 3 yr olds | $60.00 | $60.00 | $0.00 |
Claims Summary:
Claimant sympathised with the Union Cause. Did not vote. Was arrested by the Rebels, and being a Dunkard was released, on payment of exemption provided by statute.
Witnesses testify to his loyalty and Special Commissioner Chamberlain reports in favor of his loyalty.
The stock was taken by Soldiers of Sheridan's Command from the Claimants premises in September 1864, except one Horse which had been taken previously by Hunter's Command while at Staunton.
Testimony: Samuel D. Humbert
To Question 2. He says, in theis county Augusta, near New Hope, on my own land, containing 250 1/4 acres, about 95 acres of which is woodland. I did not farm myself during the war, I got others to farm my land for me, I did not change my residence.
To Questions 3 to 16 inclusive: he answers No fully to each and every question severally put.
To Question 17, he says I was pressed with my two horses and a wagon to haul baggage from Staunton to Huntersville Poccahontas Co. West Va and from Millboro to Huntersville, in the month of August 1861, by M. G. Harman a Quartermaster of the Confederate Army. I was kept in service about a month. I got Confederate money for it.
To Question 18, he says, No fully, except as I have stated above.
To Question 19 to 23 inclusive: he says "No" fully to each question severally put.
To Question 24, he says: yes, I was arrested by the Confederate Authorities about half a mile the other side of Petersburg now in Grant Co. West Va. In 1862, March, I don't know the name of officer who arrested or caused my arrest. I was kept under arrest about 6 weeks. I got released by paying a fine of $500, as fine and 2 per centime on the value of my property, making in all about $715. This sum was paid by me in Confederate & Virga Money and was made a condition precedent to my release. No oath was required of me at the time. I took no oath. I was never arrested by the U.S.Got.
To Question 25, He says Yes 2 horses and some grain, I don't know what they done with them, I think they were taken for the use of the Army. I got pay in Confederate money for one of my horses and the grain, the other horse I did not get pay for.
To Question 26, he says No.
To Question 27 he say, I think my arrest and containment by the rebels at Richmond I think was on account of my Union sentiments.
To Question 28, He says No.
To Question 29, He says, I harbored Union men and refuges and assisted them to get away from the rebels.
To Question 30 he says: No.
To Question 31 he says No
To Question 32, he says, In no way except to fed Confederate soldiers.
To Questions 33 to 39, inclusive, he answers No, inclusive to each question severally put.
To Question 40, he says, with the Union Cause, of course. I felt strongly always on the Union side. I had no other feelings during the war from beginning to end. I did not vote at all, I don't know that I exerted any influence, I was not here at all, I did not vote at all on ratification of the ordinance of secession. After the ordinance of secession was adopted in Va, I still adhered to the Union cause and did not "go with the State."
To Question 41, he says I do make that declaration.
The claimant is here examined by the Comsr. as to the property charged.
The horse was taken, which is charged in the 1st item, on the 7th of June by a squad what of Genl Hunter's command, that came down from Staunton to get some wounded soldiers from the Hospital near Piedmont. It was an ambulance train, I can't say whether any officers were present or not. They took the horse from me at Piedmont. The horse was hitched in side of a lot at Piedmont. They took the ride-saddle off and threw it down and said the me who took him said he wanted to ride, I don't think he said anything else. This was a blood bay, 5 years old, a good size horse-sound, and worth at that time $150.00 I bought him the year before this was and gave for him $153. The battle of Piedmont was fought on the 5th of June 1864. He was past two years old when I bought him I bought him a little about harvest time.
The horse charged in this (2d) item was taken 29th of September 1864 out of my stable, in the day time by some of Genl Sheridan's Army. I was present, I don't think any officers were present at the place where the horse was taken from there was one on the other side of the barn, where they came I was asked if I had any horses and where they were. I told him what I had and where they were. No reason was given me for ittaken the horse, I never saw the horse afterward, the army was passing at the time. This was a light bay horse, about 6 yrs old, sound about 16 hands high, worth at that time $175.
All the other property charged were taken at the same time by the same troops, on the same day. I was present and under the same circumstances the horse last mentioned was taken. They took 8 cows, in all, 1 Steer which I had fattened for market and 3 young cattle, I heard nothing said about the taking of the cattle. Two of the cows were of blooded stock and were worth $30 a peice, on the hoof. The others were worth about $25 a peice. The Beef was was worth $30. It was a good steer and fat. It would have weighed 500 lbs dressed. But I don't know what the beef was worth at that time. It was high. The young cattle were worth about $10, a peice, I got no receipts for any of the property. There was no camp in the neighborhood at the time. It was Genl Sheridan's Army but I never learned the name of the commander that took the cattle. Further saith not.
Saml. D. Humbert
Testimony: D. W. Humbert
D. W. Humbert, witness to prove property taken, being affirmed and examined by the Commissioner, deposes and says:
I am 23 years old and reside near New Hope, Augusta County, Virginia. I am a farmer. I am a son of the claimant. I have no interest in his claim. I saw two horses, eight cows and 4 young cattle taken from the claimant by the Union troops during the war. The bay horse was taken June 7, at the time of the Piedmont fight. One of the claimant's daughters rode the horse to the camp at Piedmont and came back without the horse. I did not see this horse taken. He was five years old and was sorth about $140. The other bay horse and the cows and young cattle were taken September 29, at the time of Sheridan's Burning Raid, by Gen. Sheridan's army. The horse was in the stable and three or four soldiers go him and led him away. They said nothing at the time. This horse was six years old + was worth about $150. The cows and young cattle were all together in the field and were driven away with the drove with the army. I heard nothing said at the time. I did not see any officers immediately present when any of this property was taken. There were plenty of officers about. There was great excitement and amid it I could not distinguish officers from men. I never made any effort to recover the cattle. I do not know how much beef the cows or young cattle would have made. I do not know what the cows were worth about $10 per head. This is all I know about it. Further deponent saith not.
D. W. Humbert
Testimony: Henry B. Humbert
Henry B. Humbert, witness to prove property taken, being affirmed and examined by the Commissioner says:
I am twenty two years old and reside near New Hope, Augusta County, Virginia. I am a farmer. I am a son of the claimant and have no interest in his claim. I saw one horse and twelve head of cattle belonging to the claimant taken by Gen. Sheridans army on September 29, 1864. The horse was in the stable and was led away by some Union soldiers. He was a light bay six years old & was worth $175 I suppose. I heard one whom I supposed was an officer say he would have to take the horse. The cattle were all together in the field, and were driven away with a drove which the soldiers were driving along the road. I did not hear them say anything about the cattle. I do not know whether there were any officers present when the horse and cattle were taken. I do not know how much beef these cattle would have made. I suppose the whole lot would have been worth $275. I dont know anything about the taking of the first horse (charged as Item No. 1), but I knew his value and he was worth $155. This is all I know about it, and further say not.
Henry B Humbert
Testimony: David Myers
David Myers, witness to prove loyalty of claimant, being affirmed and examined by the Commissioner, says:
I am 44 years and reside near New Hope, Va. I am a farmer. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in his claim. I lived about two miles from his during the war and saw him on an average of about once a week. I talked frequently in the him in regard to the cause and progress of the war. He always expressed himself to me in favor of the Union cause. I heard him so express himself in the presence of others. I was a Union man and the claimant so regarded me. I know what his reputation was for loyalty. It was that of a loyal man. He was regarded a loyal man by his loyal neighbors. I never knew him to own any Confederate Bonds. I never knew him to render any assistance to either army. I knew that he was captured by the Rebels while trying to escape to the North in the early part of the war. I never knew him to do anything to sustain the financial credit of the Confederacy. I know acts done and language used by him that would have prevented him from proving his loyalty to the Confederate cause it it had succeeded in maintaining a separate existence. Further deponent saith not.
David Myers
Testimony: Christian Kline
Christian Kline, witness to prove loyalty of claimant being affirmed and examined by the Commissioner deposes and says:
I am 63 years old and resided near New Hope, Augusta County, Virginia. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in his claim. I lived about a half mile from him during the war and saw him at least once a week on an average. I talked with him frequently in regard to the cause and progress of the war. He expressed himself as a Union man. I think I heard him express himself in the presence of others. I was a Union man and the claimant so regarded me. I knew his reputation for loyalty. It was that of a loyal man. He was regarded a loyal man by his loyal neighbors. I knew him to be arrested by the Rebels in the early part of the war while trying to make his way North with a lot of other Union men. I never knew him to own any Confederate Bonds or do anything to sustain the financial credit of the Confederacy. His attempt to leave the Confederacy would have rendered him unable to prove his loyalty to it had succeeded in maintaining a separate existence. Further deponent saith not.
Christian Kline
Testimony: Sarah Frances Humbert
Sarah Frances Humbert, witness to prove property taken, being affirmed and examined by the Commissioner, says:
I am twenty years old and am a daughter of the claimant. I have no money interest in this claim. I rode my father's large bay horse to the battle-field at Piedmont on the 7th day of June 1864. I got off the horse and hitched him in the yard near the battlefield and a soldier came along and took the horse. There were a number of persons present who asked the soldier not to take the horse, but I do not remember what he said. I think the army had left. The horse was five years old. I judge he was worth from $150 to $155. The horse was about a mile and a half from my father's house when he was taken. Further deponent saith not.
Sarah F. Humbert
The foregoing depositions were taken and duly acknowledged before me at the time set forth.
Thos. S. Hargest
Testimony: John Yates and Christian Kline
We the under signed loyal citizens of Augusta County, Virginia do certify on oath that we have known Samuel D. Humbert for many years and know him to have been loyal to the Government of the United States before and at the time and since the taking of the property and supplies in the claimant petitioner mentions.
John Yates Mt Sidney, Christian Kline "
Sworn to & subscribed to before me this 19th of May 1871. H. G. McCausland N.P.
Testimony: David Beard
Harrisonburg Sept 25th 1874
Commissioners of Claims
Gentlemen
Samuel D. Humbert claimant to 2553 living near New Hope Augusta Co. I think was a Union man and loyal to the USGovt during the war. I find that he had the reputation of being true, and I have made careful enquiry in his case and cannot find it contradicted.
I enclose with this the statement of David Beard a prominent man living in his neighborhood, who knew him well during the war.
Very Respectfully Yours
S.E. Chamberlin Special Agent
I am 40 years of age, and by occupation a farmer. I am personally acquainted with Saml D Humbert. I have always lived here within a mile and a half of his place. I knew him during the war, and saw him frequently during that time. I always considered him a good Union man and he was known generally through the neighborhood as such. I never heard any one say that he was not a union man at all times, and under all circumstances. My own sympathies were with the south.
David Beard
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 22nd day of September 1874, near New Hope Augusta Co.Va.
S. E. Chamberlin Special Commissioner
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Samuel D. Humbert, 1874, Claim No. 2553 & 36,524, Source copy consulted: National Archives, College Park, RG 217, claim #2553 & #36524.
