Scott County Arkansas
Southern Claims Commission File
Jacob P. Tate
Claim No. 18.800
Claim of Jacob P. Tate of Scott County, State of
Arkansas______$320.00
Testimony of
Claimant ________page 1
Jeremiah J. Tate___page 13
Elijah Leming_____page 23
C.L. Hutcheson___page 25
Taken before William A. Skannis
W. L. Taylor of Van Buren, Arkansas Attorney
Petition
To the Honorable Commissioners of Claims, under the Act of
Congress ofMarch 3, 1871, Washington D.C.
The Petition of Jacob P. Tate, respectfully represents:That
he is a citizen of the United States, and resides at present at
or near Olio Post office Scott County, Arkansas and that he
residedwhen this claim accrued at or near the same.
That he has a claim against the United States for property
taken for the use of the army of the United States during the
late rebellion at(or near) at my residence, in the county of
Scott, and State of Arkansas. That the said claim, stated by
items, and excluding anyand all items of damage, destruction, and
loss (and not use) of property; of unauthorized or unnecessary
depredations by troops andothers persons upon property, or of
rent or compensation for the useor occupation of buildings,
grounds, or other real estate, is as follows:
_____________________________________________________________________
No. of items Quantities and
articles
Value
_____________________________________________________________________
1 One thousand pounds of bacon at
15cts per lb 150
2 700 lb pork at 10
cts
70
Taken by Lieut. Bassett commanding the Post at Waldron in Dec
1863
3 1500 binds of fodder $2 per
hundred
30
Same as above
4 20 bushels of sweet potatoes
$1.00
20
Same as above
5 50 bushels of corn
$1.00
50
Same as above
______________________________________________________________________
Total
320
______________________________________________________________________
That the property in question was taken or furnished for
the use ofa portion of the army of the United States, known as
2nd KansasCavalry, Vol. and commanded by Lieut. Col. Bassett and
that the persons who took or received, or who authorized or
directed it to be taken or furnished, were the following:
Bassett-----Lieut. col.-----2nd Kansas Cav. Vol.
that the property was removed to Waldron, Scott Co. and used
for or by the 2nd Kansas Cavalry all this on or about the (blank)
day of December in the year 1863. That no voucher, receipt, or
other writing was given for the
property. That your petitioner verily believe that the
property described was taken under the following circumstances,
or one or more of suchcircumstances, viz:
1. For the actual use of the army, and not for the mere
gratificationof individual officers or soldiers already provided
by the government with such articles as were necessary or proper
for them to have.
2. In consequence of the failure of the troops of the United
States to receive from the government in the customary manner, or
to have in their possession at the time, the articles and
supplies necessary for them, or which they were entitled to
receive and have.
3. In consequence of some necessity for the articles taken,
or similar articles which necessity justified their officers or
soldiers
taking them.
4. For some purpose of necessity, useful, beneficial or
justifiable as to warrant or require the government to pay for
it.
5. Under the order or authority of some officer or other
person connected with the army whose rank (unknown word), duties
or other circumstances at the time authorized, empowered or
justified him in taking or receiving it or ordering it to be
taken or received. That your petitioner was the original owner of
said claim, and that he is the present owner of the same.
That your petitioner remained loyally adherent to the cause
and the Government of the United States during the war, and was
so loyal before and at the time of the taking of the property for
which this claim is made, and he solemnly declares that from the
beginning of hostilities against the United States to the
end thereof, his sympathies were constantly with the cause of the
United States; that he never, of his own free will and accord,
did anything, or offered, or sought, attempted to do anything, by
word or deed, to injure said cause or retard it success, and that
he was ready and willing, when called upon, or if called
upon, to aid and assist the cause of the Union, or its
supporters, as far as his means and power, and the circumstances
of the case permitted. That said claim has never before been
presented to any officer, agent or department of the government
or to congress or to any committee thereof for allowance and
payment. That William Taylor, Van Buren, Crawford Co., Ark is
hereby authorized to act as authority for the prosecution of this
claim. Wherefore your petitioner pray for such action of your
Honorable Commissioner in the premium as may be deemed just and
proper.
Witnesses:
Z.R.
Pratt
Jacob P. Tate
Elijah Leming
State of Arkansas, County of Scott
Jacob P. Tate, being duly sworn deposes and says his is the
petitioner named in the foregoing petition and who signed the
same; that matters therein stated are true; of the deponent's own
knowledge except as the those matters which are stated on
information and belief, and as to those matters he believes to be
true; and deponent further says that he did not voluntarily serve
in the Confederate army or navy, either as an officer, soldier or
sailor, or in any other capacity at any time during the late
rebellion; that he never voluntarily furnished any stores,
supplies, or other material aid to said Confederate army
or navy, or to the Confederate government or to any officer,
department or (unknown word) of the same in support thereof, and
that he never voluntarily accepted or received the franchises of
any office whatsoever under, or yielded voluntary support to, the
said Confederate government.
Witnesses:
Z.R.
Pratt
Jacob P. Tate
Elijah Leming
Sworn and subscribed in my presence, the 7th day of
January 1873
W.A. Harris
Names and residences of witnesses who will be relied upon
to prove loyalty:
Jeremiah J. Tate--------------Olio, Scott Co., Ark
John Hunt---------------------Olio, Scott Co., Ark
William Hunt------------------Olio, Scott Co., Ark
Names and residences of witnesses who will be relied upon
to prove the other facts alleged in the foregoing petition:
Jeremiah J. Tate---------------Olio, Scott Co., Ark
Charles L. Hutchinson------Olio, Scott Co., Ark
Post office address of claimant: Olio, Scott County,
Arkansas
Post office address of attorney: Van Buren, Crawford County
________________________________________________________________
No 18.800
Before the Commissioners of Claims, Under the Act of Congress
of March 3, 1871
In the matter of the Claim of Jacob P. Tate of Olio Post
Office, in the County of Scott and State of Arkansas Comes now
the claimant, before W.A. Harris, Esq, Special Commissioner for
the State of Arkansas, and represents that he has heretofore
filed with above-named Commissioners a Petition for the
allowances of a claim for property taken for the use of the army
of the United States, which claim, as stated below, does not
exceed the sum of five thousand dollars. That the said claim,
stated by items, and excluding therefrom all such items as refer
to the damage, destruction and loss and not the use of property:
to unauthorized or unnecessary depredations of troops and other
persons upon the property, or to rent or compensation for
the occupation of buildings, grounds or other real estate, is as
follows:
1-one thousand pounds bacon at 15cts per lb ----------$150
2-700 lbs pork at 10 cts-------------------------------$70
3-1500 binds of fodder at $2.00 per hundred------------$30
4-20 bushels of sweet potatoes $1.00-------------------$20
5-50 bushels of corn $1.00-----------------------------$50
Taken by Lieut. Col Bassett Comdr. Post at
Waldron Ark in December 1863--------------------Total $320
That, as stated in the Petition referred to, the property
in questionnwas taken from or furnished by Jacob P. Tate of Scott
Co., in then State of Arkansas, for the use of a portion of the
army of the United States, known as the 2nd Kansas Cav Vol,
U.S.A., and commanded by Lieut. Col. Bassett and that the persons
who took or received the property, or who authorized or directed
it to be taken or furnished, were the following;
Bassett-----Lieut. Col.---------2nd Kansas Cav. Vol.
That the property was removed to Waldron, Scott County,
Arkansas and used for or by the United States troops stationed
there: all this on or about the (blank) day of Dec, in the year
1863. That the following named persons, the claimant expects to
prove that, from the beginning of hostilities against the United
States to the end thereof, his sympathies were constantly with
the cause of the United States; that he never, of his own free
will and accord, did anything, or offered, or sought, or
attempted, to do anything, by work or deed, to injure said cause
or retard its success, and that he was at all times ready and
willing, when called upon, or if called upon, to aid and assist
the cause of the Union, or its supporters, so far as hismeans and
power, and the circumstances of the case permitted.
Jeremiah J. Tate of Olio, Scott Co., Ark
John Hunt of Olio, Scott Co., Ark
William Hunt of Olio, Scott Co., Ark
Elijah Leming of Waldron, Scott Co., Ark
That, by the following-named persons, the claimant expects to
prove the taking or furnishing of the property for the use of the
army of the United States:
Jeremiah J. Tate of Olio, Scott Co., Ark
Charles L Hutchinson of Olio, Scott Co., Ark
The Claimant now prays that the testimony of the witnesses
just designated be taken and recorded, at such place and at such
time as the Special Commissioner may designate, at the reasonable
cost of the said claimant; and that due notice of the time and
place of the taking thereof be given to the claimant, or the his
counsel.
Submitted on this 8th day of January, 1873
Jacob P. Tate, Claimant
William L. Taylor, Attorney
P.O.Address of Attorney:
Van Buren, Crawford Co., Arkansas
___________________________________________________________________
(In answer to interrogatories)
2-From the first of April 1861 until June or July 1862. I
resided some twenty miles east of Waldron, Scott Co., Ark. at
which time I was conscripted in the rebel army where I remained
some three month and about the first of October I deserted and
returned to my home laying out in the mountains the most of the
winter of 1862&3. In the spring and summer of 1863 I was
engaged in farming at the place I lived when I was conscripted
and in the fall of 1863 when the Federal army occupied Waldron I
went within the lines and remained within the Federal line on
until the close of the war, the greater portion of
the time being engaged as a scout for the Federal army.
3-No
4-I was conscripted and forced to take the oath at that time or do (unknown word)
5-9 No
10-Only as a conscript
11-12 No
13-Some time in July 1862 a rebel scout of 8 or ten men
came to myhouse and arrested me and took me to Waldron, Ark with
several other Union men and was kept under guard over night. The
following morning we were sworn into the service by the rebel
Major Gibson. After which we was sent to Fort Smith, Ark where we
was stationed some two months,
we went out on one scout to Fayetville and once to
Clarksville, Ark and one night while encamped at Van Buren Ark I
together with my brother A.J. and cousin forded the Arkansas
river and deserted making our way home to Scott Co. having been
out in three months. My brother Amos J. Tate was afterwards
captured and hung by the rebels.
14-23 No
24-Only as stated fully in No. 13-I never was arrested by the U.S. Government
25-I had taken by the rebels the following property: two horses, two cows, 100 bushels of corn, besides robbing me of my clothing. It was taken for the use of the rebel army. I never received any pay for any of the articles taken
26-I was frequently threatened with language and injury to my person and property on account of my Union sentiments. The threats were made all along during the war by Allen Manns and Huston Manns, Jesse Gentry, Jacob Weaver, Granville Lorbett and many other rebel soldiers and officers. They were to the effect that they would kill me.
27-Only by being robbed and forced to leave my house and lay out in the brush to save my life.
28-Only in the way of feeding Union soldiers.
29-I acted as a scout for a long time for the Union army.
30-Only one brother who was conscripted the same time I
was and deserted and afterwards killed by the rebels. I
furnished him with no military equipment, clothing or money and
did not contribute in any way to aid or support him while in the
rebel services
.
31-39 No
40-At the beginning of the rebellion I sympathized with the Union cause. My feelings and language were in sympathy with and in favor of the government of the United States and the Union cause. I exerted my influence and cast my vote in favor of the Union and after the ordinance of succession was adopted in the state I still adhered to the Union cause and was opposed to succession and the rebellion from the beginning to the end thereof-
41-Yes in full
Part 2-Claimant being further questioned regarding
property taken states as follows. I was present when all
the articles as specified in the several items of my petition
were taken and saw them all taken. I saw bacon, pork, fodder and
sweet potatoes and corn taken. Items No1-2-3-4&5 were all
taken at the same time and by the same command some time in the
month of December AD 1863, by the federal troops stationed at
Waldron, Scott County, Ark. About the middle of December
there came to my house from the direction of Waldron, Ark a
federal forager train of some 8 or ten U.S.A wagons guarded by
about 25 or 30 federal soldiers commanded by a Lieutenant of the
2nd Kansas U.S.Cavalry and took from the smoke house about ten
steps from the dwelling house 1000# of bacon loading it on the
wagons. I had killed this meat about a month previous to the
taking. At the time of the killing there was about 1500# of
the meat. A family of some six persons had been using the meat
during the month and as well as I can recollect they had used
only the back bones and span ribs and I am pretty satisfied that
there was at least 1000# of the bacon. They took all the
bacon except 4 or 5 hams. The bacon was in fine order and
worth at the time of the taking $15.00 for 100#. I paid .25
cts per pound for bacon not long after that. Of item No. 2
at the same time I had eight head of hogs in the pen about 100
yds from the house and when I saw the train coming I went and
turned out 7 of them thinking they would get away and the
soldiers would not get them, but they commenced killing the hogs
as soon as they got there and killed 7 hogs that I turned out,
they would average 100# each dressed. Pork at that time was worth
$10.00 per 100#. The hogs were loaded on the wagons.
Item #3, the 1500 binds of fodder was stacked in the field about
300 yds from the house. There was 3 stacks of the fodder. I
had stacked the fodder myself and built a rail pen around the
stacks. There was 500 binds per stack. The train came to my
place in the evening and what fodder they did not feed out that
night and in the morning they loaded on the wagons and hauled off
in the direction of
Waldron, Ark. The fodder was in fine order and worth at
the time of the taking $2.00 per 100 binds. Items No.
4, the 20 bushels of sweet potatoes were taken out of a hole in
the garden about 15 or20 steps from the house. There was
about 100 bushels of sweet was gone. I know a low estimate
there was at least 20 bushels taken They used some of the
potatoes while encamped at the place overnight. The remainder was
loaded on the wagons and hauled off in the direction of
Waldron. The potatoes were in good order and worth at the
time of the taking $1.00 per bushel. Item No. 5, the 50
bushels of corn was taken from the crib some 30 or 40 yds
from the house they loaded one army wagon which they hauled off
in the direction of Waldron, the remainder was fed out to the
animals while they encamped. I suppose they had from 70 to
75 head of
animals along with the train that was fed from the crib of
corn. Said corn was in good order and worth at the time of the
taking $1.00 per bushel. They came in the evening about one
hour by sun items No. 1-2-3-4--5 that was not used by the command
while they encamped was hauled off in the direction of Waldron,
Ark for the use of the troops stationed there. Other than
soldiers there was present at the time of the taking my wife's
fathers family, consisting of Chas L Hutchison, his wife and some
small children not old enough to remember. They said they
needed the articles for the use of the troops stationed at
Waldron and that if I would go to Waldron I could get a receipt
for all of the property taken. I neglected to go for the receipt
as others of my neighbors had got receipts and never succeeded in
getting any pay and I thought they would be of no advantage or
worth to me and I never applied for any, and I never received any
voucher, receipt or pay of any kind for any of the articles
charged for in the claim. Neitherdid I ever make any claim
for the property before this.
Jacob P. Tate
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 8th day of January
A.D. 1873
___________________________________________________________________
Deposition of Jeremiah J. Tate who being duly sworn to
tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
testifies as follows; My age is 33 years, my residence Scott
County, Ark and my occupation a farmer. Claimant is my
cousin. I have no beneficial interest in this claim.
My acquaintance with claimant began as long ago as I can remember
and was intimate throughout the war. I lived about 200 yds
from claimant and saw him as often as 3 or 4 times a week. I
conversed often with claimant about the war, its causes and
progress. I was an adherent of the Union cause and was so
regarded by claimant. In my conversations with the claimant
I always foun him in sympathy with and an adherent to the cause
of the Union. I knew the sympathies and opinions of claimant by
our conversations which were both by ourselves and in the
presence of other Union men, and if in the presence of others
those only who were known to be Union men. I knew the
public reputation of claimant as to loyalty-it was that of a
loyal man and was always so regarded by his loyal
neighbors. I don't know that claimant ever contributed any
money or property in aid of the Union army and cause, but am
satisfied he did everything in his power to aid the Union army
and cause and know that he gave information to officers and
soldiers of the Union army in aid of their movement and
cause. I know that claimant was molested and threatened
with injury to himself his family and property on account of his
Union sentiments. I know that claimant had to lay out in
the mountains for a long time to keep from being captured and
killed by the rebels. I lay out with him on a good many
occasions. I know that claimant never contributed anything to aid
the confederate government or its officers or soldiers or ever
owned any confederate bonds or did anything to sustain the
credit of the confederate states. I know that claimant acts and
language were such as would have prevented him from establishing
his loyalty to the confederacy if It has been maintained as a
separate government. The fact of his having been employed
as a scout for a long time for the Federal army would have
prevented him and going within the federal lines
the first opportunity where he remained until the close of
the war.
Jeremiah J. Tate, his mark
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 8th day of January
1873
Deposition of Jeremiah J. Tate who being duly sworn to
tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
testifies as
follows-my age is 33 years, my residence Scott County, Ark,
and my occupation a farmer. Claimant is my cousin. I
have no beneficial nterest in this claim. I was present
when all the articles as specified in the several items of
claimants petition were taken and saw all the property
taken. I saw 1000# of bacon-700# of pork, 1500 binds of
fodder-20 bushels of sweet potatoes and 50 bushels of corn
taken. Item No. 1-2-3-4-5 were all taken at the same time
by the same command about the middle of December 1863. I
was at claimants house about 21 miles east of Waldron in Scott
County, Arkansas. While there a Federal forager train from
the Post of Waldron Lieut. Crossgrove of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry
USV was in command of an escort of about 25 to 30 US soldiers,
there was a forage master along with from 8 to ten U.S. Army
wagons came up and camped about 100 yards from claimants
residence. I think the sun was about one and a half hours
high when they came. A good many soldiers came to the smoke house
near the dwelling and carried the bacon to their wagons-the only
means I have of knowing the amount of bacon taken is by the
amount of meat killed and put up by claimant and the probable
amount used by him up to the time of the taking, and the amount
left. I could not ascertain the amount taken by the taking
or by the wagon load for the soldiers swarmed in and out of the
smoke house, some taking one and others taking two or more pieces
in their hands and on their shoulders, carrying it away to the
wagons. About one month before the taking I had helped
claimant kill and salt down 8 large fat hogs. I think they
would average about 200# each. His family of some 5 or 6 in
number had used of this meat from the time it was killed until
the taking and I suppose there was left in the smoke house some 4
or 5 joints. I think there was some 10 or 12 soldiers engaged the
taking of this bacon. They were but a short time taking as
their camps were near by (100 yds) they made some 4 or 5 trips
each back and forth from the camp to the smoke house.
The bacon was in fine condition and worth at the time of the
taking 15cts per pound. The same evening I saw them kill 7
head of claimants fat hogs that he had had in a pen
fattening. Claimant had turned these hogs out of the
pen they had been in when he saw the train coming up.
Claimant said he turned them out (of) the pen, thinking that the
soldiers would not kill them outside, he left one in the open
which they did not molest. I saw the soldiers shoot the
hogs and skin them. These were small hogs in good order and would
average about 100# each. Pork was selling at the time of
the taking at ten cents per pound. Claimant had three
stacks of fodder in the field about 200 or 300 yards from the
house. He had a rail fence around the stacks to keep the
stock off. The soldiers drew one wagon down to the
stacks that evening and loaded it with fodder. A good many
of them went on foot and carried the fodder on their shoulders to
their camp, feeding it to their animals. They took all
three of the stacks that evening-What they did not feed to their
stock that night and the following morning-they hauled off on the
wagons next morning. I estimate the amount taken by the
size of the stacks-Ihad stacked a good deal of fodder and could
tell very near from the size of the stack the number of binds it
contained. I think there was 500 binds in each of the
stacks, these were very large stacks-an ordinary size stack
generally contained about 300 binds-fodder was worth $2.00 per
100 binds. I saw a good many soldiers that evening carrying
away sweet potatoes from a stock in hole of potatoes in the
yard. They were carrying them in sacks, some in blankets
and some in their arms-I was about camp that night and I saw the
soldiers cooking and eating the potatoes with some of the fresh
pork they had killed-they seemed to relish them pretty
well. I have no means of estimating the amount of potatoes
taken. I think potatoes were worth at the time of the
taking $1.00 per bushel. The same evening the soldiers
drove one of the wagons to the crib near claimants house and
loaded it with corn in the husk.
I saw this wagon go away loaded the following day. The
whole train fed night and morning from the crib. I saw
soldiers carrying this corn in their arms and blankets feeding it
to their animals. I think there were between 60 or 70 animals fed
night and morning from the corn. The wagon that was loaded
I think would hold about 25 bushels of corn. The corn was
in good order and worth at the time of the taking $1.00 per
bushel. Some of the officers I think the forage master told
claimant that if he would go to Waldron he would get a
receipt for all the property taken. Claimant did not go
after any receipt. He never received any pay for the
property that I ever heard of and had he been paid for it I think
I should have heard of it. As I have often during and since
the war heard him speak of this property and say he had never
been paid for it. I was a soldier at the time of the taking of
this property and the way I happened to be down at claimants
house, I was out recruiting for the 4th Ark Inftry.
Lieutenant Col. Bassett was then in command of the U.S troops at
Waldron. I came to Waldron with the train and saw the
property used by the soldiers at the Post of Waldron. There
was present other than soldiers at the time of the taking,
claimants father-in-law Chas L. Hutchinson, Mrs Hutchinson and
some small children not large enough to remember the particulars
of the taking.
Jeremiah J. Tate, his mark
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 8th day of January
A.D. 1873
___________________________________________________________________
Deposition of Elijah Leming who being duly sworn to tell
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth testifies as
follows. My age is 52 and my residence Waldron, Scott Co., Ark
and my occupation a physician. My acquaintance with
claimant began about A.D. 1859 and was intimate throughout the
war. I lived about 21 miles from claimant and saw him as
often as once a month during the first part of the war. I
conversed often with claimant about the war its causes and
progress. I was an adherent of the Union cause and so
regarded by claimant. In my conversations with claimant I
always found him in sympathy with and in favor of the U.S.
government and the Union cause. I know the sympathies and
opinions of claimant by our frequent conversations which were
both by ourselves and in the presence of others and if the
presence of others, those who were known to be Union men. I
knew the public reputation of claimant as to loyalty. It
was that of a loyal man and was always so regarded by his loyal
neighbors. As to money or property I don't know, but know that
claimant was a scout for the federal army and done everything in
his power to aid the Union army because I know that claimant was
molested and threatened with injury to himself, his family and
property on account of his Union sentiments. He was run away from
his home and compelled to lay out in the mountains for months at
a time to keep from being killed on account of his Union
sentiments. I don't think claimant ever contributed
anything in any way to aid the confederate government or its
officers or soldiers or ever owned any confederate bonds or
did anything to sustain the credit of the confederate states. I
am satisfied that the claimants acts and language were such as
would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the
confederacy if it had been maintained as a separate government
the fact of his being engaged as a scout for the federal army
would have prevented him and he was always regarded as a truly
loyal man. The whole Tate family are a truly loyal family and so
regarded throughout the war.
Elijah Leming
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 10th day of January
A.D. 1873
____________________________________________________________________
Deposition of C.L. Hutchinson who being duly sworn to tell
the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth testifies as
follows. My age is 46 years, my residence is Scott
County, Arkansas, and my occupation a farmer-claimant is my
son-in-law. I have no interest whatsoever in this claim. I
was present when all the articles as specified in the several
items of claimants petition were taken and saw all the property
taken. I saw about 1000# of bacon-about 700# of pork-3
stacks-1500 binds of fodder-20 bushels sweet potatoes and about
50 bushels of corn taken. The property was all taken at the
same time by the same command by U.S. troops stationed at the
post of Waldron, Scott County, Ark. Some time during the
month of December A.D. 1864 (actually 1863) there came to my
house a federal forage train of some, say, 5 wagons. U.S.A.
wagons guarded by about 70 or 75 U.S. soldiers from the post of
Waldron, Ark and I think commanded by an officer. The
command came to my house soon after dinner, I think , and I think
they camped overnight near the house. When they came in the
evening the soldiers went to the smoke house some 8 or 10 steps
from the dwelling house and took there from about 1000# of bacon
carrying it out through the gate and loading it on the wagons and
hauled it off in the direction of Waldron. This bacon was
in good order and worth at the time of the taking about 15 cts
per lb. They also killed 7 fat hogs the property of
claimant which were either used by the soldiers while they
encamped or hauled off the following morning. Said hogs
would average about 100# each. They went into the field
about 1/4 of a mile from the house where there was 3 stacks of
fodder with 2 or 3 wagons and loaded the fodder on the wagons,
hauling it to their camps. the men carried some away on
their horses, they took all three stacks of the fodder and
what they did not feed to their stock they hauled away. The
3 stacks of fodder contained 1500 binds. I estimate the
quantity of fodder so taken by actual count. I had helped
to stack it. The binds were ordinary size. It was in
good order and worth at the time
of the taking $2.00 per 100 binds. Item # 4, the 20
bushels of sweet potatoes were taken from a stack in the garden
about 25 steps form the house. I had helped to stack up the
potatoes, and I am satisfied they must have taken from 20 to 25
bushels. I estimate the quantity taken by the amt. there was in
the stack and what they left. the potatoes were in good
order and worth at the time of the taking $1.00 per bushel.
Item No.5-the fifty bushels of corn was taken from the crib some
30 or 40 yards from the house. I think they moved one wagon
to the corn crib loading it with corn which they hauled
off. The rest was carried off bymthe soldiers in their arms
and in sacks and fed to their animals while so encamped. I
estimate the quantity of corn taken by the number of wagon loads
they hauled and the number of animals they
had to feed and think they used at least fifty bushels.
Corn at the time of the taking was worth $2.00 per bushel.
There was
present other than soldiers at the time of the taking,
claimant and my family is all that I now recollect of , there
might have
been others. Claimant was living at my house, had made
his home there a good many years. I don't remember of
hearing anything said about the taking at the time, neither did I
hear anything
said about receipting for said property. I don't think
claimant ever received any pay, either receipt voucher or pay of
any kind for any of the property charged for in this claim.
the property
was taken from my place twenty one miles east of Waldron,
Scott County, Arkansas and hauled to the Post of Waldron for the
use of the United States troops there stationed. Claimant
has lived
at or near my house ever since the taking of said property
charged for in the claim and had he ever received any pay for
said
property I would have certainly have known
it.
C.L. Hutchison
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 10 day of January A.D.
1873
____________________________________________________________________
Office of William L Taylor, Attorney at Law and Real Estate Agent, Special attention given to the Collection of Southern Claims Bounties, Pensions, etc. Homesteading and procuring Patents for Lands Crawford County, Ark. Van Buren, December 28 1876 Honorable Charles F. Benjamin Washington DC
I send here with testimony in case of Jacob P. Tate.
I wrote to Gilbert and Tate to have their witness testify fully
as to loyalty. I see they have taken espostee affidavits-as it is
to far down there I suppose we will have to put up (with)
them. Mr Tate was a notorious union man before and since
the war. I do not now recollect what the proof was as to
property-I know the loyalty is good. Hope you will look
over the informality in this case as to application and mailing
direct to you.
Respectfully, Wm L. Taylor
United States of America State of Arkansas County of
Crawford
Claim 18.800 Jacob P. Tate Amt 320.00
Testimony as to Loyalty
Martin Nelson being duly sworn esposes and says in answer to
Question No 1
"My name is Martin Nelson, my age is 59 years. My
residence is Crawford County, Ark where I have resided for the
last 9 years past. My occupation is farmer."
In Answer to Question No 2
witness says "I am not claimant or related to him or in
anyway interested in the claim.
" In answer to Question No 52
witness answers and says "I am here to testify in favor
of Jacob P. Tate, claimant in a loyal claim against
the United States.
"In answer to Question No 53
witness answers and says "I have know Jacob P. Tate
formally since the fall of 1863 and by reputation from the
commencement of the war to that time.
" In answer to Question No 54
witness answers and says "From the commencement of the
war up to the fall of 1863 I lived within fifteen miles of Jacob
P. Tate in Scott County in the State of Arkansas. In the
fall of 1863 I left my home because my life was threatened on
account of my sentiment of loyalty to the government of the
United States and went into the neighborhood of Mr. Tate,the
claimant, where I stayed for about a year most all of the time. I
lay out in the brush in the fall of 1864. I moved my family to
Lewisburg Ark where there was a post of federal soldiers whose
protection I claimed and where I stayed until after the
surrender.
" In answer to Question No 55
witness answers and says "During the year from fall of
63 to 64 I saw Jacob Tate nearly everyday and when I went to
Lewisburg, Tate went about the same time and there we met I think
at least every week.
" In answer to Question No 56
witness answers and says "I frequently conversed with
the claimant about the war, it's causes, it's progress and
results. We spent hours, days and nights, in talking about
it. I cannot now specify any particular conversation, but
remember that when we heard of a battle we talked about it and
how we got the news and that claimant always expressed himself
greatly rejoiced to hear of Federal victorys and rebel defeats
and that he hoped the Union always would conquer
." In answer to Question No 57
witness answers and says "I know that claimant laid out
in the brush at the same time I did because his life was
threatened by the rebels on account of his loyal sentiments to
the Federal government. I know he always tried to assist
loyal men to escape from the rebels and he often joined Federal
scouts to guide them through the country and belonged to an
independent company of home guards for the protection of Union
men during the war.
"In answer to Question No 58
witness answers and says "I know of nothing he said or
done against the Union cause.
" In answer to Question 59
witness answers and says "I never heard of claimant
doing anything against the Union cause, but have
heard of his advocating the Union cause both before and after
I became acquainted with him in the fall of 1863."
In answer to Question 60
witness answers and says "His, claimants, public
reputation during the war was that of a Union and loyal man to
the United States government. I know this by having Union
men speak of it. I heard William Hunt, Thomas Hyfield, who
was killed by the rebels for his loyalty to the Union,
Judson Tate, Thomas Tate, his brother (cousin, written over
brother) speak of it. George Terry, James Terry, Jesse
James and others could testify to his loyal reputation.
" In answer to Question 61
witness answers and says "The persons above named and
others.
" In answer to Question 62
witness answers and says "I was a Union man during the
war and claimant knew it by conversing with me, my
actions and by having others speak of me as such.
" In answer to Question 63
witness answers and says "Claimant was a single man
during the war. I know there were threats made against his
life by the rebels because he was a Union man, know of no njury
inflicted upon him or his property, know he went to the
brush because of the threats so made against his life
" In answer to Question 64
witness answers and says " I do, his language in
sustaining the Union cause, lying out in the brush to avoid rebel
forces, helping and assisting Union men and guiding Federal
scouts belonging to the Union home guards would have
prevented him from proving his loyalty to the Confederate
government
" In answer to Question 65
witness answers and says "Claimant went to the Federal
lines at Lewisburg, Ark in the fall of 1864 and claimed Federal
protection until the war closed."
Martin Nelson
Sworn and subscribed before me this 23rd day of December 1874
Contributed by Sandy Conant
Email: [email protected]
A special Thanks goes out to Sandy for all her hard work that
she has done! I belive this to be very interesting reading!
March 13, 2000