Claim Summary
Andrew Girardeau’s claim for compensation for property taken by U.S. soldiers when they liberated Liberty County, Georgia’s enslaved population while foraging for Sherman’s Army in December 1864 was a puzzle. According to the claim, a formerly enslaved man named Ben Bacon, Girardeau’s stepson, filed the claim on behalf of Girardeau on October 1, 1877, and had his testimony taken on October 27th. Girardeau was apparently just barely alive at the time, as an addendum to the file stated that he had died on November 3, 1877, leaving a widow, Rachel, and two stepchildren, Ben and William Bacon.
The Southern Claims Commission denied the claim, noting that no legal administration of Girardeau’s estate had been filed, and thus there was no way to know who the legal heirs were. Not only that, they said, the testimony had also not proven that he had owned the property claimed: 20 cows, a wagon, 15 hogs, 50 bushels rough rice, 18 head chickens, etc.
Ben Bacon testified in 1877 that he was 30 years old and had lived in Liberty County all his life. He called Andrew Girardeau his father, and said that he had lived with him and was with him all the time until his death. He said that Girardeau had raised him, and that Girardeau had acquired the property before the war by working for it on Valentine Grest’s plantation. Grest was not testifying for them, he said, because he was dead.
Titus Harris also testified on behalf of this claim, saying (in 1877) that he was 60 years old and had lived in Liberty County all his life and had known Girardeau from boyhood to his death. [NOTE: According to the dates in the claim, Girardeau had not actually died yet at the time of Harris’ testimony.] He said they had lived on the same place and he saw him every day.
Roger Maybank was the second witness for the claim. He said he was 31 years old, and had also lived in Liberty County all his life and had known Andrew Girardeau for his entire life, and lived on the same place.
In February 1878, the testimony of Dr. Edward J. Delegal, 63 years old, a white physician, was taken on this claim. He said he had known Andrew Girardeau for 40 years and had lived about 3 miles from him during the war and saw him frequently.
James C. Fleming’s testimony clarified that Andrew Girardeau had died on November 3, 1877, “leaving a widow and two children Ben Bacon and William Bacon both step sons (Ben Bacon instead of Henry Bacon as in previous deposition) Rachael Girardeau name of widow Ben Bacon aged 32 years William Bacon aged 34 years Ben Bacon is step son hence the difference in names.”
Claim transcribed by Tamra Costine; Research by Stacy Ashmore Cole
More about the Claimant
The reason why this claim was a puzzle? Initially, no record was found that Andrew Girardeau ever existed. There was no Andrew Girardeau in the 1870 Liberty County census (under any possible spelling), no probate records, no record of taking the voting oath in 1867. Yet the claim provided a specific death date that was after the 1870 census, and a number of witnesses, both white and black, who knew him. What could have happened?
One approach in these cases is to find the individual’s family in the 1870 census and look to see if there is anyone living nearby whose name might have been mangled by an indexer. Ben and William Bacon, Andrew’s stepsons, were found on page 50 of the 1870 Liberty County census listed next to each other, with witness Roger Maybank listed on the same page.
When the census page was further examined, an entry was discovered for Andrew Quarterman, age 75, a carpenter, in household with Rachel, age 29, and Scipio, age 40, as well as Georgia Bacon, age 19, and Adam Bacon, age 12. Andrew Girardeau’s wife had been named Rachel, but this Rachel was too young to be Ben and William Bacon’s mother. However, a hypothesis could be made that the census taker had misstated Rachel’s age and that she was the mother of Ben and William and of Georgia and Adam, and that this Andrew Quarterman was actually the Andrew Girardeau of the claim.
The next step was to go back and search the same probate and other records for the name Andrew Quarterman. Unfortunately, no records were found in that name either.
So what could be found for Rachel Girardeau/Quarterman? A search on Ancestry turned up nothing, but the name Girardeau is often misspelled by indexers. Using the same method as before, William and Ben Bacon were found in the 1880 Liberty County census (still living next to each other other), and then the pages before and after were searched. There she was: “Ratchel Gearadeau”, age 55, living by herself, listed as a widow. So it does appear that her age was misstated in the 1870 census and it is very likely that the Andrew Quarterman of the 1870 census is the Andrew Girardeau of this 1877 Southern Claims Commission petition.
What happened? Both Quarterman and Girardeau are well known old names in Liberty County. The 1870 census taker, W.S. Norman, was a former slaveowner and lifelong Liberty County resident; it is unlikely he mixed up the two names but perhaps he wrote down the wrong one. It was also not uncommon for formerly enslaved people in Liberty County to change surnames after Emancipation.
No pre-Emancipation records were found for Andrew. Valentine Grest, his slaveowner, owned the Isle of Wight in Liberty County, but did not die until 1872, so left no probate records naming enslaved people. (His will did name a Toby.) The available Church records were checked, and no record that an Andrew belonging to Valentine Grest belonged to the Midway Church was found.
About the Southern Claims Commission
The Southern Claims Commmission was set up by Congress in 1871 to adjudicate claims for property taken by U.S. federal troops during the Civil War. More than 140 Liberty County residents — both black and white — filed claims, mostly for property taken during December 1864 when a unit of Sherman’s Army commanded by General Kilpatrick camped at Midway Church and conducted foraging raids throughout Liberty County. Horses, cows, hogs, poultry, corn and rice were the most common items of property taken. In Liberty County, many slaveowners allowed their enslaved people to work on their own time and own small amounts of property, most of which was taken by the U.S. troops for use by the Army.
The claims files, which are held at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), have been digitized and are available at Ancestry.com or Fold3.com. For more information on these files, click here. A set of standard questions were used to take the testimony of claimants and witnesses. This set of questions was amended twice, in 1872 and 1874. The questions are not usually part of the digitized file, but we have included them to help make sense of the answers. The questions we used were provided online courtesy of the St. Louis County Library Special Collections, as taken from National Archives Microfilm Publication M87, Roll 1, Frames 104–105, Records of the Commissioners of Claims (Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880), and can be found here.
About This Transcription
What you are seeing: The Southern Claims Commission files for each claimant included all forms filed for the claimant, including cover pages, standard forms with filled in information, a special agent’s report about the claim, remarks made by the Special Commissioner summarizing the case, testimony from the claimant and his or her witnesses based on a standard set of questions, and copies of other paperwork involved. Much of the information contained in the forms is repetitive. We have summarized that information into one block, and transcribed all testimony, the Special Commissioner’s remarks, the special agent’s report, and any other relevant text.
Methodology: The testimony of the claimant and the witnesses has been transcribed exactly as seen. Some of the files are faded and/or difficult to read. Any words that cannot be read are indicated by “[word]”, or, in the case of entire sections, “[section illegible]”. Alternative spellings of names are also indicated with brackets.
The Claim: Summary & Transcription
Find the digitized original of this claim file at this Ancestry.com link.
Summary
Claimant’s Name (Last Name, First Name): Girardeau, Andrew
Listed as “Colored”? (Y/N): Y
Amount of Claim: $527.50
Total Amount Allowed: N/A, disallowed
Nature of Claim: Stores for Genrl Sherman’s Army in 1864
Claimant living in: Erin Plantation, Liberty County, Georgia
Incident occurred in: Erin Plantation, Liberty County, Georgia
Claim #: 20652
Secondary Claim #: N/A, disallowed
Date Claim Submitted [YYYY-MM-DD]: 1877-10-01
Date Testimony taken [YYYY-MM-DD]: 1877-10-27
Claimant’s Attorney: James M. Simms, Savannah [crossed out]; Gilmore & Co, Washington, D.C.; Hosmer & Co, Washington
Special Commissioner: Henry Way
Property Removed to: the Army’s camp
Date property removed: 1864-12-12 to 1864-12-20
Army unit involved: Sherman’s Army commanded by Genrl Kilpatrick
Date Submitted to Congress [YYYY-MM-DD]: N/A, disallowed
Post Office of Claimant: No 2. A & G Railroad
Items Claimed
Transcription
Remarks: This is the claim of a colored man & a former slave as we gather from the testimony. The claimant is now dead. His title to the property is not proved in the manner called for by the 70th printed interrogatory. There has been no administration on the estate & we are not informed who are his heirs or how many he left. The claim is disallowed.
A.O. Aldis
O. Ferris
J.B. Howell } Comms [Commissioners] of Claims
[Transcriber’s Comments: By the time the testimony was taken, Andrew Girardeau had apparently died, and stepson Ben Bacon took over and prosecuted the claim on his behalf. The testimony was taken at No. 3 A & G Railroad in Liberty County, with R.Q. Cassels acting as Ben Bacon’s counsel. ]
Testimony of Claimant
Testimony of Ben Bacon representative of Father Andrew Girardeau deceased Liberty County Ga on [Claim #] 20652
1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation?
Ben Bacon 32 years Liberty County Ga all my life farmer.
2. If you are not the claimant, in what manner, if any, are you related to the claimant or interested in the success of the claim?
am Son of Claimant Representative of Claimant deceased
52. In whose favor are you here to testify?
my deceased Father Andrew Girardeau
53. How long have you known that person altogether, and what part of that time have you intimately known him?
all my life
54. Did you live near him during the war, and how far away?
lived with him
55. Did you meet him often, and about how often, during the war?
was with him all the time to his death
56. Did you converse with the claimant about the war, its causes, its progress, and its results? If so, try to remember the more important occasions on which you so conversed, beginning with the first occasion, and state, with respect to each, when it was, where it was, who were present, what caused the conversation, and what the claimant said in substance, if you cannot remember his words.
did not talk about war
57. Do you know of anything done by the claimant that showed him to be loyal to the Union cause during the war? If you do, state what he did, when, where, and what was the particular cause or occasion of his doing it? Give the same information about each thing he did that showed him to be loyal.
don’t know
58. Do you know of anything said or done by the claimant that was against the Union cause? If so, please state with respect to each thing said or done, what it was, when it was, where it was, and what particular compulsion or influence caused him to say or do it.
no
59. If you have heard of anything said or done by the claimant, either for the Union cause or against it, state from whom you heard it, when you heard it and what you heard.
heard nothing
60. What was the public reputation of the claimant for loyalty or disloyalty to the United States during the war? If you profess to know his public reputation, explain fully how you know it, whom you heard speak of it, and give the names of other persons who were neighbors during the war that could testify to this public reputation.
He was known by every body as a Union man I know because I lived with him and heard him talk Jacob Quarterman Joe Golden
61. Who were the known and prominent Union people of the neighborhood during the war, and do you know that such persons could testify to the claimant’s loyalty?
Tony Golden Brister Fleming Will Bacon I know they would
62. Were you, yourself, an adherent of the Union cause during the war? If so, did the claimant know you to be such, and how did he know it?
I was and claimant knew because he raised me
63. Do you know of any threats, molestations, or injury inflicted upon the claimant, or his family, or his property, on account of his adherence to the Union cause? If so, give all the particulars.
no
64. Do you know of any act done or language used by the claimant that would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy? If so, what act or what language?
no
65. Can you state any other facts within your own knowledge in proof of the claimant’s loyalty during the war? If so, state all the facts and give all the particulars.
no
The following questions concerning the ownership of property charged in claims will be put to all claimants, or the representatives of deceased claimants:
66. Who was the owner of the property charged in this claim when it was taken, and how did such person become owner?
Andrew Girardeau by hard labor
67. If any of the property was taken from a farm or plantation, where was such farm or plantation situated, what was its size, how much was cultivated, how much was woodland, and how much was waste land?
from plantation Liberty County about 500 acres about 200 cultivated
68. Has the person who owned the property when taken since filed a petition in bankruptcy, or been declared a bankrupt?
no
[Question 69 only asked of women]
70. Were you a slave or free at the beginning of the war? If ever a slave, when did you become free? What business did you follow after obtaining your freedom? Did you own this property before or after you became free? When did you get it? How did you become owner, and from whom did you obtain it? Where did you get the means to pay for it? What was the name and residence of your master, and is he still living? Is he a witness for you, and if not, why not? Are you in his employ now, or do you live on his land or on land bought from him? Are you in his debt? What other person besides yourself has any interest in this claim?
slave at end of war mechanic Father owned it before freedom before the war worked for it labored for means V. Grest Liberty County Ga dead he is not witness dead no no no no Fathers Family
72. Were you present when any of the property charged in this claim was taken? Did you actually see any taken? If so, specify what you saw taken.
I was I did 20 head cows wagon 15 hogs 50 bushels rice 18 fowls 3 bushels grist bedding and clothing
73. Was any of the property taken in the night time, or was any taken secretly, so that you did not know of it at the time?
In day time openly
74. Was any complaint made to any officer of the taking of any of the property? If so, give the name, rank and regiment of the officer, and state who made the complaint to him, what he said and did in consequence, and what was the result of the complaint.
Father complained to officer no good
75. Were any vouchers or receipts asked for or given? If given, where are the vouchers or receipts? If lost, state fully how lost. If asked and not given, by whom were they asked, who was asked to give them, and why were they refused or not given? State very fully in regard to the failure to ask or obtain receipts.
none that I know of was scared
76. Has any payment ever been made for any property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken at the same times as the property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken from the same claimant during the war, and if so, when, by whom, for what property and to what amount? Has this property, or any part of it, been included in any claim heretofore presented to Congress, or any court, department or officer of the United States, or to any board of survey, military commission, State commission or officer, or any other authority? If so, when and to what tribunal or officers was the claim presented; was it larger or smaller in amount than this claim, and how is the difference explained, and what was the decision, if any, of the tribunal to which it was presented?
no no no no
77. Was the property charged in this claim taken by troops encamped in the vicinity, or were they on the march, or were they on a raid or expedition, or had there been any recent battle or skirmish?
troops were in camp
78. You will please listen attentively while the list of items, but not the quantities, is read to you, and as each kind of property is called off, say whether you saw any such property taken.
79. Begin now with the first item of property you have just said you saw taken, and give the following information about it. 1st.. Describe its exact condition, as for instance, if corn, whether green or ripe, standing or harvested, in shuck, or husked, or shelled; if lumber, whether new or old, in buildings or piled; if grain, whether growing or cut. 2d. State where it was. 3d. What was the quantity; explain fully how you know the quantity, and if estimated, describe your method of making the estimate.4th. Describe the quality to your best judgment. 5th. State as nearly as you can the market value of such property at the time in United States money. 6th. Say when the property was taken. 7th. Give the name of the detachment, regiment, brigade, division, corps, or army, taking the property, and the names of any officers belonging to the command. 8th. Describe the precise manner in which the property was taken into possession by the troops, and the manner in which it was removed. 9th. State as closely as you can how many men, animals, wagons, or other means of transport, were engaged in the removal, how long they were occupied, and to what place they removed the property. 10th. State if any officers were present; how you knew them to be officers; what they said or did in relation to the property, and give the names of any, if you can. 11th. Give any reasons that you may have for believing that the taking of the property was authorized by the proper officers or that it was for the necessary use of the army.
The cows were stock cattle Mr. Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 20 head I counted them worth 15 or 16 dollars a head December 16th or 17th 1864 Kilpatrick Army killed some and drove rest off 3 or 400 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 12 or 13 officers knew by dress said nothing Believe officer ordered them taken because they were present the wagon was a Jersey wagon Mr. Grests plantation Liberty County Ga worth $40 or 50 dollars December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick Army put horse in it and drove it off 3 or 400 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 12 or 13 officers present knew by dress said nothing Believe officers ordered it taken because they were present The Hogs were stock hogs Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 15 head counted them worth 5 or 6 dollars a head December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army shot them and carried them off in wagons 3 or 400 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 12 or 13 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered them taken because they were present the rice was threshed Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 50 bushels I measured it worth 1.25 per bushel December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army sacked it and put it in wagons 3 or 400 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 12 or 13 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present The fowls were grown Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 18 head I counted them worth 30 cts [cents] a head December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army shot and caught them tied to saddles 3 or 400 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 12 or 13 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered them taken they were present The grist was in box Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 3 bushels worth 100 per bushel December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick Army put in sacks in wagons 3 or 400 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 12 or 13 officers present knew by dress I did nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present the bedding and beds were quilts and blankets etc Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga worth 8 or 9 dollars December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army rolled it up and carried it off on horses 3 or 400 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 12 or 13 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present
Sworn to and subscribed before
me this 27th Oct 1877
Henry Way Special Comm[issioner]
[signed by his mark] Ben Bacon
Representative of Andrew Girardeau
deceased
Testimony of Witness (Titus Harris)
Titus Harris first witness for claimant
1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation?
Titus Harris 60 years Liberty County all my life farmer
2. If you are not the claimant, in what manner, if any, are you related to the claimant or interested in the success of the claim?
not related not interested
52. In whose favor are you here to testify?
Andrew Girardeau
53. How long have you known that person altogether, and what part of that time have you intimately known him?
from boy hood to his death
54. Did you live near him during the war, and how far away?
on same place
55. Did you meet him often, and about how often, during the war?
saw him every day
56. Did you converse with the claimant about the war, its causes, its progress, and its results? If so, try to remember the more important occasions on which you so conversed, beginning with the first occasion, and state, with respect to each, when it was, where it was, who were present, what caused the conversation, and what the claimant said in substance, if you cannot remember his words.
no
57. Do you know of anything done by the claimant that showed him to be loyal to the Union cause during the war? If you do, state what he did, when, where, and what was the particular cause or occasion of his doing it? Give the same information about each thing he did that showed him to be loyal.
no
58. Do you know of anything said or done by the claimant that was against the Union cause? If so, please state with respect to each thing said or done, what it was, when it was, where it was, and what particular compulsion or influence caused him to say or do it.
no
59. If you have heard of anything said or done by the claimant, either for the Union cause or against it, state from whom you heard it, when you heard it and what you heard.
no
60. What was the public reputation of the claimant for loyalty or disloyalty to the United States during the war? If you profess to know his public reputation, explain fully how you know it, whom you heard speak of it, and give the names of other persons who were neighbors during the war that could testify to this public reputation.
He was looked upon by all as a union man I heard him say so John Quarterman Jacob Bacon
61. Who were the known and prominent Union people of the neighborhood during the war, and do you know that such persons could testify to the claimant’s loyalty?
Tony Golden Will Bacon Brister Fleming know they would
62. Were you, yourself, an adherent of the Union cause during the war? If so, did the claimant know you to be such, and how did he know it?
I was
63. Do you know of any threats, molestations, or injury inflicted upon the claimant, or his family, or his property, on account of his adherence to the Union cause? If so, give all the particulars.
no
64. Do you know of any act done or language used by the claimant that would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy? If so, what act or what language?
No
65. Can you state any other facts within your own knowledge in proof of the claimant’s loyalty during the war? If so, state all the facts and give all the particulars.
no
The following questions concerning the ownership of property charged in claims will be put to all claimants, or the representatives of deceased claimants:
66. Who was the owner of the property charged in this claim when it was taken, and how did such person become owner?
Andrew Girardeau bought and raised it
67. If any of the property was taken from a farm or plantation, where was such farm or plantation situated, what was its size, how much was cultivated, how much was woodland, and how much was waste land?
from plantation Liberty County Ga about 500 or 600 acres about 150 acres cultivated
68. Has the person who owned the property when taken since filed a petition in bankruptcy, or been declared a bankrupt?
no
[Question 69 only asked of women]
70. Were you a slave or free at the beginning of the war? If ever a slave, when did you become free? What business did you follow after obtaining your freedom? Did you own this property before or after you became free? When did you get it? How did you become owner, and from whom did you obtain it? Where did you get the means to pay for it? What was the name and residence of your master, and is he still living? Is he a witness for you, and if not, why not? Are you in his employ now, or do you live on his land or on land bought from him? Are you in his debt? What other person besides yourself has any interest in this claim?
[no answer in transcript]
72. Were you present when any of the property charged in this claim was taken? Did you actually see any taken? If so, specify what you saw taken.
I was I did 20 cows wagon 15 hogs 50 bushels rice 18 fowls 3 bushels grist bedding and clothing
73. Was any of the property taken in the night time, or was any taken secretly, so that you did not know of it at the time?
in day time openly
74. Was any complaint made to any officer of the taking of any of the property? If so, give the name, rank and regiment of the officer, and state who made the complaint to him, what he said and did in consequence, and what was the result of the complaint.
Andrew Girardeau made complaint no good
75. Were any vouchers or receipts asked for or given? If given, where are the vouchers or receipts? If lost, state fully how lost. If asked and not given, by whom were they asked, who was asked to give them, and why were they refused or not given? State very fully in regard to the failure to ask or obtain receipts.
none that I knew of was afraid
76. Has any payment ever been made for any property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken at the same times as the property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken from the same claimant during the war, and if so, when, by whom, for what property and to what amount? Has this property, or any part of it, been included in any claim heretofore presented to Congress, or any court, department or officer of the United States, or to any board of survey, military commission, State commission or officer, or any other authority? If so, when and to what tribunal or officers was the claim presented; was it larger or smaller in amount than this claim, and how is the difference explained, and what was the decision, if any, of the tribunal to which it was presented?
no no no no
77. Was the property charged in this claim taken by troops encamped in the vicinity, or were they on the march, or were they on a raid or expedition, or had there been any recent battle or skirmish?
troops were in camp
78. You will please listen attentively while the list of items, but not the quantities, is read to you, and as each kind of property is called off, say whether you saw any such property taken.
[no answer in transcript]
79. Begin now with the first item of property you have just said you saw taken, and give the following information about it. 1st.. Describe its exact condition, as for instance, if corn, whether green or ripe, standing or harvested, in shuck, or husked, or shelled; if lumber, whether new or old, in buildings or piled; if grain, whether growing or cut. 2d. State where it was. 3d. What was the quantity; explain fully how you know the quantity, and if estimated, describe your method of making the estimate.4th. Describe the quality to your best judgment. 5th. State as nearly as you can the market value of such property at the time in United States money. 6th. Say when the property was taken. 7th. Give the name of the detachment, regiment, brigade, division, corps, or army, taking the property, and the names of any officers belonging to the command. 8th. Describe the precise manner in which the property was taken into possession by the troops, and the manner in which it was removed. 9th. State as closely as you can how many men, animals, wagons, or other means of transport, were engaged in the removal, how long they were occupied, and to what place they removed the property. 10th. State if any officers were present; how you knew them to be officers; what they said or did in relation to the property, and give the names of any, if you can. 11th. Give any reasons that you may have for believing that the taking of the property was authorized by the proper officers or that it was for the necessary use of the army.
the cows were stock Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 20 head counted them worth about 15 dollars a head December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army killed some on ground and drove rest off to camp 4 or 500 men and horses about 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 15 or 20 officers knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered them taken because they were present the wagon was Jersey wagon Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga worth about 35 or 40 dollars December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army put horse in it and drove off 4 or 500 men and horse 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 15 or 20 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present the hogs were stock hogs Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 15 head counted them worth 6 or 7 dollars a head December 18th or 19th Kilpatrick army shot them put them in wagons 4 or 500 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about 2 hours to camp 15 or 20 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered them taken because they were present The rice was threshed Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 50 bushels saw it measured worth 1.50 pr [per] bushel December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick Army sacked it and put in wagons 4 or 500 men and horses 15 or 20 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present the fowls were grown Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 18 head counted them worth 40 or 50 cts [cents] a head December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army shot them and tied to saddles 4 or 500 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons about one hour to camp 12 or 13 officer present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present the grist was in bag Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 3 bushels saw it measured worth 4 or 5 dollars December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army sacked it and put in wagon 4 or 500 men and horses 15 or 20 wagons 2 hours to camp 15 or 20 officers present know by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present the bedding were quilt blankets etc Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga worth 8 or 9 dollars December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army rolled it up took it on horses about 4 or 500 men and horses 15 or 20 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present
Sworn to and subscribed before me
This 27 Oct 1877
Henry Way Special Comm[issioner]
[signed by his mark] Titus Harris
Testimony of Witness (Roger Maybank)
Roger Maybank second witness for claimant
1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation?
Roger Maybank 31 years Liberty County Ga all my life farmer
2. If you are not the claimant, in what manner, if any, are you related to the claimant or interested in the success of the claim?
Not related not interested in claim
52. In whose favor are you here to testify?
Andrew Girardeau
53. How long have you known that person altogether, and what part of that time have you intimately known him?
all my life
54. Did you live near him during the war, and how far away?
on same place
55. Did you meet him often, and about how often, during the war?
saw him every day
56. Did you converse with the claimant about the war, its causes, its progress, and its results? If so, try to remember the more important occasions on which you so conversed, beginning with the first occasion, and state, with respect to each, when it was, where it was, who were present, what caused the conversation, and what the claimant said in substance, if you cannot remember his words.
no
57. Do you know of anything done by the claimant that showed him to be loyal to the Union cause during the war? If you do, state what he did, when, where, and what was the particular cause or occasion of his doing it? Give the same information about each thing he did that showed him to be loyal.
nothing
58. Do you know of anything said or done by the claimant that was against the Union cause? If so, please state with respect to each thing said or done, what it was, when it was, where it was, and what particular compulsion or influence caused him to say or do it.
no
59. If you have heard of anything said or done by the claimant, either for the Union cause or against it, state from whom you heard it, when you heard it and what you heard.
heard nothing
60. What was the public reputation of the claimant for loyalty or disloyalty to the United States during the war? If you profess to know his public reputation, explain fully how you know it, whom you heard speak of it, and give the names of other persons who were neighbors during the war that could testify to this public reputation.
every body knew him to be union heard him say so
61. Who were the known and prominent Union people of the neighborhood during the war, and do you know that such persons could testify to the claimant’s loyalty?
Tony Golden Will Bacon Brister Fleming know they would
62. Were you, yourself, an adherent of the Union cause during the war? If so, did the claimant know you to be such, and how did he know it?
I was he knew it he heard me say so
63. Do you know of any threats, molestations, or injury inflicted upon the claimant, or his family, or his property, on account of his adherence to the Union cause? If so, give all the particulars.
no
64. Do you know of any act done or language used by the claimant that would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy? If so, what act or what language?
no
65. Can you state any other facts within your own knowledge in proof of the claimant’s loyalty during the war? If so, state all the facts and give all the particulars.
no
The following questions concerning the ownership of property charged in claims will be put to all claimants, or the representatives of deceased claimants:
66. Who was the owner of the property charged in this claim when it was taken, and how did such person become owner?
Andrew Girardeau bought and raised it
67. If any of the property was taken from a farm or plantation, where was such farm or plantation situated, what was its size, how much was cultivated, how much was woodland, and how much was waste land?
from plantation Liberty County Ga about 1000 acres about 150 cultivated
68. Has the person who owned the property when taken since filed a petition in bankruptcy, or been declared a bankrupt?
no
[Question 69 only asked of women]
70. Were you a slave or free at the beginning of the war? If ever a slave, when did you become free? What business did you follow after obtaining your freedom? Did you own this property before or after you became free? When did you get it? How did you become owner, and from whom did you obtain it? Where did you get the means to pay for it? What was the name and residence of your master, and is he still living? Is he a witness for you, and if not, why not? Are you in his employ now, or do you live on his land or on land bought from him? Are you in his debt? What other person besides yourself has any interest in this claim?
[no answer in transcript]
72. Were you present when any of the property charged in this claim was taken? Did you actually see any taken? If so, specify what you saw taken.
I was I did 20 cows wagon 15 hogs 50 bushels rice 18 fowls 3 bushels grist bedding ad clothing
73. Was any of the property taken in the night time, or was any taken secretly, so that you did not know of it at the time?
In day time openly
74. Was any complaint made to any officer of the taking of any of the property? If so, give the name, rank and regiment of the officer, and state who made the complaint to him, what he said and did in consequence, and what was the result of the complaint.
claimant made complaint no good
75. Were any vouchers or receipts asked for or given? If given, where are the vouchers or receipts? If lost, state fully how lost. If asked and not given, by whom were they asked, who was asked to give them, and why were they refused or not given? State very fully in regard to the failure to ask or obtain receipts.
none that I know of we were afraid
76. Has any payment ever been made for any property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken at the same times as the property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken from the same claimant during the war, and if so, when, by whom, for what property and to what amount? Has this property, or any part of it, been included in any claim heretofore presented to Congress, or any court, department or officer of the United States, or to any board of survey, military commission, State commission or officer, or any other authority? If so, when and to what tribunal or officers was the claim presented; was it larger or smaller in amount than this claim, and how is the difference explained, and what was the decision, if any, of the tribunal to which it was presented?
no no no no
77. Was the property charged in this claim taken by troops encamped in the vicinity, or were they on the march, or were they on a raid or expedition, or had there been any recent battle or skirmish?
troops were in camp
78. You will please listen attentively while the list of items, but not the quantities, is read to you, and as each kind of property is called off, say whether you saw any such property taken.
[no answer in transcript]
79. Begin now with the first item of property you have just said you saw taken, and give the following information about it. 1st.. Describe its exact condition, as for instance, if corn, whether green or ripe, standing or harvested, in shuck, or husked, or shelled; if lumber, whether new or old, in buildings or piled; if grain, whether growing or cut. 2d. State where it was. 3d. What was the quantity; explain fully how you know the quantity, and if estimated, describe your method of making the estimate.4th. Describe the quality to your best judgment. 5th. State as nearly as you can the market value of such property at the time in United States money. 6th. Say when the property was taken. 7th. Give the name of the detachment, regiment, brigade, division, corps, or army, taking the property, and the names of any officers belonging to the command. 8th. Describe the precise manner in which the property was taken into possession by the troops, and the manner in which it was removed. 9th. State as closely as you can how many men, animals, wagons, or other means of transport, were engaged in the removal, how long they were occupied, and to what place they removed the property. 10th. State if any officers were present; how you knew them to be officers; what they said or did in relation to the property, and give the names of any, if you can. 11th. Give any reasons that you may have for believing that the taking of the property was authorized by the proper officers or that it was for the necessary use of the army.
the cows were stock Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 20 head counted them worth 15 or 16 dollars a head December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army shot some and drove rest off about 4 or 500 men and horses 8 or 9 wagons about 2 hours to camp 6 or 7 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered them taken because they were present the wagon was a Jersey wagon Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga worth 30 or 40 dollars December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army put horse in it and drove off about 4 or 500 men and horses 8 or 9 wagons about 2 hours to camp 6 or 7 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present the hogs were stock hogs Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 15 head counted them worth 5 or 6 dollars a head December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army killed hogs and them in wagon 4 or 500 men and horses 8 or 9 wagons about 2 hours to camp 6 or 7 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered them taken because they were present the rice was threshed Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 50 bushels saw it measured worth 1.50 per bushel December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army sacked it and put it in wagons 4 or 500 men and horses 8 or 9 wagons about 2 hours to camp 6 or 7 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present the fowls were grown Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 18 head counted them worth 30 [word] cts a head December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army shot and caught them tied them to saddles 4 or 500 men and horses 8 or 9 wagons about 2 hours to camp 6 or 7 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it because they were present the grist was in bay Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga 3 bushels saw it measured worth 4 or 5 dollars December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick Army sacked it and put in wagon 4 or 500 men and horses 8 or 9 wagons about 2 hours to camp 6 or 7 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present the bedding and clothing were quilts blankets etc Mr Grest plantation Liberty County Ga worth 8 or 9 dollars December 18th or 19th 1864 Kilpatrick army rolled them up took on horse 4 or 500 men and horses 8 or 9 wagons about 2 hours to camp 6 or 7 officers present knew by dress said nothing believe officers ordered it taken because they were present
Sworn to and subscribed before
Me this 27th Oct 1877
Henry Way Special Comm[issioner]
[signed by his mark]
Roger Maybank
Testimony of Witness (Edward J. Delegal)
[Testimony taken on February 21, 1878, at #3 A & G Railroad]
Additional Evidence in case of Andrew Girardeau Col[ored] Liberty Co[unty] Ga on claim 20652
Edward Delegal third witness for claimant answers the questions as follows
1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation?
Edward J Delegal aged 63 years Liberty County forty five years Physician
2. If you are not the claimant, in what manner, if any, are you related to the claimant or interested in the success of the claim?
not related to claimant not interested in success of his claim
52. In whose favor are you here to testify?
Andrew Girardeau
53. How long have you known that person altogether, and what part of that time have you intimately known him?
Forty years
54. Did you live near him during the war, and how far away?
About 3 miles
55. Did you meet him often, and about how often, during the war?
Frequently
56. Did you converse with the claimant about the war, its causes, its progress, and its results? If so, try to remember the more important occasions on which you so conversed, beginning with the first occasion, and state, with respect to each, when it was, where it was, who were present, what caused the conversation, and what the claimant said in substance, if you cannot remember his words.
no
57. Do you know of anything done by the claimant that showed him to be loyal to the Union cause during the war? If you do, state what he did, when, where, and what was the particular cause or occasion of his doing it? Give the same information about each thing he did that showed him to be loyal.
no
58. Do you know of anything said or done by the claimant that was against the Union cause? If so, please state with respect to each thing said or done, what it was, when it was, where it was, and what particular compulsion or influence caused him to say or do it.
no
59. If you have heard of anything said or done by the claimant, either for the Union cause or against it, state from whom you heard it, when you heard it and what you heard.
Heard nothing
60. What was the public reputation of the claimant for loyalty or disloyalty to the United States during the war? If you profess to know his public reputation, explain fully how you know it, whom you heard speak of it, and give the names of other persons who were neighbors during the war that could testify to this public reputation.
I believe he was loyal to the Union
61. Who were the known and prominent Union people of the neighborhood during the war, and do you know that such persons could testify to the claimant’s loyalty?
Don’t know
62. Were you, yourself, an adherent of the Union cause during the war? If so, did the claimant know you to be such, and how did he know it?
no
63. Do you know of any threats, molestations, or injury inflicted upon the claimant, or his family, or his property, on account of his adherence to the Union cause? If so, give all the particulars.
no
64. Do you know of any act done or language used by the claimant that would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy? If so, what act or what language?
no
65. Can you state any other facts within your own knowledge in proof of the claimant’s loyalty during the war? If so, state all the facts and give all the particulars.
none
72. Were you present when any of the property charged in this claim was taken? Did you actually see any taken? If so, specify what you saw taken.
Wasn’t present but know he was allowed by his owner [deceased] to own and did own property during the war
Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 26th Feby 1878
Henry Way Special Comm[issioner]
[signed]
Edward J Delegal
Testimony of Witness (James C. Fleming)
Additional evidence in the case of Andrew Girardeau Col[ored] on claim 20652
James C Fleming witness for claimant answers the questions as follows
66. Who was the owner of the property charged in this claim when it was taken, and how did such person become owner?
Andrew Girardeau who died on the third day November 1877 leaving a widow and two children Ben Bacon and William Bacon both step sons (Ben Bacon instead of Henry Bacon as in previous deposition) Rachael Girardeau name of widow Ben Bacon aged 32 years William Bacon aged 34 years Ben Bacon is step son hence the difference in names
Sworn to and subscribed
Before me this 26th Feby 1878
Henry Way Special Comm[issioner]
[signed by his mark]
James C Fleming