James Stacy – Southern Claims Commission

Remarks: The claimant was a slave – lived on Lawrence Winn’s place. He tells quite minutely of how he bought his horse (when a colt 2 yrs old), his buggy & cow, & his story seems credible. Two colored witnesses confirm his evidence. They seem to be fair & reasonably intelligent witnesses. The clam’t is 39 years old & appears to have been a hardworking & money saving man.

We allow $179.00

The horse was 5 years old & a fair animal. All the articles taken when the federal forces were camped at Midway.

A.O. Aldis
O. Ferris
J.B. Howell } Commrs [Commissioners] of Claims

Testimony of Claimant

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

My name is James Stacy, my age 39 years, my residence Midway, Liberty Co, in the state of Georgia, and my occupation a farmer; I am the claimant and have a beneficial interest in the claim.

Interrogatories by Special Commissioner

1. What is your name, age, residence, and occupation?

My name is James Stacy. I was born in Liberty Co Ga, a slave; became free when the raid came through. I am 39 years old. I live on Lawrence Winn’s place. I am a farmer. I am the Claimant in this case.

2. Where did you reside from the 1st of April, 1861, to the 1st of June, 1865? If on your own land, what is the size of your farm? How much of your farm was cultivated, and how much was woodland? Where is it situated? What was your occupation during that time? Did you change your residence or business during that time? if so, where was your new residence, and what [was] your new business?

I lived from the 1st of April 1861 to the 1st of June 1865 on the place of Lawrence Winn. I did not change my residence or business during that time.

3. Did you ever pass beyond the military or naval lines of the United States and enter the rebel lines? If so, how often, when, where, and for what purpose, and how long did you stay within the Confederate lines on each occasion?

Irrelevant.

4. Did you ever take any oath or affirmation to bear allegiance to the so-called Confederate States, or to aid or support them in any way, or to “bear true faith,” or “yield obedience” to them? If so, when and where? State fully in regard to the same.

Irrelevant.

5. Have you ever taken any amnesty oath? If so, when, where, and under what condition? Have you been pardoned by the President? If so, when and where, and upon what conditions?

The only oath I ever took was when I went to register for voting.

6 to 28 inclusive to each & every question the claimant answers No! After hearing questions read

29. Did you ever do anything for the United States Government or its army, or for the Union cause, during the war? If so, state fully what you did.

After they came, a rebel was about near in the woods and he had his face blackened and the Yankees were at one place, in my house, and I went and helped them catch him. The next day they came back and I helped them catch chickens and lead the wagon, and did all they called on me to do.

30 to 39 inclusive to each & every question the claimant answers No!

40. At the beginning of the rebellion did you sympathize with the Union cause, or with the rebellion? What were your feelings and what your language on the subject? On which side did you exert your influence and cast your vote? What did you do, and how did you vote? How did you vote on ratifying the ordinance of secession? After the ordinance of secession was adopted in your State did you adhere to the Union cause, or did you “go with the State?”

At the beginning of the rebellion I sympathized with the Union cause. My feelings when I first heard of the war were bad, because our owners told us the Yankees were coming to kill us and carry us off to Cuba, but when they came I felt very different because I found they were different people. I did not find out any better till they came because no one told us better and we did not know any better.

41. [Original Question 34.] In conclusion, do you solemnly declare that, from the beginning of hostilities against the United States to the end thereof, your sympathies were constantly with the cause of the United States; that you never, of your own free will and accord, did anything, or offered, or sought, or attempted to do anything, by word or deed, to injure said cause or retard its success, and that you were 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 you means and power and the circumstances of the case permitted?

I cannot say in conclusion that my feelings were with the United States all through the war, because our masters told us when we heard that they were coming, that they couldn’t get here that this place was too hot for them. After they came and I found out about them I did all I could for them and was willing to do so.

[question 42 only asked of women]

If the claimant be a colored person, ask the following questions:

43. Were you a slave or free at the beginning of the war? When did you become free? What was your business after you became free? How and when did you come to own the property named in your petition? How did you get the means to pay for it? Who was your former master? Are you now in his employment? Do you live on his land? Do you live on land purchased of him? Are you indebted to your former master for land or property, and how much? Has anybody any interest in this claim besides yourself? State fully all the facts in your answers to these questions.

At the beginning of the war I was a slave and became free when the Army came here. I went right on farming and made hoes, and patched them etc, to make a living after I was freed. I bought the horse when he was about 2 years old, by raising chickens and pigs and saving up my money till I got enough to buy a horse. I had owned this horse about 3 years before the raid came. He was about 5 years old. After my colt I raised from this mare was about 1 year and 4 months old I sold him and got $39.00 for him and bought my buggy. This was the 1st colt I raised. I got my 1st hog by raising and selling chickens. I had some money left from buying my colt and I put more to it by making shoes and bought me a heifer a yearling and she had a calf. I bought her some 9 years or more before the Yankees came here. I raised the corn and rice. My master used to give us a day sometimes to plant our crop and we worked by the crop and made time that way and so we got time to raise our crop. I had been raising poultry and other things for about 15 years before the Army came. My master was Lawrence Winn. I am not in his employment, he is dead. I live on land which used to belong to him. I rent my land. I pay $15.00 a year for the house I live in and all the land myself and my wife can work. I am not indebted to any of the heirs or the estate of my old master. No one has any interest in this claim but myself.

2nd set of interrogatories by Special Commissioner:

1. Were you present when any of the articles of property specified in the claimant’s petition were taken?

I was present when this property was taken from me.

2. Did you see any of them taken? If so, specify the articles you saw taken.

I saw this property taken I saw the horse and buggy, and the cow and calf, and sow, rice and corn, and fowls all taken by the Union Soldiers.

3. Begin with the first article (Item No. —) which you have specified that you saw taken, and give a full account of all you saw and heard in connection with the taking of that article? [The special commissioner should require the witness to state all the circumstances; for it is only by a knowledge of all of them that the commissioners of claims can judge whether the taking was such a one as the Government is bound to pay for. The common phrase, “I saw the property taken by United States soldiers,” is not enough, for there was much lawless taking. The witness should be required to detail the facts as to each item, when the items were taken at different times; but if all, or more than one, were taken at the same time, that fact should appear, and then a repetition of the circumstances is needless. The special commissioner must be careful to elicit all the facts, as well those against as for the claim, especially as to those articles of property which were the special objects of pillage and theft, such as horses, mules, cattle, hogs, &c. Claimants must bear in mind that a neglect to observe these directions works to the prejudice of the claimant, and may defeat the claim.]

They didn’t say anything but “howdy” when they came to take this property. They said they wanted something to eat and we flew round and cooked some sweet potatoes, and chicken, and rice, for them. Then after eating they went on and took the property.

4. Where were the articles taken? When were they taken? Give the day, month and year, if you can? By whom were they taken? Did you see more than one soldier engaged in the taking? How many soldiers were present? State the number as near as you can? How many helped take the property? How long were they engaged in taking the property?

This property was taken at my house on Lawrence Winn’s plantation, after or when the raid came. I don’t know the year or month. It was taken by the Yankee soldiers. I think it was Kilpatrick’s brigade. “I couldn’t count them. I was scared to see so many people. I never did see so much in my life.” They were about a couple of days taking my property.

5. Who were present other than soldiers when you saw them taken? Give the names of all you know?

John Lambert, and Scipio King, and Joseph Bacon, were present when this property was taken, also George Powell, and Edmund Bacon.

6. Was any United States officer, either commissioned or non-commissioned, present at the taking? If so, state his name, rank, regiment, and the command to which he belonged. Did he order the property to be taken? Did he say anything about the taking?

I didn’t know the officers from the private soldiers. I did not hear any orders given to take the property. I saw men on horses who were not taking the property.

7. Describe how the property was taken, and give a full account of all you saw done, or heard said, upon the occasion of the taking.

They took the corn and rice, out of my house, and put it in the wagons and I helped them to do it. They took the horse out of the stable and put their saddle on her back and led them on to camp. They took the buggy out and put their horse to it and used my harness and went off. They killed the yearling which was 2 ½ years old and the old one too and cut them up and put it on their horses and went off to camp. They shot the fowls and we helped them catch what we could and we helped cook some for them and the rest they carried to the camp.

8. How was the property removed—by soldiers or in wagons, or in what manner? State fully as to each article taken and removed.

They removed this property on horses in sacks and in wagons.

9. To what place was it removed? Did you follow it to such place, or see it, or any portion of it, at any such place, or on its way to such place? How do you know the place to which it was removed?

They removed this property towards camp. I did not follow it but it was near by and we could see from our house the camp and I know that no Rebel could get there to take it off from them.

10. Do you know the use for which the property was taken? What was the use, and how do you know it? Did you see the property so taken used by the United States army? Did you see any part of the property so used? State fully all you know as to the property or any of it having been used by the army; and distinguish between what you saw and know, and what you may have heard from others, or may think, or suppose, or infer to be true.

I think they took the meat and chickens to eat, and the corn and rice to feed their horses. I didn’t see them use any of it in camp but I saw them using some of it at my house before they left.

11. Was any complaint made to any officer on account of such taking? If so, state the name, rank, and regiment of the officer. What did he say about it? State fully all that he said.

I did not make any complaints to any officers on account of the taking of this property, for I felt so proud of the freedom they told me I had, that I didn’t make no complaint to nobody.

12. Was any voucher or receipt for the property asked for? If so, of whom asked? State name, rank, and regiment. Was any receipt or paper given? If so, produce it, or state where it is, and why it is not produced. If no voucher or receipt was given, state why none was given, and if refused, why it was refused; state all that was said about it. State fully all the conversation between any officer or other person taking the property, and the claimant, or any one acting for him.

I did not ask any of the officers for a voucher or receipt.

13. Was the property, or any of it, taken in the night-time? At what hour of the day (as near as you can tell) was it taken? Was any of the property taken secretly, or so that you did not know of it when taken?

This property was taken in the daytime and all hours of the day from daylight till sundown.

14. When the property was taken, was any part of the army encamped in that vicinity? If so, state how far from the place where the property was taken, and what was the company, regiment, or brigade there encamped? How long had it been encamped there? How long did it stay there, and when did it leave? Had there been any battle or skirmish near there, just before the property was taken? Did you know the quartermasters, or any of them, or any other officers of the army for whose use the property is supposed to have been taken?

When this property was taken the Army were encamped at Midway Church, about a mile from my house. I think it was Kilpatrick’s army camped there. The very first day they came to the church they came to my house. They staid [stayed] at Midway about a month and foraged all about all over the county and brought their supplies to camp. For a little while we got along pretty well and then we were put to it, to get something to eat. The Government had to send something down for us. I did not know any of the quartermasters or other officers of the Army.

15. Describe clearly the condition of the property when taken, and all that tends to show its value at the time and place of taking? Thus, if corn, was it green or ripe? Had it been harvested? Was it in the shock, or husked, or shelled? Where was it? If grain, was it standing; had it been cut; was it in shocks, or in the barn or in stacks; had it been threshed? If horses, mules, or cattle, state when they were taken, how taken, and fully their condition, age, and value. Have you talked with claimant about their value?

This property was in pretty good condition when taken.

16. What means have you of knowing the quantity taken? State particularly how you estimate the quantity? Did you count or weigh the articles? Give us all your data. How much did you see taken and removed? What quantity was taken in your presence? As to quantity, distinguish carefully as to what you saw and know, and what you may think or believe from what you have heard from others.

Item No 1. This was a good heavy bodied horse. He was a large horse, well broken to the harness and saddle. He was 5 years old. They just came and took the saddle off of theirs, and put it on my horse and rode him off.

Item No 2. It was a spring wagon. They took one of their horses and put my harness on him and hitched him to my wagon and loaded up with corn and drove off. I had it 2nd hand about a year and 2 months and the harness the same time and I bought it 2nd hand. They were in good working order. The harness was a leather harness.

Item No 3. A cow and calf. The old cow was about 9 or 10 years old, and the calf about 2 ½ years old. I think the old cow would weigh 3 or 400 lbs. The calf 250 or 260 lbs. They killed them and cut them up and put them on their horses and carried them off.

Item No 4. One good large sow. I reckon she would weigh 150 lbs dressed. They killed the sow and took her off to camp.

Item No 5. I had 10 bus [bushel] of rice. I planted a little over an acre in rice, but it was poor ground. It was thrashed rice and had been measured. They took the rice off in my spring wagon.

Item No 6. I had 9 bus [bushel] of corn shelled. I measured it. They took it off in the same wagon and what was left they came back and got and put some on their horses.

Item No 7. I had 16 head of fowls. They made us catch some and they shot some down and used some there and what ever left they carried off to camp.

This property was all mine. I saw the soldiers take it all. I have never received any money on any part of it. This is the 1st and only claim I have ever made against the Government.

James Stacy

Witness E. E. Adlington

Sworn to and subscribed before me
Virgil Hillyer
Special Commissioner
State of Georgia

Testimony of Witness (Scipio King)

My name is Scipio King. I was born in Liberty Co Ga a slave became free when the army came here. My master was Lawrence Winn. I am about 46 years old. I am a farmer. I am acquainted with the claimant. I am not related to him. I have no interest in his claim. I have known him ever since he was a boy. He belonged to Mr Lawrence Winn. He worked on the farm. He was a good Union man. He was a friend to the Yankees when they got here.

2nd set of interrogatories

1. Were you present when any of the articles of property specified in the claimant’s petition were taken?

I was present when the property was taken.

2. Did you see any of them taken? If so, specify the articles you saw taken.

I saw them take the horse and buggy and harness, and cow and calf, and sow and rice and corn, and fowls.

3. Begin with the first article (Item No. —) which you have specified that you saw taken, and give a full account of all you saw and heard in connection with the taking of that article? [The special commissioner should require the witness to state all the circumstances; for it is only by a knowledge of all of them that the commissioners of claims can judge whether the taking was such a one as the Government is bound to pay for. The common phrase, “I saw the property taken by United States soldiers,” is not enough, for there was much lawless taking. The witness should be required to detail the facts as to each item, when the items were taken at different times; but if all, or more than one, were taken at the same time, that fact should appear, and then a repetition of the circumstances is needless. The special commissioner must be careful to elicit all the facts, as well those against as for the claim, especially as to those articles of property which were the special objects of pillage and theft, such as horses, mules, cattle, hogs, &c. Claimants must bear in mind that a neglect to observe these directions works to the prejudice of the claimant, and may defeat the claim.]

They asked where all the rebels were, we told them they were all gone away, and then they asked about the corn, and went on and burst in, and took this property.

4. Where were the articles taken? When were they taken? Give the day, month and year, if you can? By whom were they taken? Did you see more than one soldier engaged in the taking? How many soldiers were present? State the number as near as you can? How many helped take the property? How long were they engaged in taking the property?

This property was taken at the claimant’s house on Lawrence Winn’s plantation when the raid came through, just before Christmas, I don’t know the month or year. Christmas comes in Dec [December]. It was taken by Kilpatrick’s Army Sherman’s they call it. There was a good many soldiers there more than I could remember. I think it took about 1 ½ days to move this property.

5. Who were present other than soldiers when you saw them taken? Give the names of all you know?

John Lambert, Joe Bacon, and myself were present when this property was taken.

6. Was any United States officer, either commissioned or non-commissioned, present at the taking? If so, state his name, rank, regiment, and the command to which he belonged. Did he order the property to be taken? Did he say anything about the taking?

I couldn’t tell an officer from the soldiers. They all seemed to be pulling for themselves. I didn’t hear anybody order the property taken.

7. Describe how the property was taken, and give a full account of all you saw done, or heard said, upon the occasion of the taking.

They took the horse out of the stable and hitched him to the wagon and drove off. They drove the cow and calf off from the lot round the house. They killed the sow and carried it off. They put the corn and rice in sacks, and put them on the horse. They took the poultry by catching and killing, and knocking down with sticks, and putting on the horses back.

8. How was the property removed—by soldiers or in wagons, or in what manner? State fully as to each article taken and removed.

They removed this property in sacks, on horses and in wagons.

9. To what place was it removed? Did you follow it to such place, or see it, or any portion of it, at any such place, or on its way to such place? How do you know the place to which it was removed?

They removed this property to camp. I did not follow but the camp was not far off, the beginning of the camp, not more than a quarter of a mile off, the centre or head of the camp about a mile.

10. Do you know the use for which the property was taken? What was the use, and how do you know it? Did you see the property so taken used by the United States army? Did you see any part of the property so used? State fully all you know as to the property or any of it having been used by the army; and distinguish between what you saw and know, and what you may have heard from others, or may think, or suppose, or infer to be true.

They fed some of it there, and they carried the other things off I don’t know what they did with it.

11. Was any complaint made to any officer on account of such taking? If so, state the name, rank, and regiment of the officer. What did he say about it? State fully all that he said.

I did not hear the claimant make any complaints to any of the officers on account of the taking of the property.

12. Was any voucher or receipt for the property asked for? If so, of whom asked? State name, rank, and regiment. Was any receipt or paper given? If so, produce it, or state where it is, and why it is not produced. If no voucher or receipt was given, state why none was given, and if refused, why it was refused; state all that was said about it. State fully all the conversation between any officer or other person taking the property, and the claimant, or any one acting for him.

I did not hear him ask for a voucher or receipt.

13. Was the property, or any of it, taken in the night-time? At what hour of the day (as near as you can tell) was it taken? Was any of the property taken secretly, or so that you did not know of it when taken?

They took this property in the daytime.

14. When the property was taken, was any part of the army encamped in that vicinity? If so, state how far from the place where the property was taken, and what was the company, regiment, or brigade there encamped? How long had it been encamped there? How long did it stay there, and when did it leave? Had there been any battle or skirmish near there, just before the property was taken? Did you know the quartermasters, or any of them, or any other officers of the army for whose use the property is supposed to have been taken?

The Army were encamped in that neighborhood when this property was taken: at Midway Church a mile from the claimant’s house. The edge of the camp only a quarter of a mile. They were in camp about 2 days before they came to claimant’s house. They staid [stayed] there about 2 months. They were just going from one place to another. The county was in a bad condition smashed up and tore up. They left so little to eat the colored people had to move off. I did not know any of the quartermasters, or other officers of the Army.

15. Describe clearly the condition of the property when taken, and all that tends to show its value at the time and place of taking? Thus, if corn, was it green or ripe? Had it been harvested? Was it in the shock, or husked, or shelled? Where was it? If grain, was it standing; had it been cut; was it in shocks, or in the barn or in stacks; had it been threshed? If horses, mules, or cattle, state when they were taken, how taken, and fully their condition, age, and value. Have you talked with claimant about their value?

This property was all in good condition when taken. The corn was gathered and put away.

16. What means have you of knowing the quantity taken? State particularly how you estimate the quantity? Did you count or weigh the articles? Give us all your data. How much did you see taken and removed? What quantity was taken in your presence? As to quantity, distinguish carefully as to what you saw and know, and what you may think or believe from what you have heard from others.

Item No 1. He bought this horse 2 years before the war, and he was 2 years old when he bought him he was about 5 years old. He was a pretty large horse well put together; broken to any kind of work. They took him out of the stable, and I think they put him in the wagon. There were a great many there and other horses and I saw a horse that looked the same going off in the wagon.

Item No 2. One Spring wagon. He had it about 4 years before the war I think. He had the harness at the same time. It was a leather harness. This harness and buggy were taken off as I have before stated.

Item No 3. This cow was about 5 years old and the heifer about 2 years old. I didn’t see them kill the cow and calf; they drove them off.

Item No 4. One sow. I think the sow would weigh about 150 dressed. They shot her, and cut her head off and put her on the horse and carried her off to camp.

Item No 5. 9 bus [bushel] of rice. I judged there was so much. I didn’t see it measured. I know he planted rice and saw him cut it but don’t know how much he planted. They took the rice in sacks and in wagons from the house.

Item No 6. 10 bus [bushel] of corn. I judged when in the house. They took it as they did the rice.

Item No 7. 16 head of poultry. They caught and killed some and tied them up in bundles and took them off on their horses. I didn’t see them use any of these chickens there.

This property all belonged to Mr Stacy. I know because I never heard any body else claim any of it at all.

Scipio King

Witness E. E. Adlington

Sworn to and subscribed before me
Virgil Hillyer
Special Commissioner
State of Georgia

Testimony of Witness (John Lambert)

My name is John Lambert. I was born in Liberty Co Ga a slave: I became free after the raid got here. I am 25 years old. I live on Lawrence Winn’s place Liberty Co Ga. I am a farmer. I know the claimant in this case James Stacy. I am not related to him. I have no beneficial interest in his claim. I have known him ever since I was a boy I was raised up with him. He belonged to Mr Lawrence Winn the same master I did. He worked in the field while a slave. He was a pretty good Union man so far as I know. He always wished the Yankees could come and he favored their coming.

Questions by Claimant’s attorney

I was living when the Yankees came into this county on the Lawrence Winn place, and the claimant lived on the same place, at the same time. The Yankees took the claimants horse, cow, hogs, provisions and poultry and colt corn and rice provisions; they took the wagon too. I saw the property all taken. I was right there. The Yankee soldiers took it. It was taken in Dec [December] I don’t remember the year. They took the horse out of the stable and put the saddle on him and rode him off. He was a good bodied horse big enough to do anything. He had this horse about 3 years before the Yankees came. I think he would bring pretty near $150. now. The Soldiers of Kilpatrick’s horse company took this property. He bought this horse. Our master allowed us to raise anything we could. He let us use his pasture to keep our cows and horses, and hogs: but we were not allowed to raise sheep. He was a field hand and when his task was done he could work for himself and besides this he allowed us a day some times. His slaves planted rice and corn in the field and vegetables around the house. We did not plant any cotton for ourselves, because they did not allow us to. The Yankees took and hitched their horse to the wagon and drove it to camp. They killed the cows and took them off. They killed the sow too. The sow was big and fat. That was all the hog he had. They took his rice, and put some in sacks and put it in the wagons in the sack. It was thrashed rice, and the corn shelled. The Yankee army were at Midway Church about a month. They were at claimant’s house all times in the day and never slacked. They left us little to eat, all we could pick up was there they fed the horses in camp. They took all from the house. The camp was a mile from the claimant’s house. This house was on Lawrence Winn’s plantation.

2nd set of interrogatories by Special Commissioner:

1. Were you present when any of the articles of property specified in the claimant’s petition were taken?

I was present when these articles of property were taken.

2. Did you see any of them taken? If so, specify the articles you saw taken.

I saw them all taken. I saw the horse and buggy and harness, cow and calf and sow, rice corn fowls all taken.

3. Begin with the first article (Item No. —) which you have specified that you saw taken, and give a full account of all you saw and heard in connection with the taking of that article? [The special commissioner should require the witness to state all the circumstances; for it is only by a knowledge of all of them that the commissioners of claims can judge whether the taking was such a one as the Government is bound to pay for. The common phrase, “I saw the property taken by United States soldiers,” is not enough, for there was much lawless taking. The witness should be required to detail the facts as to each item, when the items were taken at different times; but if all, or more than one, were taken at the same time, that fact should appear, and then a repetition of the circumstances is needless. The special commissioner must be careful to elicit all the facts, as well those against as for the claim, especially as to those articles of property which were the special objects of pillage and theft, such as horses, mules, cattle, hogs, &c. Claimants must bear in mind that a neglect to observe these directions works to the prejudice of the claimant, and may defeat the claim.]

They did not say much only they wanted the property. Then they went right on and took it.

4. Where were the articles taken? When were they taken? Give the day, month and year, if you can? By whom were they taken? Did you see more than one soldier engaged in the taking? How many soldiers were present? State the number as near as you can? How many helped take the property? How long were they engaged in taking the property?

This property was taken at Lawrence Winn’s place from the claimant’s house in Dec [December] but I didn’t know enough at that time to know the date of the year. It was at the time the Army came through. It was taken by Kilpatrick’s army. There were a gang there taking I could not count them there were so many. When they first got there it seemed as if it was a bird covered with feathers. They kept coming and taking the things for 2 or 3 days until they had taken all.

5. Who were present other than soldiers when you saw them taken? Give the names of all you know?

Joe Bacon, Scipio King, George Powell, Edmund Bacon, and myself and the claimant were present when this property was taken.

6. Was any United States officer, either commissioned or non-commissioned, present at the taking? If so, state his name, rank, regiment, and the command to which he belonged. Did he order the property to be taken? Did he say anything about the taking?

I did not then know an officer from a soldier. All seemed to be jumping at the property at once I did not notice any who seemed to be giving orders or standing one side.

7. Describe how the property was taken, and give a full account of all you saw done, or heard said, upon the occasion of the taking.

They took the horse out of the stable and put their own saddle on him and rode him off. They took Stacy’s the claimant’s harness, and put on one of their own horses, and hitched him to the claimants buggy and loaded the buggy with rice and corn, and drove off to camp. They shot the cow, and calf down and skinned them and cut them up, and tied some on the horses and put some of it in the wagon and took it off to camp. They killed the sow, and cut it up in pieces, and tied it on to horses each one took some of it. They put the rice in sacks, and put some of it in Stacy’s wagon and some in the big wagon. They did the same way with the corn. They caught some of the fowls and some they killed and some they had cooked there on the place and some they carried to camp.

8. How was the property removed—by soldiers or in wagons, or in what manner? State fully as to each article taken and removed.

They put the corn and rice in wagons, and took it all on horses and in wagons. They rode the horse off and put their own horse in the claimant’s wagon and took it off in that way.

9. To what place was it removed? Did you follow it to such place, or see it, or any portion of it, at any such place, or on its way to such place? How do you know the place to which it was removed?

They removed this property to the camp. I did not follow it but the camp is only a mile from the house and they went in that direction I could see them about a quarter of a mile. It is a straight road from our place.

10. Do you know the use for which the property was taken? What was the use, and how do you know it? Did you see the property so taken used by the United States army? Did you see any part of the property so used? State fully all you know as to the property or any of it having been used by the army; and distinguish between what you saw and know, and what you may have heard from others, or may think, or suppose, or infer to be true.

They must have taken the rice and corn to feed their horses. I suppose they wanted the horse to ride and the wagon to use, and the rest of the property except the harness to eat themselves. They wanted the harness to get the wagon off with and to use afterwards. I saw them feed some of the corn and rice, and cook some of the chickens on the place but the beef and pork they carried off. I did not go to camp to see any of it used there.

11. Was any complaint made to any officer on account of such taking? If so, state the name, rank, and regiment of the officer. What did he say about it? State fully all that he said.

I did not hear the claimant make any complaint on account of the taking of his property he was too glad then to make any complaint – we all had celebration that day. The rebels run away I did not know they had a master till that day but that day we staid [stayed] in the home and they run away.

12. Was any voucher or receipt for the property asked for? If so, of whom asked? State name, rank, and regiment. Was any receipt or paper given? If so, produce it, or state where it is, and why it is not produced. If no voucher or receipt was given, state why none was given, and if refused, why it was refused; state all that was said about it. State fully all the conversation between any officer or other person taking the property, and the claimant, or any one acting for him.

I did not hear him ask for any voucher or receipt for his property of any officer or anyone else.

13. Was the property, or any of it, taken in the night-time? At what hour of the day (as near as you can tell) was it taken? Was any of the property taken secretly, or so that you did not know of it when taken?

This property was taken in the daytime, at all times in the day. It was all taken openly.

14. When the property was taken, was any part of the army encamped in that vicinity? If so, state how far from the place where the property was taken, and what was the company, regiment, or brigade there encamped? How long had it been encamped there? How long did it stay there, and when did it leave? Had there been any battle or skirmish near there, just before the property was taken? Did you know the quartermasters, or any of them, or any other officers of the army for whose use the property is supposed to have been taken?

When this property was taken the Army were encamped at Midway Church, about a mile from claimant’s house. It was Kilpatricks army encamped there. They came down to the claimants house the same day they had pitched camp there. They staid [stayed] there 1 month in camp. There had been no battles or skirmishes there before the property was taken. I did not know the quartermasters or other officers of the Army.

15. Describe clearly the condition of the property when taken, and all that tends to show its value at the time and place of taking? Thus, if corn, was it green or ripe? Had it been harvested? Was it in the shock, or husked, or shelled? Where was it? If grain, was it standing; had it been cut; was it in shocks, or in the barn or in stacks; had it been threshed? If horses, mules, or cattle, state when they were taken, how taken, and fully their condition, age, and value. Have you talked with claimant about their value?

This property was all in good order when taken. The rice and corn were just made that year and were good. They were harvested and taken care of for winter. The horse was in good order and the cow and calf.

16. What means have you of knowing the quantity taken? State particularly how you estimate the quantity? Did you count or weigh the articles? Give us all your data. How much did you see taken and removed? What quantity was taken in your presence? As to quantity, distinguish carefully as to what you saw and know, and what you may think or believe from what you have heard from others.

Item No 1. One horse. This was a cream col [colored] mare. This was a good bodied mare. He [sic] could work and do anything and was in pretty good order, and well broken to harness and saddle both. He had it 3 years before the Army came. It was about 5 years old. It was about 2 years old when he bought her.

Item No 2. One buggy a pretty good one, a spring buggy wagon with 2 seats. It was in good running order. I think he had it about 2 ½ before the war. It was painted. I think he bought it new. I don’t know how much he paid for it. It was a good 2nd hand harness of leather. He got it at the same time as the buggy. They just their horse in this buggy and put rice and corn in it and drove off to camp they used this harness to put on the horse. They rode this horse off.

Item No 3. One red cow. A good built cow and fat and in good order. I think she would weigh 3 or 400 lbs. He had her about 8 or 9 years. He bought her when she was a yearling. The calf was about ½ grown I think she would weigh 200 lbs. She was fat. She was this old cows calf. They killed this cow and calf there, and took them off to camp.

Item No 4. This sow would weigh about 150 lbs. She was fat and fed round the house and in the potato patch. They killed her and took off the meat on the horses to camp.

Item No 5. He had 10 bus [bushel] of rice. I saw it measured. It was thrashed out. They took it from his house and put it in sacks, and put it in the wagons and took it to camp.

Item No 6. He had 9 bus [bushel] of corn. I saw it measured sometime before the Yankees came when it was harvested. They took it some of it in sacks and put it in the wagons, and the rest they fed there to the horses, and some of the rice too.

Item No 7. He had 16 head of fowls. I saw them at his house, and allowed there were 16 and he told me he had 16 before they were taken. They ate some of them and carried some off to camp some of the women worked them for them.

This property all belonged to the claimant. I know he bought it, and used it, and some he raised the corn and rice and some of the cows and hogs. His master never claimed any of this property.

John Lambert

Sworn to and subscribed before me
Virgil Hillyer
Special Commissioner
State of Georgia

[Copy of requisition #3848 dated April 9, 1877, transmitted for warrant April 14, 1877, for $179.00 due James Stacy for “claims of loyal citizens for supplies furnished during the rebellion”. Reported March 31, 1877, returned April 4, 1877. ]

[Draft for $179.00 for James Stacy payable to J.C. Todd, Savannah, Ga, dated April 5, 1877.]

The Commissioners of Claims hope that the poor ignorant claimant’s draft may not be permitted to pass into any other than known friendly and honest hands without Security for its proper disposition. This is not the first suggestion of foul play from the same vicinity.

Chas. F. Benjamin
Clerk.

[Followed by very faded letter from J.T.H. Waite requesting to be made the attorney for James Stacy, at the latter’s request.]