Summary: Jacob Ritchie filed this claim in 1872 for $230, claiming the Union army under General Sheridan's command took two horses and sheep in 1864 during the "burning raid." Ritchie was a farmer near Mt. Sidney who had five sons in the Confederate Army. The claim was disallowed.
Items Claimed:
| Item Claimed: | Amount Claimed: | Amount Allowed: | Amount Disallowed: |
| 1 Bay Mare 3 years old past fine | $150.00 | $0.00 | $150.00 |
| 1 large Black horse 12 years old good | $50.00 | $0.00 | $50.00 |
| 10 Sheep good $3.00 each | $30.00 | $0.00 | $30.00 |
Claims Summary:
Claimant swears to his Union Sympathies.
On the other hand, he voted for the ratification of the Ordinance of Secession and had four sons in the Confederate Army.
Notwithstanding two witnesses swear in the usual style to the loyalty of Claimant we were not satisfied with the legitimacy we recd of the facts disclosed in his own Statement and therefore reject the Claim.
Testimony: Statement of facts
Taken from your petitioners farm Situated four miles North East of Mt. Sidney Augusta County Va. That the supplies were taken by & used by the Army of the United States under Command of Major General Phillip Sheridan. Your petitioner being preasant at the time of the taken of the property above set forth & your petitioner seeing some of the above named troop (whether officers or not cannot tell no name given) leave his premises with the Horses & Sheep above set forth. No receipts or Vouchers given the armey being on a Terrible Rade. The above is from your petitioners own knowledge.
Testimony: Jacob Ritchie
In answer to the First General Interrogatory, the Deponent says: My name is Jacob Richie, my age 71 years, my residence Augusta County, in the State of Virginia, and my occupation a farmer, I am the claimant.
To Question 2 hesays: in Augusta County on my own farm containing 51 acres about 8 of which was woodland I did not change my business or residence during the war.
To Questions 3 through 23 inclusive he answers no, to each and every question seperately put.
To Question 24 he says, I was several times, once in 1862 at Harrisonburg, I don't know who did it. It was for expressing my sentiments. They did not keep me long under arrest. And did not make me take any oath or affirmation of any sort, I was arrested again in the winter of 1863 near my home, by some soldiers whom I did not know, I was not kept under arrest more than an hour or two, they just let me go again. They did not require me to take any oath. I was never arrested by the United States Govt.
To Question 25 he says. They took some Corn from me. I suppose for the use of their army, I never received anything for it. They wanted to pay me for it, but I would not have it. It was after the burning raid, the money they offered I thought worthless.
To Question 26 to 29 he says No to each and every question separately put.
To Question 30 he says, I had 5 sons in the Confederate Army, Benjamin, John, Peter, Polk and Dallas. They are all living, 3 in this County near me, one in Rockingham near Dayton, the other in Md. I don't know his Post Office address, I did not furnish them or either of them with anything while in the service, when either them would come here I would, of course, give them something to eat.
To Question 31 to 39 inclusive he answers No to each question separately put.
To Question 41 he says At the beginning of the rebellion I sympathized with the Union Cause, my feelings were that the rebellion was wrong and unconstitutional, I am not a lawyer and never read the Constitution, I too voted for the ratification of the Ordinance of Secession. I was compelled to do so, some of my neighbors were about to take me up and they told me that if I won't vote that way they would let me alone I had to do it to save myself, I voted against my sentiments.
To Question 41 he says I do made that solemn declaration.
The Clt. is here examined as to the property charged.
The property charged was all taken the time of the burning I was at my barn trying to save some of my property and did not see all taken, I only saw the horse charged in the 2d item taken, some of Sheridan's men took it all it was all taken the same day, the horse I saw taken was in a field close by the barn, he was taken by a squad of some 12 or 13 soldiers together, I did not say anything to them nor they to me, I can't say any whether any officers were with them or not, the sheep were taken out of the field, not the one the horse was in, and the Bay mare was taken out of the woods. They took 10 sheep, the horse I saw taken was worth $50 - I had paid $75 for him about 10 months before, he was about 12 years. He was in pretty good condition, he was blind one eye. He was a big heavy horse - stoned a little in his shoulders.
The mare was a fine one - going on 4 years old, she was sound - about 16 hand high well broke rode well and worked well, she was worth $150.- I was offered that sum for her in gold just two days before she was taken, by one of our neighbors. The sheep were fine fat ones, they would have netted from 80 to 100 lbs, thinks I don't know what mutton was worth then. They were worth at that time on the hoof about $3.- apiece.
That's all I know about the matter.
Further saith not
Jacob Ritchie
Testimony: Ann E. Ritchie
Ann E. Ritchie, witness to prove property taken, being affirmed and exmined by the Commissioner, says:
I am 40 years old and reside in Augusta Co.Va. I am the wife of the Claimant and have no interest in this claim.
I saw the Yankees take a black horse from my husband at the time of the Burning Raid. I do not know who commanded the troops. The horse was in the pasture field near by when he was taken by the soldiers. There was no officer present. I asked them to leave the horse & they swore at me and took the horse away. He was about ten years old. He had been gravelled and was a little lame when he was taken. He was worth about $50. I also saw the same soldiers take ten sheep at the same time. The sheep were in the field with the horse and were driven away with him. They were all full grown I don't know how much they would have weighed. I do not know their value. They were fine sheep and were fat. This is all I know about it and further saith not
Ann E. Ritchie her mark
Testimony: Mary Bowers
Mary Bowers witness to prove property taken, being affirmed and examined by the Commission says:
I am 45 years old and reside in Augusta County, Virginia. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in his claim.
I saw the Yankee army on the morning of the Burning Raid, have a bay mare which I knew to be the claimant's in its posession. It came past my house and the soldiers were leading the claimant's horse. I knew the mare and could have not been mistaken as to her identity. I do not know her age. She was in good condition. She was a young mare, worth about $100. The soldiers who had her said they found her hid in the claimant's field. There was an officer with the soldiers who had the horse. I do not know what officer ws in command of the army. This is all I know about it and further saith not
Mary Bowers her name
Testimony: Benjamin F. Wampler to prove loyalty
Benjamin F. Wampler, witness to prove loyalty of claimant, being affirmed and examined by the Commissioner, says:
I am 38 years old and reside near Mt. Meridian, Augusta County Va. I am a farmer. I am not related to the claimant and have no interest in this claim. I lived about a mile and a quarter from him during the war. I saw him about once every two weeks during the war. I talked with him about the cause and progess of the war. He expressed himself as opposed to the so-called Confederacy. I do not remember hearing him express himself in the presence of others. I was a Union man and the claimant so regarded me. I knew his public reputation. It was that of a Union man. He was regarded a loyal man by his loyal neighbors. I never knew him to be threatened or molested on account of his Union sentiments. I never knew him to own any Confederate Bonds. I never knew him to contribute anything toward the financial credit of the the Confederate cause. I never knew him to render any assistance to either army. I know of no act done or language used other than already stated by me, that would have prevented him from proving his loyalty to the Confederate Government had it succeeded in maintaining a seperate existence. Further saith not
Benjamin F. Wampler
Testimony: Samuel Glick
Samuel Glick, witness to prove loyalty of claimant, being affirmed and examined by the Commisioner says:
I am 48 years old and reside near Mt. Meridian. I am a farmer not related to the claimant and have no interest in this claim. I lived about three hundred yards from him during the war. I saw him almost every day. I talked with him in regard to the cause and progress of the war. He always expressed himself as a Union man and was with the North in sympathy. I have heard him express himself in the presence of others. I was a Union man and the claimant so regarded me. I knew his public reputation. 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 be threatened or molested on account of his Union sentiments. I never knew him to contribute anything toward the financial credit of the Confederacy. I know of no act done or language used by him that might have prevented him from proving his loyalty to the Confederate Government if it had succeeded in maintaining a separate existence.
Samuel Glick
The foregoing depositions were taken and subscribed before me at the time and place stated in the caption
Thos. S. Hargest
Testimony: John Yates and Samuel Glick
We the undersigned Loyal Citizens of Augusta County Virginia do certify on oath that we have known Jacob Ritchie for twenty 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 claimants petition mentions.
John Yates, Mount Sidney
Samuel Glick, "
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 29th of April 1871
HG McCausland N.P.
Witnesses as to facts
Sam'l Glick, Mt. Sidney
Testimony: United States War Department
ARCHIVE OFFICE, War Department
August 31, 1873
Book 2, Letter Sent, page 424
Case of Jacob Ritchie of Augusta Co. Va
Bill with voucher for 130 1/2 bushels Corn sold to Capt. J.W. Dorsey V.M. C.S.A. value $123.00
Reported Dec 9/72 - Disallowed.
Bibliographic Information : Southern Claims Commission: Claim of Jacob Ritchie, 1872, Claim No. 2570, Source copy consulted: National Archives, Washington, D.C., fiche #494.
