Claim Filed, 1871, Robert P. Eppes/Southern Claims Commission - Charles City Co. VA SOUTHERN CLAIMS COMMISSION November 14, 1871 INTRODUCTION The following is a transcript from handwritten original records (National Archives microfilm) of the “Southern Claims Commission” filed in 1871 by my Great-Greatgrandfather Robert P. Eppes, born 1822 in Charles City County, VA. The “Southern Claims Commission” was a government body established after the Civil War to reimburse those resident southerners who remained loyal to the Union and who had property confiscated by the Union Army during the conflict. There were over 22,000 claims filed throughout the south most of which were denied because of the “ridiculously stringent inquiry policies”. Following are Robert’s itemized claim and his answer’s to the questions regarding his loyalty to the Union. Also included are the statements made by his 2 sons, Augustus & Littlebury and his nephew Alexander D. Bradley. CLAIM ITEMIZED LIST The original claim was for $1,483 to cover the cost of the following livestock and “moveables”, produce, etc.: 1. (4) Four Mules @ $150 $600 2. (3) Three Horses @ $150 $450 3. (1) One Saddle & Bridle $20 4. (47) Forty-seven bbls Corn @ $5 $235 5. (1) One Bbl flour $15 6. (1500) Fifteen hundred lbs fodder $15 7. (15) Fifteen Bushels Irish Potatoes $15 8. 2000 lbs sheaf oats @ $1 $20 9. 20 Grown Fowls @ .50 $10 10. 150 Pannels rail fence @ .20 $30 11. (1) Fat Cow $40 12. 200 lbs. Bacon @ .20 $40 QUESTIONS AS TO LOYALTY To questions 1 & 2 he says during the period mentioned I resided & was personally in Charles City County farming with the exceptions of about four months at the close of the war, when I was in Richmond where I had been compelled to go by reason of illness. To questions 3 & 16 inclusive he answered in the negative. To question 17 he says, I was never arrested by the Confederate authorities - In July of 1862 I, in company with nearly all my neighbors, was taken by Genl. McClellan’s army, while on their retreat, & carried to Fortress Monroe. I was kept about 3 weeks & then allowed to return home. No charges were made against any of us; but we were told that we were carried off to prevent any information being given to the Rebel forces. To question 18 he says no. To Questions 19 & 20 he says, it was generally said in the neighborhood that I was to be taken to prison in Richmond. I was called a “spotted sheep” & other abusive names, but I was never really injured. To questions 21 & 30 inclusive he answers in the negative. To question 31 he says - During the war I went several times to Richmond to procure supplies. I was obliged always to get a pass - but no promise or oath was exacted of me. To questions 32 he says no. To questions 33 & 34 he says. When the war first broke out my sympathies were with the Union cause & so expressed myself as long as I could safely do so. I finally voted for the Ordinance of Secession as I thought others might think ?? now under compulsion by reason of the threats that were uttered against all who dared to be otherwise. I kept out of the Rebel service & adhered constantly to the Union cause. I never did anything to injure it, & was always ready to aid it to the extent of my means. All the time. I wanted to see secession put down & the Union maintained. I am now a teacher in the public colored school in Charles City County, VA. Questions as to the taking of the property. He says I mean to tell the whole story. I have always been a “home” man & have never been out of the state. I was very much excited & distressed when I was taken by the Union Army to Fortress Monroe in 1862. “A burnt child dreads the fire” & when General Sheridan came to my place in 1864, I took to the woods & remained from home during his whole stay. He came with a large force, about 20,000 we were told, in the afternoon in May 1864 & stayed till the next day. I was at home when he first came & remained at home until night. I left in the night, for fear that I might be carried off by Genl. Sheridan as I had been by Genl. McClellan. for this reason I did not see my property actually taken. I can only say that I know what I had when the troops came & what was missing when they left. The items in my claim form 1 to 12 are an exact statement of my losses. The corn, fodder, potatoes & oats had all been measured recently on the occasion of my crops being tithed by the Confederate authorities. (In my answer to question 18 “as to loyalty” I was under the impression that reference was had only to what had been taken by the Rebel Army. In the spring of 1864 the Rebel authorities came into our neighborhood & took all of my crops except what they thought was needed for our support. It was in this way that the articles I have specified came to be measured.) Everything on the claim is stated exactly. I got back a few minutes after the soldiers left. I could see where the fence had been pulled down & made into camp fires. The horses (3) and mules (4) were all good working animals, sound & in good condition, entirely fit for army service. (signed) Robert P. Eppes Following is a sworn statement by Robert’s eldest son Augustus Eppes, born 1850 in Charles City County, VA: I am the son of the claimant, Robert P. Eppes, and lived with him when his property was taken by the Union soldiers. It was in may 1864. General Sheridan & his command got to the place about 3 p.m. & stayed till about 10 a.m. the next day. The General & several of his officers occupied the house. The troops camped all over the place. There were thousands of them. As soon as they arrived, they made a camp, and went to cooking. They went to the house and asked whether we had any horses or mules, corn, etc. They got the keys of the stable & corn & meat houses. They took 3 mules that afternoon & the other mule the next morning. I did not see the horses taken, but I was told by the servants they were carried off in the night. I saw the corn, flour, potatoes & oats carried off. They were taken from the two houses in w which they were, to the camps in the fields. They were taken in bags, wagons, on horseback & in the soldier’s arms -- These items I had helped to measure & they were stated exactly in the claim. I saw the fowls (20 hens) killed. I saw the fence burnt for cooking. I estimated it at from 150 to 200 panels. It was of pine rails, it had been up about 6 months. I saw the soldiers drive the cow out of the cot, in the direction of the camp. I saw the bacon taken out of the smoke house. I estimate the quantity at 200 pounds. It was all we had. I did not hear any orders given to take the property or to prevent it from being taken. I heard no complaint made to General Sheridan. My father was not at the house, my mother was very much frightened, & I was only about 14 years old, though the oldest of the children. Nothing was taken from the house except the flour which was in the dining room where General Sheridan & the officers were. Everything was taken openly & there were officers all over the place. The four mules that I saw taken were all sound, in good condition & fit for any sort of service. The cow was a young milch cow, very fat. She would be worth now 75 dollars. (signed) Augustus Eppes The following is the sworn statement of Robert’s third child Littlebury Eppes. “I am the son of the claimant Robert P. Eppes & have always lived at home with him. I remember the taking of his property by the Union soldiers, but I cannot fix the year nor the time of year. It was towards the close of the war. I was then only 12 or 13 years of age. The troops of General Sheridan came to our place in the morning & I think they stayed till the next evening. I went about with the soldiers all over the place. I saw them take the corn, oats & fodder & other things, but I cannot remember the quantities taken. Just before they left, they went to the stables & took 4 mules & 3 horses which were all we had. Some they hitched to wagons, some they loaded & one horse was ridden off. They broke up the camp & went south, I don’t know where. I am sure there were 4 mules & 3 horses. (signed) Littlebury Eppes Following is a sworn statement by Alexander Bradley (born 1848), Robert’s nephew. He was the son of Robert’s sister Elizabeth Eppes and John William Bradley. “I have known Mr. Robert P. Eppes the claimant ever since I have known anyone. I have always lived near him during the war. I have often heard him talk about secession & the war. He was opposed to both. he used to say that secession could do nothing to improve the times. He refused to vote for it until the rumor got our that all persons who voted against it would be put in prison. He kept out of the Rebel service all through & I never knew him to do anything to help the Rebel cause. From my knowledge of him & from his talks with me I have no doubt he was a sincere Union man throughout the war. (signed) Alexander Bradley The following is the “rejection of the claim” by M.F. Pleasant, Special Commissioner: “Claimant swears to his loyal sympathies but admits he voted for the adoption of the Ordinance of Secession through fear of the consequences he says. Claimant was in the habit of going to Richmond during the was and always got passes. Was never arrested and seemed to have lived in peace and pursued his business undisturbed as any other non- combatant in Rebeldom. He call but one witness in support of his loyalty and he doesn’t strengthen the case at all. Voting for the destruction of the Union is inconsistent with loyal adherence to it, and we therefore reject his claim. (signed) M.F. Pleasant Submitted by Lparke8569@aol.com **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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