(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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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