Summary: Mathew Tisdale filed this claim in 1871 for $300, claiming Union forces under General Hunters Command took two horses in 1864. Mathew was a 31 year old farmer. He was arrested to join the Confederate Army once in Staunton but he was later released. He helped deserters reach Union lines. The commission allowed $250.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| One black Mare | $150.00 | $125.00 | $25.00 |
| One brown Mare 8 yrs old | $150.00 | $125.00 | $25.00 |
Claims Summary:
Claimants loyalty is established, by his own statements, and the testimony of Wm Andrews, and B.F. Bayly.
He aided several Union prisoners to escape, furnished money to deserters from the Rebel Army. He was generally regarded as a loyal man, and was hardly safe in the Country during the War, and now that the War is over, he is shunned by the Rebels.
The horses were taken from his premises by soldiers of Genl. Hunter's Command, in June 1864, while the Army was stationed a few miles off at Staunton.
We allow the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars.
A.O. Aldis, JB HowellCommrs of Claims
Testimony: Mathew Tisdale
I am 31 years old. I reside in Augusta Co. I am a Farmer. Have lived in Augusta Co. all my life.
Ques 2. Witness says: I resided in Augusta Co.Va from April 1st 1861 to June 1st 1865 & did not change my residence at any time.
3. Witness says: I never passed the military or Naval lines of the United States & entered the rebel lines.
4. Witness says: I never took an oath of allegiance of any kind to the so-called Confederate States.
5. Witness says: I took the amnesty oath in 1865, in Staunton Va. It was required of every one. Have never been pardoned by the Presdt. as I have never done any thing to be pardoned for.
6. Witness says, I never was directly nor indirectly in any manner 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, or any State of the Confederacy.
8. Witness says: I never held any clerkship or any agency or employment of any kind for or under the Confed.Govt.
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 military or naval service of the ConfedGovt. I did not furnish a substitute for either. Never had any connection with any department of the Confed.Govt. Never had charge of any supplies, stores, or trains in the Confed. service.
11. Witness says, I never was in any service or employment of any kind under the Confed.Govt. or furnished supplies of any kind to any Dept. of any sort for their use. I never gave any information to any officer, soldier, sailor or marine of the army or navy of the Confed.Govt.
12. Witness says, I never was in any manner engaged in the manufacture of munitions of War, of clothing boots, or shoes, or articles of any kind for the Confed.Govt.
13. Witness says: I never was in any manner engaged in the impressment, taking or furnishing of any supplies of any kind for the Confed. service. Did not have any share or interest in any purchase or contract for the Confed.Govt.
14. Witness says, I never was engaged in blockade running, or illicit traffic between the lines. Had no share or interest in any goods brought into the Confed. States.
15. Witness says, I did not leave the Confed. States between the 1st of April 1861 & 1st of April 1865
16. Witness says, I was neither the owner nor in any way interested in any vessel engaged in blockade running.
17. Witness says, I was arrested once by the Confed.Govt. in 1862, in Staunton Va by Capt. Jno. Avis of the Provost Guard. I was released soon after. I took no oath to the Confed.Govt. to effect my release. I was arrested to be part of the army. Never was arrested by the United States Govt.
18. Witness say, I had horses, grain, & hay taken by the Confed.Govt. in the spring & fall of 1864. I was paid in Confed. Money, it was of little value.
19. Witness says: I was threatened to be taken to Richd.Va because I would not take the oath of Allegiance to the Confed. States. I told them I would not take it any way
20. Witness says: I never was in any way molested or injured on account of my union sentiments.
21. Witness says, I never contributed any thing to the support of the Union Army, or its cause. Never did anything for the United States.
23. Witness says: I did no have any near relatives in either the United States or Confederate Armies
24. Witness says, I never owned any Confederate bonds, nor had any interest in any. Never did anything to support the credit of the Confed.Govt.
25. Witness says, I never have given aid or comfort to the rebellion.
26. Witness says, I never engaged in raiding into the United States from Canada, or in injuring or destroying its commerce.
27. Witness says, I never was engaged directly nor indirectly in holding persons persons as prisoners, who had been taken by the Confed.Govt. I once helped some prisoners to escape to their homes, there were seven in the lot
28. Witness says: I never was in any way connected with any society for the persecution or expulsion of any person on account of union sentiments.
29. Witness says, I never was a paroled prisoner of the United States.
30. Witness says, I have never held any office in either the Army or Navy of the United States. Was not educated either at West Point or the Naval Academy
31. Witness says: I never rec'd any pass from the ConfedGovt.
32. Witness says, I am not & never have been under any disabilities imposed by the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Have not held any office under the U.S.Govt. since the War.
33. Witness says: At the beginning of the war, I sympathised with the union cause. I did not vote either for or against the ordinance of cesission they threatened to shoot anyone voting against it. After the adoption of the ordinance of cesession I adhered to the Union Cause, & did not go with my State
34 Witness says: I do solemnly declare, that from the beginning to the end of the war my sympathies were constantly with the Union Cause, & I was at all times ready & willing to aid its Cause, to the extent of my ability, & so far as my circumstances permitted, & further this deponent sayeth not. Sept 21st 1871
M. Tisdale
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 21st day of September 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Comr for State of Va
Testimony: Randolph Tisdale
Deposition of Randal Tisdale to prove taking & furnishing of property
Ques. 1. Witness Says: I am 70 years old. I reside in Augusta CoVa. I am a Farmer. I was present when the articles mentioned in claimants petition were taken.
2. Witness says: I saw them taken, one brown mare, & one black mare
4. Witness Says: The property was taken in June 1864 by officers & Soldiers of Genl. Hunters Army from the claimants farm. There was an officer present.
5. Witness says, A man named David Stultz was present & saw them taken.
6. Witness says: There was an officer present. Do not know his name, rank or regt. he belonged to the command of Genl. Hunter of the US Army.
7. Witness says: One was taken from the field & one from the plow. I told them we had obeyed Presdt. Lincoln's proclamation, & it should protect our (claimants) property. We had never put any thing out of the way. The officer said he was compelled to take them, & that my son should be paid for them.
8. Witness says, The officer rode the black mare, & the brown mare was ridden off by a soldier
9. Witness says, The property was taken in the direction of Lexington I went about a mile with them. I did not see it afterwards.
10. Witness says, The officer said it was taken for the use of the army
11. Witness says: There was no complaint made on account of the taking
12. Witness says, There was no receipt asked for & none given.
13. Witness says, The property was taken before 12 oclock, in the day, it was not taken secretly.
14. Witness says, When the property was taken, the army was about 4 miles off at Staunton. Hunters & Averills men were encamped at Staunton, staid I think two days. Had not been any battle or skirmish near except at Piedmont, 12 miles off, did not know the Quarter Marters or any of them.
15. Witness Says, The property was in good condition. One black mare was either 4 or 5 years old, was worth One hundred & fifty dollars. One brown mare, was worth one hundred & fifty dollars, was about 10 years old.
19. Witness says, I know the property was taken for the use of the Govt. & not for private use, the officer said so.
20. Witness say, I think it was taken for the use of the Govt. & for no other purpose. I have reason to believe the black mare was used by Genl. Hunter I was told so by several persons who saw her
21. Witness Says, I believe the necessity of the army compelled them to take the property, the officer told me so
22. Witness says: I believe it was taken for the necessary use of the Govt. & it should pay for it.
23. Witness says: I think the officer who took them had orders to take them for the use of the army. The officer said so, & refused to give her up for money or anything else, as he needed them, & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sept. 21st 1871
Randolph Tisdale
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 21st day of September 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Com. for State of Virginia
Testimony: William Andrews
Deposition of William Andrews to prove loyalty of claimant
Ques 1. Witness says: I am 49 years old. I reside in Augusta Co.Va. I am a farmer. I have known the claimant 10 years, live near him. Saw him nearly every week during the war. Talked with very frequently about the war. He was a loyal man to the U.S.Govt, never heard anything else from him, he was nothing but a loyal man. Every body who knew him regarded him as a loyal man. He has been shunned & avoided by men around him on account of his union sentiments. I have known him to protect & furnish supplies to men, deserters from the Confed. Army, until they could get to the Union lines, & he helped them go away. Never knew him to do any thing for the Confed.Govt. except when he was compelled to furnish them his team by Confed. soldiers, with guns in their hands. He was too loyal to the United States Govt. to have been loyal to the Confed.Govt. had it succeeded, he told me, we would all have to leave or be ruined if the Confederates succeeded, & further this deponent sayeth not.
Sept. 21st 1871
W Andrews
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 21st day of September 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Comr for State of Virginia
Testimony: B. F. Bagby
Deposition of B.F. Bagby to prove loyalty
Ques 1. Witness says: I am 42 years old. I reside in Staunton Va. I am by profession a contractor. Have known the claimant 15 years. Lived near him during the war, saw him nearly every day, & talked with him frequently about the war. He was loyal to the USGovt. & was so regarded by his neighbors. I do not know that he was injured in person, but his grain was taken by the Confederates, on account of his being a Union Man. I tried several to induce him to take Confederate Money, but he allways refused, saying he had no confidence in it. I do not know that he had any chance to do anything for the USGovt. he never left his home when the US troops came in. Never knew him to do anything for the Confederate Govt. I know that he was hardly safe in staying at his home during the war, & had the Confederates succeeded I do not think he could have stayed at all. He never would have made a loyal citizen to the Confederate Government, & further this deponent sayeth not.
B.F. Bagby
Sept. 21st 1871
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 21st day of September 1871
WG Riley United States Commissioner and Special Comr for State of Va
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Mathew Tisdale, 1871, Claim No. 7651, Source copy consulted: National Archives, College Park, RG 217, claim #7651.
