(Herein begins a series of answers given by David M. Lindsey to certain questions. In the copies of

this claim from the National Archives, there were no questions attached, just the answers. I put the

questions he was asked in italics to make it easier for the reader. The questions were obtained from a

website on the Internet courtesy of Joy Locke, the host of the Monroe County Tngenweb site.

 

Claimant David M. Lindsey, aged 57 years. Occupation, a farmer. Residence in

Monroe County East Tennessee, near Hopewell Springs, being duly sworn and

examined by the Special Commission in answer to 1st set of questions, deposes &

says:

 

1. Where did you reside for six months prior to the 1st of April, 1861?

Where were you in person during the said six months?

What was your business or occupation during that period?

I resided at my present residence, near Hopewell Springs in Monroe County East

Tennessee. My business was that of a farmer. In person I was at the above named

place.

2. Where did you reside from the 1st of April, 1861, to the 1st of June, 1865?

Where were you personally during that period?

What was your business or occupation during that time?

Did you change your residence during that time? If so, when, and where was your new residence?

I was generally at home during that period & only went around among the neighbors. I

was still a farmer. Did not change my residence during that period.

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?

I was in the Confederate lines until the Federal Army came into East Tennessee in

1863.

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.

I never did take any oath under such authority.

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?

I never took any amnesty oath – was never pardoned.

6. Were you ever directly or indirectly, or in any manner, connected with the civil service of the so-called

Confederate States? If so, how, when, and where, in what capacity and for what periods?

Was any oath required of you for such service; and if so, what?

I never was.

7. Did you ever hold any office or place of trust, honor, or profit under the Confederate Government, or

under any of the States or territories subordinate thereto? If so, state the nature and character of the

office, the place at which and the period for which you held it?

I never did.

8. Did you hold any clerkship, or have any agency or employment of any kind, for, or under, or for the

benefit of the so-called Confederate States? If so, state fully in regard to the same.

No sir, I never did.

9. Were you ever, in any capacity, in the military or naval service of the so-called Confederate States, or of

any State or territory subordinate thereto?

I never was.

10.Were you ever an officer or soldier, sailor or marine of the Confederate army or navy, or did you ever

furnish a substitute for the Confederate army or navy, or were you, directly or indirectly, in any way

connected with, or employed by or under, or for either the commissary department, quartermaster's

department, the medical department, the engineer's department, the ordnance department, the

impressment service, the provost marshal's department, or any other bureau, branch, or department of

the Confederate service?

Did you at any time have charge of any stores or supplies for the use of the Confederate army, navy, or

government, or the charge or care of trains, team or teams, wagon or wagons, vessels, boats, or other

craft, or munitions of war for the use of the Confederate army or navy? If so, state fully in regard to the

same.

I never did nor never was.

11.Were you ever in any service, employment or business of any kind whatsoever for the Confederate

Government, or its army or navy?

Did you ever furnish any aid, or any supplies or stores, or property of any kind to or for the so-called

Confederate States, or any State in rebellion, or to the army, navy, militia, home-guards, armed forces,

or military organizations thereof, or for any officer, soldier, or sailor thereof? If so, state fully in regard to

the same.

Did you ever give any information to any officer, soldier, or sailor of the Confederate army or navy, or to

any person employed by, or for the so-called Confederate States, or acting on their behalf, or for their

benefit, which might aid in any way any military or naval operations carried on against the United

States? State fully in regard to the same.

No sir.

12.Were you in any manner employed in the manufacture of munitions of war, of clothing, of boots, shoes,

saddles, harness, or leather, of equipment for soldiers, or of any stores or supplies for the use of the

Confederate army or navy, or were you in any way employed by, or did you aid or assist others engaged

in such manufacture? If so, state when and where, and by or for whom you were so employed, and for

what period of time.

Never was.

13.Were you ever, directly or indirectly, employed in the collection, impressment, or purchase, or the sale of

stores, supplies, or any property for the use or benefit of the Confederate Government, or any State in

rebellion, or the army, navy, or other forces thereof?

Did you have any interest or share in contracts with, or purchases for, the Confederate Government, or

its army or navy, or any State in rebellion, or its forces? If so, state fully all particulars.

I never was. Had nothing to do with such things.

14.Were you ever engaged in blockade running or illicit traffic, or intercourse between the lines, or were you

ever in any way interested therein?

Did you ever have any interest or share in any goods, wares, merchandise, stores, or supplies brought

into or exported from the so-called Confederate States during the war? If so, state fully all particulars.

I never was.

15.Did you leave the so-called Confederate States between 19th of April, 1861, and 19th of April, 1865? If

so, when and how did you leave; where did you go; for what purpose; how long were you absent; in

what business were you engaged while absent, and when and to what place did you return in the socalled

Confederate States?

I did not leave.

16.Were you the owner, or part owner, or in any way interested in any vessel used in navigating the ocean

to or from any port in the Confederacy, or upon any waters in the Confederacy; if so, what vessels, when

and where employed, and in what business.

I never was.

17.Were you ever arrested by the Confederate Government, or by any officer, soldier, or other person

professing to act therefor, or for any State in rebellion; if so, when, where, by whom, and how long were

you kept under arrest; how did you get released?

Did you, for the sake of being released, or upon release, take any oath of any kind to the Confederate

Government; if so, what?

[Put the same questions as to arrest by the United States Government, etc.]

Never was only when they would come to rob me. Never was arrested by the United

States authority.

18.Was any of your property ever taken by the Confederate authorities, or by any officer, soldier, or other

person acting or assuming to act on their behalf, or in behalf of any State in rebellion; if so, what

property, when and for what use, and have you received pay therefor?

Yes sir. I had my house plundered several times. Never received any pay for property

so taken.

19.Were you ever threatened with damage, or injury to your person, family, or property on account of your

Union sentiments; if so, state when, by whom, and what the threats were?

I was threatened by some of my good rebel neighbors. Was reported to the soldiers by

my neighbors on account of my union sentiment. Threatened to make me leave the

country.

20.Were you ever molested or in any way injured on account of your Union sentiments? If so, state fully all

the particulars.

Never was molested further than being robbed by the rebels several times on account

of my being a union man.

21.Did you ever contribute anything - any money or property - in aid of the United States Government, or in

aid of the Union army or cause? If so, state fully as to the same.

Never contributed anything in aid of the United States Army, in aid of the cause.

22.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?

Never did anything further than feeding Federal soldiers when they came to my house.

One soldier died at my house & I had him decently buried. He was a Union soldier.

23.Had you any near relatives in either the Union or Confederate armies; if so, state who and how related

to you.

Did you contribute anything to supply them with military equipments, or with money? State fully as to the

same.

I had a son in The Federal Army. He belonged to the 11th Tennessee Cavalry. I aided

in equiping my son when he joined the Union Army. He was hiding out from the rebels

when The Federal Army came into East Tennessee.

24.Have you owned any Confederate bonds, or any interest or share therein; or had any share or interest in

any loans to the Confederate Government; or did you in any way contribute to support the credit of the

so-called Confederate States during the late rebellion?

I never owned any confederate bonds & never contributed to support its credit.

25.Have you ever given aid and comfort to the rebellion? If so, state fully all the circumstances.

Never gave aid & comfort to the rebellion.

26.Were you ever engaged in making raids into the United States from Canada, or engaged in destroying

the commerce of the United States in the lakes and rivers adjoining Canada?

I never was.

27.Were you ever engaged in holding in custody, directly or indirectly, any persons taken by the rebel

Government as prisoners of war, or any persons imprisoned or confined by the Confederate

Government, or the authorities of any State in rebellion, for political causes; if so, when, where, and

under what circumstances; in what capacity were you engaged, and what was the name, rank, and

command of your principal?

I never was so engaged.

28.Were you ever a member of any society or association for the imprisonment, expulsion, execution, or

other persecution of any persons on account of their loyalty to the United States, or did you ever assist

in such acts?

I never was. Never assisted in such acts.

29.Were you ever a paroled prisoner of the United States; if so, when and where, and by whom paroled?

I never was.

30.Have you ever held any office in the Army or Navy of the United States? Were you educated by the

United States at the Military Academy at West Point, or at the United States Naval Academy?

No, I never did. Was not.

31.Did you ever receive any pass from any officer of the Confederate Government, or from any person

having or assuming to have authority to issue the same; if so, who gave you the pass; for what purpose;

for what period of time; did you sign or swear to any promise or obligation in order to get it, or swear or

promise to "bear true faith and yield obedience to the Confederate States;" did you use the pass, and for

what purpose?

I never got a pass from the rebels.

32.Are you or were you under the disabilities imposed by the Fourteenth Article of the Amendments to the

Constitution of the United States?

Have you held any office under the United States Government since the war; if so, what office; and did

you take the (so-called) "iron-clad" oath?

I am not and never was. Never held any office.

33.At the beginning of the rebellion did you sympathize with the Union cause, or with the rebellion? What

were your feelings and what [was] 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?"

I sympathized with the Union cause. My talk was all in favor of The Union. I voted no

separation. Always exerted what influence I may have had in favor of The Federal

Government. After the ordinance of secession was adopted, I still adhered to The

Union cause and did not go with the state. I always said that the way was unjust &

without provication.

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 your

means and power, and the circumstances of the case permitted?

In conclusion I do solemnly declare that, from the beginning of hostilities against the

United States to the end thereof, my sympathies were constantly with the cause of the

United States; that I never of my own free will & 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 I was at all times ready & willing, when called upon, or if called

upon, to aid & assist the cause of the Union, or the supporters, so far as my means

and power, and the circumstances of the case permitted.

And claimant being further examined by the Special Commissioner in answer to the 2d set of

questions deposes & says.

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

I was not present when any article mentioned in this petition was taken.

X X X X X X X

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.

No receipt was asked for or given for any article mentioned in the claim. Some

conversation may have taken place on my behalf about the taking of my mare. But I

was not present.

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?

The mare was taken openly & publicly, sometime in December 1864, 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?

No part of the Army was encamped in the vicinity. Sherman was marching to

Chattanooga. I knew none of the officers. The mare was taken by Sherman's Army.

Had been no battle or skirmish near the place from which the mare was taken.

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?

The mare was of a roan color, about 8 year old, in good order, over 15 hands high &

worth $125.00. Don't know how the property was removed.

X X X X X X X X

19.Do you know, suppose, or believe that the property described in each item was taken for the actual use

of the army, and not for the mere gratification of individual officers or soldiers already provided by the

Government with such articles as were necessary or proper for them to have?

I believe that the mare was taken for the actual. I sent my son after the mare. He went

to Tellico Plains where the soldiers had encamped for a day or two. He was told that

the mare was out with a squad of men who had gone forging. The soldiers were in the

habit of taking horses & mules. Other horses were taken from the neighborhood at the

same time mine was. Were seen in the possession of Federal soldiers.

20.Do you know, suppose, or believe it was taken 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?

I believe that any property, like the property of many citizens throughout East

Tennessee, was taken in consequence of the failure of the Government to furnish the

necessary supplies. The soldiers said generally that they were compelled to take the

horses of Union men many time to prevent their being captured.

21.Do you know, suppose, or believe that it was taken in consequence of some necessity for the articles

taken, or similar articles; which necessity justified the officers or soldiers taking them?

I do not know how it was with my mare, but I was not at home, having gone to mill at

the time she was taken, but soldiers always said that they took horses from necessity

when their horses would brake down, which was very frequently the case.

22.Do you know, suppose, or believe it was taken for some purpose so necessary, useful, beneficial, or

justifiable as to warrant or require the Government to pay for it?

I think the property was taken for a very necessary purpose. Many of the soldiers

could be a foot, having in many instances had their horses captured, sometimes killed

& at other times broken down. Think the purpose for which my mare was taken

warrants the Government in paying for it.

23.Do you know, suppose, or believe that it was taken by, or under the order or authority of some officer, or

other person connected with the army, whose rank, situation, duties, or other circumstances at the time

authorized, empowered, or justified him in taking it, or ordering it to be taken.

Can't say whether or not my property was taken by order of any officer. Officers were

in the habit of sanctioning the taking of property everywhere in East Tennessee & from

this I may suppose, & do believe that my mare was taken by the authority of someone

having the right to command it to be taken.

This I may suppose & do believe that my mare was taken by the authority of someone

having the right to command it to be taken. And Claimant being further examined by

the Special Commission deposes and says:

I have never received any pay or compensation for my property. Have never had any

receipt or voucher. Am confident that my mare was taken by Gen'l. Sherman's

Command, or by some part of his Army. This is my first application made to receive

pay for my property. And further deponent saith not.

Attest David M. Lindsey

L.C.Houk

Special Commissioner