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CLAIMS BEFORE THE SOUTHERN CLAIMS COMMISSION

Chandlers of Washington County, Arkansas

 

          Beginning in 1871, people living in the former Confederate states were allowed to file claims against the government for property taken from them by the Union Army during the Civil War IF they could prove what property was taken and that they had remained loyal to the Union. 

 

 

[CLAIM OF JACOB CHANDLER]

No. 4157

 

Before the Commissioners of Claims, Under Act of Congress of March 23, 1871.

 

          In the matter of Jacob Chandler in the County of Washington and State of Arkansas.  Comes now the claimant, before E. B. Harrison, Esq., Special Commissioner for the State of Arkansas and represents that he has heretofore filed with the above-named Commissioners a Petition for the allowance of a claim for property Taken for the use of the army of the United States, which claim as stated before, does not exceed the sum of three thousand dollars.

 

Before the Commissioners of Claims Act of Congress March 3, 1871

Case of Jacob Chandler No. 4157

 

          It is hereby certified that on the 16th day of November 1872 at his home near Evansville in the County of Washington and State of Ark personally came before me Jacob Chandler Claimant, his attorney not present and Lucinda Ewing, Henderson Bates, Thomas H. Tenant, Preston Chandler, Mary L. Chandler & James M. Chandler Claimant’s witnesses for the purpose of a hearing in the above entitled cause. . . .

 

Deposition of Jacob Chandler

 

In Answer to the First General Interrogatory, the Deponent says:

          My name is Jacob Chandler, my age 79 years, my residence near Evansville Washington Co in the State of Arkansas, no occupation and I am the claimant and have a beneficial interest in the claim.

[The following are in answer to questions that I have no copy of.  Some of the answers were just a yes or no and I have omitted those.]

          [p.2] I have lived at this place (2 miles north of Evansville on the Indian lands in Washington Co. Ark) from April 1st 1861 to [blank].  I owned this farm of 177 2 acres.  80 of it in Cultivation.  I carried on my farm until November 1863 when I was broke up by the taking of my property and all I had to live on and I moved to my sons where I stayed until the next November when I moved with my Son to the Nation where I staid until the next March when I took my Family (just my wife & an Old Sister that lived with me) to a Union Colony^[1] near Prairie Grove about 16 miles north of this.  I remained at the colony until the summer following the close of the war July 1865.  I carried on my farm in 1861-2-3.  After that I did very little.

[questions 3-24 were all answered no]

          [p.3, question 25] A Rebel Soldier took a mare from me once and Marmaduke’s men took a large quantity of corn, hogs, provisions and other things in the fall of 1862.  I never got a dime for any of this property.

          [question 26] I was told that Rebel Bushwhackers said they would kill my Son (that after they had shot him and he was living wounded & helpless) and if they could not get him they would kill me.

          [question 27] I don’t know as I was personally.  They reported me as a Union man and they came and took things from me.  I was [p. 4] old and I tried to get along with all and be friendly, but they did not treat me very well after all.        [question 28] no. [question 29] I gave all the information I could to the Union Officers & Soldiers.  They often came to me for the news of how things were in the country.  And I fed a great many Union Soldiers at different times free of charge and they always treated me respectful. [question 30] I had two Sons (James M. & Alfred) both were conscripted in the Rebel Army.  James was taken from here.  Alfred & my Grand Son lived in Texas.  James lives near me now.  The others live in Texas.  I did not furnish them anything when they Enlisted or while in the Rebel Army.

          [question 31 - no; question 32 - never; questions 33-39 - no]

          [question 40] At the beginning of the Rebellion I was a Union Man.  I was opposed to Secession [p. 5] and voted against it and used my influence against it and I thought if the South had grievences they ought to contend for them in the Union and not out.  And that’s the way I felt and talked until President Lincoln called for so many men from Arkansas to put down the Rebellion it raised my prejudices a little.  It looked here a while as if the confedracy was bound to succeed.  My all was here.  I was too old to take any part in the war and I expected to come under this government and when I thought it was inevitable I wanted the thing over quick but I was opposed all the time to breaking up the Government and then if I thought there was any chance to have the old Government I preferred it.  When President Lincoln proposed an amicable Settlement of the war and the Southern States refused the terms, it disgusted me and I had no more Sympathy for the Southern cause.

          [question 41] To the first clause I refer to the above answer to question 40. To the other 2 clauses I answer yes fully.

Part II, I was not at home when items 1 & 2 [page 6] were taken.  My witnesses will tell about that.

I was present when items no. 3-4-5-6-7-9-10 & 11 were taken and I saw this property taken.

Item no. 3 (180 bushels corn) was taken by Blunts Forage Trains while that Army was camped at Cane Hill just before the Prairie Grove battle.  I remember the trains coming but I cant remember how much they got that time.  The Forage Master gave me a receipt.  I think for the corn and I think it was taken with other papers by a party of Indians who robbed me during the war.  I sent the receipts to Blunt once but got no pay on it.  I don’t remember what the reason was.  Items no. 4 (800 lbs bacon) no 5 (150 bushels wheat) no 6 (1 sack salt) & no 7 (15 gallons molasses were all taken by a big company of Philips Indians (Federal) and a white Lieutenant & white Forage Master.  They took all my wheat but the Forage Master gave me back 1 Ham & 1 Middling.  I had a Smoke house full of the nicest kind of bacon.  I never weighed it but I thought I had 1000 lbs on hand.

          The wheat was threshed out. They got [p. 7] 2 wagon beds full.  They just poured it loose in the wagon beds.  I had never measured it and I don’t know how many bushels there was of it.

          They took a sack with 1 bushel of salt in it that I had bought the day before and paid $5.00 for it.

          They took a lot of molasses out of a barrel, they took vessels from the house to carry it in.  I don’t know how much there was of it.  I can’t remember the date of this taking or where the party came from.  I know they were Col Philips Indians and I remember the circumstances quite plain.  Items no. 9 & 10 (corn & wheat) were taken by Some Kansas men going on to Ft. Smith.  My Son Preston I remember went on with them.  Their Forage Train with a good many men came past my house and got a lot of corn out of my field.  They took about half of 8 or 9 acres.  The wheat was in the stalks.       They did not take all my wheat but I can’t tell how many bushels.  They took a fine young mare (item no. 8) at the same time.  I did not see them take the mare but they told me they had her and that she would be turned [p. 8] over to the government.

          A few days after the above a good many Soldiers with some Ox wagons came along going towards Ft. Smith and they got the rest of the 8 or 9 acres of corn.  All that the other train had left of the crop.  I did not see the pork hogs taken.  I was not at home.  I don’t remember much about the hogs only that they were taken by the Soldiers.

          My son Preston attended to fixing out my claim.  I have had my mind on it and I have lost my memory and I can’t remember dates, and many of the circumstances I have entirely forgotten and I can’t testify to quantities or to the value of the items.  I owned all the property charged in my claim and I never got any pay for any of it.                

 

 

Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 16th day of November 1872.  E. B. Harrison, Special Commisioner.

 

Deposition of Mrs. Lucinda Ewing.       

          The said witness being first duly sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth relative to the [p. 9] claim testifies as follows.  My age is 41 years.  Claimant is my Father.  He lives with me.  I was living with my Father at this place when the property charged in his claim as items no. 1 to 7 inclusive were taken and I saw them taken.

          The mule (item no. 1) was taken by Capt. Anderson who came by here with a Scout of Philips Indian Soldiers in the Fall of 1862.  I don’t know when the main Army was composed at the time.  The mule was loose in front of the house they caught and lead him away with them.  I talked to Capt Anderson and asked him if he was just going to take the mule without paying or giving us a receipt for it.  He said he did not know whether we was Loyal or not to go to Camp and prove our Loyalty and we would get pay.  The mule was a dark pay.  I don’t know its age.  It was not old though. It was a common size good work mule.  I remember hearing Father say the mule was worth $150.00.  I never saw the mule after the Scout took it away.

          Item no. 2 (1 mare) was taken a while after the mule by a party of Indian [p. 10] Soldiers (Philips men).  I don’t remember seeing any white men along.  There was a big party of the Indians.  The mare was in the fields.  They caught her out and rode her by the house.  I don’t think any of the Family said anything to any of them.  A day or two after the same command went on back by the place and one of the Indian Soldiers was riding her.  I never saw her after that time.  This mare was a Sorrel not old, tolerable large, a good mare, called a fine mare.  She was worth $150.00.

          Item no. 3 (corn) was taken by the Forage Train from Genl Blunts Army when they were at Cane Hill just after (if remember correctly) the Prairie Grove battle.  My understanding was that the Train came two days in Succession.  I was not at home the first day but on the second I was and saw them load the train.  That day they loaded three Army wagons out of the crib.  The Forage Master that day came in and gave Father a receipt but I don’t know what became of the receipt.  I don’t know what the corn was worth. 

          Items no. 4-5-6 & 7 [p. 11] (Bacon wheat Salt & molasses) were taken by a Scout of Philips Indians and White men.  There was one Officer along.  I can’t say how much bacon they got but I would think as much as 1000 lbs.  They drew a wagon around close to the Smoke house and loaded it in.  They took all we had except one ham and we had a goodeal on hand.  They got a good big lot of threshed wheat but I don’t know how much.  They loaded it in Wagons and hauled it away. It was stored upstairs in the house.  They took 1 bushel of Salt that I bought the day before and paid $5.00 for.  They took a lot of molasses.  The molasses was worth $1.00 per gallon.  I don’t know what the other things were worth.  All this property belonged to my Father.  I moved away from his house after that and did not see any of the other property taken.  The last 4 items to which I testify were taken in April 1863.

                                                                   Lucinda Ewing.

Subscribed and sworn to before me the 16th day of November 1872.  E. B. Harrison, Special Commissioner.

 

[p. 12] Deposition of Henderson Bates. 

          The said witness being first duly sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth relative to the above claim testifies as follows.  My age is 68 years.  My residence is Washington Co. Ark.  I am not related to Claimant and have no interest in his claim.

          I have been acquainted with Jacob Chandler 42 years all the time in this county.  I realy don’t know anything concerning Claim and Loyalty except by reports.  He staid all night at my house once during the war and talked like a Union man and I gathered from what he said that he was a Union Man and I am inclined to think now the old man was a Union man but to say positively that he was is more than I can for I lived 12 or 14 miles from him and never did stir about much in them times in this country.                                                                     Henderson Bates

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16th day of Nov 1872.  E B Harrison, Special Commissioner.

 

[p. 13] Deposition of Thomas H. Tennant. 

          The said witness being first duly sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth relative to the above claim testifies as follows.   My age is 78 years.  My residence is Vineyard Township Washington Co Ark.  I am a farmer.  I am not related to Claimant and have no interest in his claim.  I have been acquainted with claimant something over 40 years.  We have long been intimate Friends.  I lived 4 miles from him all the time of the war except from March 1865 on and then he was in a colony at Prairie Grove and I went about the same time into another colony between 4 & 5 miles from the one he was in.  All the time of the war we met frequently both at his house and mine back and forth and the same was the case after he went up to the colonies.  I recon we had hundreds of talks about the war for we were together intimate & often and that was the main talk.  I was a Union man (if there is a drop of rebel blood in my body I will thank [p. 14] to bleed it out).  He knew my ____ exactly.  He knew that I was as much opposed to it as any man living and he expressed the same thing always.  I can only answer in general terms for we talked so often and so much on that subject that I can’t recall any especial time or language.  But in all our talk I never heard him utter a disloyal sentiment.  He was too good a man for that.   He always claimed to be a Union man.  I am certain he was a Union man.  In fact I don’t believe as good a man as he is could be a Rebel.  He was regarded by all parties in the country as a Straight out Union man.  I never heard a whisper to the contrary.  His life was repeatedly threatened for his Unionism.  It was a common thing.  And his life notwithstanding his old age was in constant danger.  I know whereof I speak for I was in the same list with him and our names were usually (also that of his son Preston) coupled in these threats.  If the Confederacy had been maintained he never could have proved his Loyalty to them.  He had said too much, was too well known and had his [p. 15] Loyalty too well established to admit of anything of the kind.  He could not near have done it.                                                        Thomas H. Tennant

Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 16th day of November 1872.  E. B. Harrison, Special Commissioner.

 

Deposition of Preston Chandler. 

          The said witness being first duly sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth testifies as follows.  My age is 52 years.  My residence is Washington Co. Ark.  My occupation a Farmer.  Claimant is my Father.  I have no interest in this claim.  At the time the property charged in My Fathers claim was taken I was living 1 2 miles from him.  I was passing back & forth continualy and it so happened that I was at his house when many of the items were taken.

          I did not see the mule or Horse (items 1 & 2) taken but in April 1863 while I was at Mill near him Col Philips with his whole command (known as the Indian Brigade Loyal [p. 16] Cherokees) passed the mill moving from Maysville Benton Co to Ft. Gibson I. T. That command had and were riding as a Cavalry Horse a mare that I recognized at once as one that some of Philips Soldiers had taken from my Father the Fall before.  I talked with Lieutenant Hall about the mare.  He talked pleasantly about it and offered to assist me in getting her back but at the same time advised me that it would be difficult to get her as she was in the service but said that if I would go to Ft. Gibson with them I could get pay.  But at that time it was impossible for me to go and I just gave it up.  This mare is charged as item no. 2. She was 8 years old when taken (9 the spring I saw her in possession of Phillips men) 15 2 hands high.  Sound.  Well broke to work & ride.  In good fix when taken.  She was worth at least $150.00.  Father would not have taken that for her.

          I was present when a part of the corn charged in item no. 3 was taken.  I can not testify as to date but it was during the time that Blunts Army was at Cane Hill and they camped there from before until some time [p. 17] after the Prairie Grove battle of Dec 7, 1862.  I was at Fathers when a Forage Party of that command with 3 Army wagons were there and I heard the Forage Master say (in the course of a conversation with Father0 that he did get about 120 bushels. The day before it seemed from the conversation that they had promised on the day before not take the rest of his corn and when I met them there the Forage Master said that he did not mean to come again but that they had to have corn and could not find it any where else.  On this occation they loaded the three wagons and left what we thought was about 20 bushels.  That command got from 600 to 700 bushels of corn along about that time from the same crib.  But a portion of the time only Father & Mother were present.  Mother is now dead and Father memory is so broken that he can not remember the different circumstances and in making out his claim I found that proof could only be made for the amount charged and I did not put the other in the claim. [p. 18] The goverment price at this time was $1.00 per bushel corn.

          I did not see items no. 4-5-6 & 7 taken but I was at Fathers before all the Scout had left the place.  The wagons with the property had gone but the signs of the taking were fresh about the place and the Family gave me all the particulars.  It was a Scout of Col Philips Indian. What is charged in the claim is the amounts as reported by the Family at the time.  I am satisfied that Scout took from 800 to 1000 lbs of bacon because I helped kill the hogs and from the bulk in the Smoke house just after the taking there could not have been less than 800 lbs.  Bacon at that time I suppose was worth 15 or 164 per pound.  I don’t know what it was selling at but it was worth that to the family.

          All I know about the wheat salt & molasses is that the Family had these articles on hand and that when I got there that day (while a part of the Scout was still at the place) they were gone.  I know that Father had from 150 to 200 bushels of wheat [p. 19] stored in his house worth at least $1.50 per bushel (it is worth now $1.50 and very seldom brings less here.)  I can not state the amount of salt & molasses.  The family told me at the time that the Scout got 1 bushel of Salt and about 15 gallons molasses.

          Items no. 8-9-10 & 11 were all taken by Genl Blunts Army as it passed on from Ft. Scott to Ft Smith Ark in November 1863.

          When that command came to Fathers I was at my neighbor Tennants 3 miles away.  My wife was at Father’s and she went after me and I went right back to Father’s.  When I got to Fathers the Train & main command had gone on but Lieut Trent of a Kansas Colored Company was waiting for me.  Father sent for me to come and try to prevail on the Army to leave him a living and to get his fine mare back.  I went on with Trent to Ft. Smith (to try to get the mare and pay for the forage) about 4 miles out from her we overtook the Trains and main command.  Genl Blunt was present but Col Young seemed to have charge of everything and I did [p. 20] my talking to him.  I did not see the mare.  Col Young told me that they took her but that she was a fine Animal that they needed her and that we could not keep her here any way and he refused to let me have her and I never did get her (they took a poney from Father at the same time and they returned that to me).  The mare was a Sorrel in fine order 7 years old Saddle broke very large for her age full 15 hands.  She was worth $175.00 then or at any time I have ever saw here.

          When I overtook the train the corn and wheat were on the wagons and Leiut Trent told me that he got the forage.  The wagons were driven in the fields and loaded and then driven to the wheat stacks and topped out with sheaf wheat.  I did not count the wagons but they gathered just about half of a field of 8 or 10 acres of good corn.  I only knew the quantity of wheat by the looks of the stack.  There was a crop of 20 acres of good wheat in the stacks and from the looks of the stacks where they had taken (then only took about 1/4 of the wheat) I [p. 21] am confident they got fully 65 bushels.  When I got to Fathers the day of the taking Lieut Trent said that he was not down in the fields while the trains were loading and did not know how much they got, but would give me a recipt for same and he did give Father a recipt for a little corn & a little hay amounting all togather to the neighborhood of $60.00 that recipt I drew money on after wards.  That is all the pay my Father ever got for any of his property and I know that much more than that was taken in excess of what is charged in this claim.

          Lieut Trent told me that this recept would defray my Expenses to Ft. Smith and that when we got there he would assist me in getting pay for all; that he would get the Forage Master & the quarter Master togather and have it all fixed up.  But when we got to Ft. Smith I could not get it fixed up from some cause. I was at Ft. Smith when item no 11 was taken.  Trent told me that they had 600 wagons in their Train parly mule and partly ox teams, [p. 22] that the Ox train was behind about 4 or 5 days & after I got to Ft. Smith I saw the Ox train come in (a big train).  I talked with some of the Escort and some of the drivers.  One driver in particular had formerly lived in my neighborhood and had gone to Kansas in time of the War.  This man told me that that Train stopped at Fathers and took all the corn that was left in the field and about half of what wheat had been left by the other train (there was at least 65 or over bushels of this last wheat that I thought was charged in the Claim and ought to have been.  It must have been left off by mistake by the Attorney) I am fully satisfied that there two trains got as much as 270 bushels for they took the entire crop of 8 to 10 acres.  It was a fine crop. Would have made 40 bushels to the acre.  No receipt I think was ever given for this corn & wheat.  I never heard of any and My Father told me that none was given.

          Item no. 12 (3000 lbs pork) was taken about the 20th of November 1863 by some of Philips Indians.  These [p. 23] hogs were driven off as I learned afterwards.  They were in the field and I think none of the Family saw them taken.  An all the proof that can be made is what I was told by some of the men who helped drive the hogs away and by Citizens who saw them driven along the road.  Davis Stevens and Toney Wirt were Soldiers in Philips command and they told me the winter following that they were of the party that took the hogs and that they took all the hogs from Fathers fields but they did not give me the number.  My recollection is that there was between 15 & 20 head of good hogs in that Field they were fattening hogs & fat & good size 2 & 3 years old would average 200 lbs each.  I can safely say and prove it too by scores of men that Pork sold there that winter at 104 per lb.

          The item no 13 (40 bushels of corn) should not have been put in the claim.  It was a receipt given Nov 7th 1863 by the Forage Master with the post that got the wheat [p. 24] bacon salt & molasses (items 4-5-6 & 7). He said (so my Father told me & that they also got 5 or 6 bushels of corn) they could not pay for wheat but he gave a receipt for 40 bushels of corn but as it did not cover the property or the value of it Father never made any effort to collect it and as I suppose it was intended in a measure to cover the wheat I just set down the actual amount of wheat taken as near as I could get at it and did not intend to make any charge for what the receipt represented.  My Father is very old and through ill health has nearly lost his memory be got me to attend to the details of making out his claim.  A great quantity of property was taken from him by the Federal Army not charged in his claim.  But there was a portion of the time that He & my mother (now dead) were alone on the place.  Many of the circumstances of the taking he has entirely forgotten and though I knew well given report at the time I have left them out of the claim for want of necessary proof.                

 

                                                                             [Preston Chandler]

Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 16th day of Nov 1872.  E. B. Harrison, Spec. Comm.

 

 

[p. 25]

Deposition of Mary L. Chandler. 

          The said witness being first duly sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth relative to the above claim testifies as follows.  My age is 18 years.  I live with my father near here^[2].  Claimant is my Grand Father.

          I was staying with Grand Pa in the Fall of 1863 when a large force of Federal Soldiers and a very large Army train came by going to Ft. Smith.  They came by one morning and only stopped long enough to load up.  I saw the wagons go into the fields and load with corn and then drive to the wheat stacks and finish out the loads with wheat.  I can’t give the quantity or the number of wagons but the field was nearly full and I am certain they loaded more than a dozen wagons that time & some of these same men took a Fine mare out of the Fields that belonged to Grand Pa.  I saw them lead her away as they went away.  I was not at Grand Pas when the other corn & wheat was taken.  I had gone home (to Fathers) that morning and [p. 26] and when I came back about noon Grand Ma & my Grand Aunt told me that a big Ox train had come along and got the rest of the corn and more of the wheat (and I knew the corn was all gone and a good deal of the wheat) and I saw where the wagons had been in the fields.                                                              Mary L. Chandler

Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 16th day of November 1872.  E. B. Harrison, Special Commissioner.

 

Deposition of James M. Chandler

          The said witness being first duly sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth relative to the above claim testifies as follows.  My age is 39 years.  My residence is Evansville Washington Co. Ark.  My occupation a merchant.  Claimant is my Father I have no interest in his claim.

          In the fall of 1862 I staid for a while with Col.Cloud’s command (a part of Genl Blunts Army) at Cane Hill.  On the 2nd day after the Prairie Grove battle I saw a mule & mare that I knew belonged to my Father.  The mule was [p. 27] running about camp with the harness on and one of the Forage Masters that I talked to about it told me that they were working it in the Train.  I made no Especial effort to get the mule back.  I did try to get the mare a Soldier was riding her and I got him and went to Clouds head qrs. and Cloud cursed about the taking and said if the Soldier belong to his Regiment he would make him give it up but while the Matter stood that way Cloud got up mounted his horse and rode away and the man rode the mare away to his camp and I do not remember that I ever saw him again.

          Col. Cloud gave me a protective paper (an order forbidding any of his men to disturb Father’s property) which I expect Father still has.)

          The mule was a dark bay mare well full or over medium size 8 or 9 years old in his prime fine and fat.  She was worth $150.00.  Father had always sold such mules for $150.00 in gold before the war and she would be worth that much. [p. 28] The mare was a Sorrel 8 years old (possibly 9) over Medium size a no. 1 mare sound and in good order.  Valuable.  She would bring now in same age & fix $150.00 the price charged for both the mule & mare is the bery lowest figures that anyone could value them at.                                                                                   James M. Chandler

Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 16th day of November 1872.  E. B. Harrison, Special Commissioner.

 

[p. 29]

Remarks by the Special Commissioner.

          The Deposisions in this cause was taken at Claimants residence.  The Claimant being unable to leave Home.  I found him very feeble, quite deaf, and his mind much impaired.  I had great difficulty in getting an intelligent statement from him and for this reason I passed briefly over his own statement.  I think the old man is conservative and Honest.  He sustains a high reputation among his neighbors for honesty & truthfulness, and is represented generally as a Union man though I can only speak from heresay never had any personal acquaintance with him.

                                                                             E. B. Harrison, Special Commissioner

 

 

[in 1878 further testimony was taken.]

 Claim of Jacob Chandler, Ark. No 4157. Unprovable.

 

Jas. M. Chandler 1-2-3

Preston Chandler 4-5-6-7

Wm. Y. Train 8-9

Geo E. Smitte 10-11

Henderson Bates 12

 

[p. 1]

Deposition of James M. Chanler taken at his Store in Evansville Washington County Arkansas July 2d 1878 & before Jno S. Smitte, Special Commissioner.

          James M. Chandler being duly Sworn says I am here to testify for the government.  I now reside in Evansville Arkansas.  I am a son of Jacob Chander the claimant claim no. 4157.  Jacob Chandler is dead.  He died Nov 18th 1876.  He made a will. No Executor is named in that will the will has never been proved or recorded.  The following is a copy of a portion of the will.

           >I have deeded Seventy two acres of land to my beloved daughter Lucinda as described in deed to her which is all I intend her to have of my Estate.

          >I have a claim on the U. S. Government one half of which I wish paid to my beloved son Preston after the expenses are paid on same which is all I intend him to have of my Estate.  The balance of my real estate moneys & credits I wish divided equally between all my other children Viz Emily Latta, Alfred Chandler, Benjamin F. Chandler, Albert Chandler & James M. Chandler.’

 

          Emily Latta is a Sister of mine.  She was living in Texas during the war.  Her husbands [p. 2] name is Thomas M. Latta.  Thomas M. Latta was in the Confederate Army.  I was in the Confederate Army.  Albert Chandler was in the Confederate Army & Alfred Chandler was in the Confederate Army.  Young Ewing was a clergyman before & during the war of the Methodist Church South.  He is the husband of Lucinda.  They both lived at my fathers during the entire war until they moved to a Colony hear Prairie Grove.  Young Ewings sympathies were with the Confederates & Confederate Cause.  I am confident my Father Jacob the Claimant owned slaves.  My brother Preston during the war lived some two miles from my father.  He was not in Confederate Service.  The first Conscription he was too old & when the second came he kept out of the way.  The early part of 1864 my father the Claimant & brother Preston went down to the Nation about one mile from their then residence to a company of Indians then as I understand in the U. S. Service.  They remained there a short time a month or so & then went to a colony near Prairie Grove & stayed there until end of the war.  Alfred Albert & myself were neither of us conscripted.  We each volunteered & Served until the end of War.  My Brother Benjamin F. Chandler lived in Sebastian County Sixteen miles from Fort Smith when the war commenced.  After the Federals took [p. 3]Fort Smith he came there & remained until the end of the War.  He was never in Either Army during the war.  I saw my sister Emily Latta very often was at her house.  Her sympthies & feelings were the same as her husband who was in the Confederate Army.  I heard my father say at the time the original papers in the cause were made according to my recollection that his Sympathies were with the South until they refused to accept Pres Lincolns proposition to Settle the trouble & then he dropt them.  I think this was so written down by Comr Harrison all of us boys who were in the Confederate Army were of age & living by ourselves when we enlisted.  The claimant never done anything to aid either party during the war.

I have read the foregoing deposition made by me & the same is correct & is written just as I have stated it.                                                                                                                                                                       J. M. Chandler

Subscribed & Sworn to before me July 2d 1878.  Jno S. Smitte.  Special Commissioner.

 

[p. 4] Deposition of Preston Chandler taken at Boonsboro Washington County Arkansas July 5th 1878 and before Jno S. Smitte Special Commissioner.

 

          Preston Chandler being duly Sworn Says I am here to testify for the Government.  I am a son of Jacob Chandler the Claimant.  Claim no 4157.  Young Ewing is my Brother-in-law.  He is a clergyman in the Methodist Church South.  Ewing & my sister moved into the House on Claimants farm in 1862 or 1863.  The claimant was an old man & not able to look after & take care of the farm.  I don’t know what the arrangement between claimant & Ewing was about manning the farm.       My Sister married Ewing in 1862 or 1863 in April or May 1863 & at once moved on to Claimants place.  Ques.  Was it not the bargain between claimant & Ewing at the time that Ewing & his wife were to take care of the Claimant and Ewing was to have the use of the grain for doing it without ______ or other considerations.  Answer Yes, that was my understanding.  Some corn was taken from my fathers place in the winter of 1862 & 3 that was before Ewing went there.  I saw Six or Seven or Eight loads taken from there.  I cant tell what command got it.  They were Federal Soldiers.  The wagon Master gave him rects for the corn.  One or two of them were sent with the acct in this case.  I cannot [p. 5] tell whether they were all the rects he had I think not.  There was no crop made on that grain in 1864.  There was a crop made there in 1863.  The corn & wheat was planted & sowed when he Ewing went there & he tended it out.  Ewing left that farm in July 1863. He moved to Blain Creek after he had finished the crop on my fathers place & from Blain Creek Ewing went to Gregory’s^[3] Colony.  Think that was the first of 1864.  I saw no other corn taken from my Fathers in 186_ except what I have stated that I recolect.  I suppose that corn was hauled to Prairie Grove that was twenty miles from claimants.  I don’t know whether there were 2 ______ than Prairie Grove or not.  I do not know why Claimant did not get pay on those rects.  I do not know how those rects read.  I saw the soldiers shoot several hogs down at Claimants in 1862 & carry them off saw them from the house.  Cant say they were Claimants hogs.  I supposed they were at the time.  That is all the property I saw taken from Claimants in 1862.  The corn that year was taken from the cribs I saw several cows and some wheat taken from my father’s place in 1863 this was in Nov or Dec 1863.  A federal army wagon train took it.  Genl Young was in command.  The wheat was taken from two stacks I cant tell how many [p. 6] loads was taken.  They took the larger part of two stacks.  The corn was Standing in the field and was gathered and taken from them by this train and taken to Fort Smith.  Two horses disappeared at the same time from the Claimants, one of them I got back from the army.  The other one I never found.  The Claimant lost a mare in 1862.  I saw a Soldier in the Federal Army riding her near Dutch Mills in 1863.  I think in the Spring.  That is all the property that I can state of my own personal knowledge that was taken from Claimant.

The claimant was a slave holder in this way that my step mother owned slaves when he married her.  Ques.  Was he in favor of emancipation?  Ans. I cant tell under the laws of this state they neither father or mother emancipated those slaves.  The slaves went off during the war by themselves.  The claimants understanding was that it was the Nigger or Slavery question that caused the war.  He understood that the South wanted a government that would secure Slavery forever.  It was generally talked that the North was prosecuting the war to free the slaves.  There was four Slaves then at my fathers belonging to Claimant & wife.  Those four Slaves were worth from $2800 to $3000.  The Claimants four was worth at that time $3000 or $3500.  The Claimant understood & knows that if the [p. 7] South succeeded that a Slave government would be perpetuated & their Slaves would be secure to them.  I can say that Claimant was in fear of loosing their slaves.

Young Ewing has made a claim agst the govt for property taken during the war & it has been allowed.  Ewing’s claim was for corn & wheat taken from my father’s place in 1863 I suppose that was the crop Ewing tended out.  The claim in this case is made up for the same property.  Ewing had a small crop that year at another place he had rented.  He had ten or twelve acres of corn.  I don’t know.  And four or five acres of _____.  Ewing paid no rent for that place.

I have made the foregoing deposition and the same is correct and is written just as I have stated it.                                                               

 

Subscribed & Sworn to

before me July 5th 1878                                                                                              [P. Chandler]

Jos. Smith

Special Commissioner.

 

[p. 8] Deposition of William G. Train taken at Boonsboro Washington County Arkansas July 5th 1878 & before Jos. Smith Special Commissioner.

 

          Samuel G. Train^[4] being duly sworn says I am here to testify for the government.  I am 55 years old reside at Boonsboro, Arkansas & did before & during the war.  I was a miller of Ridds Mill about half a mile above this place before and during the war until the mill was burned in 1864.  I knew Jacob Chandler well.  He lived _____ Evansville & their place about seven miles from here.  He got his milling done at Ridds mill before and during the war.  I used to see him often at the mill when the question secession was being adjitated before & during the _____ ____ the war & conversed with him on the subject.  I was a Union man.  I know the Claimant Jacob Chandler was a confederate at those conversations he advocated the Confederate cause consistently and acted with the Confederates in everything he was an old man and could not do much but he aided that cause all he could then & Claimants sons were in the Confederate Army.  The Confederates never pestered or bothered claimant before & during the war.  A man by the name of Ewing Claimants son-in-law was a preacher in the Methodist Church [p. 9] South.  This man Ewing was a Confederate strong during the war.  This man Ewing & his wife lived in the Claimant’s house & took care of him and the claimant & Ewing acted in concert during the war & done what they could to aid the Confederate cause.

I have read this deposition & the same is correct & just as I have stated it.

                                                                             Wm. G. Train

Subscribed & Sworn to

before me July 5, 1878</