Wiley Blount Manasco's Claim


Submitted by Robin Sterling


Southern Claims Commission File

for

Wiley B. Manasco (5373) Allowed

Items Claimed

Amount Claimed

Amount Allowed

Amount Disallowed

100 bushels corn

$200

$100

$100

100 pounds bacon

$25

$15

$15

1600 pounds fodder

$32

$16

$16

10 bushels wheat

$20

$10

$10

Totals

$277

$141

$136

 

Remarks: Claimant swears to loyal sympathies and Union votes and that he befriended persons seeking to escape conscription. He was arrested and kept in jail several weeks, then sent under guard to Richmond and put in Stonewall Jackson’s Corps. After 5 days he deserted and went north where he remained during the latter part of the war. A neighbor who was his companion through all his adventures testifies to claimant’s loyalty and confirms his statements and a Union soldier also testifies to claimant’s loyal conversation and reputation. The supplies were taken by General Wilson’s Command in the spring of 1865. We find claimant loyal and allow the sum of $141. [signed] A.O. Aldis, J.B. Howell, and O. Ferriss, Commissioners of Claims

Before the Commissioners of Claims, Under Act of Congress of March 3, 1871.

In the matter of the Claim of Wiley B. Manasco of Larissa, in the County of Winston and State of Alabama.

Comes now the claimant and represents that he has heretofore filed with the above-named Commissioners a Petition for the allowance of a claim for property taken for the use of the army of the United States, which claim, as stated below, does not exceed the sum of three thousand dollars.

That the said claim, stated by items, and excluding therefrom all such items as refer to the damage, destruction and loss, and not the use, of property; to unauthorized or unnecessary depredations of troops and other persons upon the property, or to rent or compensation for the occupation of buildings, grounds or other real estate, is as follows:

100 bushels corn ($200); 100 pounds of bacon ($25); 1600 pounds of fodder ($32); 10 bushels wheat ($20); total: $277

That, as stated in the Petition referred to, the property in question was taken from or furnished by your petitioner, of Winston County, in the State of Alabama, for the use of a portion of the army of the United States, known as General Wilson’s army and commanded by General Wilson.

That the property was removed to the camp on Blackwater, and used for or by General Croxton’s Cavalry Brigade; all this on or about the 27th day of March, in the year 1865, as appears by the petition presented to the Commissioners.

That the Claimant is unable to produce the witnesses hereafter to be named before the Commissioners at the city of Washington for and because of the following reasons, to wit: the amount of the claim will not be sufficient if allowed to meet the expense and my means is too small to bear it so great a distance.

That, by the following named persons, the claimant expects to prove that, from the beginning of hostilities against the United States to the end thereof, his sympathies were constantly with the cause of the United States; that he never, of his 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 he was 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 his means and power and the circumstances of the case permitted:

Thomas Carroll, of Winston County, Alabama

William Tucker, of Winston County, Alabama

Thomas Noles, of Winston County, Alabama

State of Alabama, County of Winston: Wiley B. Manasco, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is the petitioner named in the foregoing petition, and who signed the same; that the matters therein stated are true, of the deponent’s own knowledge, except as to those matters which are stated on information and belief, and as to those matters he believes them to be true; and deponent further says that he did not voluntarily serve in the Confederate army or navy, either as an officer, soldier, or sailor, or in any other capacity, at any time during the late rebellion; that he never voluntarily furnished any stores, supplies, or other material aid to said Confederate army or navy, or to the Confederate government, or to any officer, department or adherent of the same in support thereof, and that he never voluntarily accepted or exercised the functions of any office whatsoever under, or yielded voluntary support to, the said Confederate government. [signed] Wiley B. Manasco

Sworn to, and subscribed before me this 13th day of Jun 1871 [signed] William H. Wilbanks, Justice of the Peace.

State of Alabama, County of Winston, To wit: I, A.B. Hays, Judge of the Probate Court in and for said County and State aforesaid, hereby certify that William H. Wilbanks whose name appears in the foregoing jurat, was at the time stated in said jurat, a Justice of the Peace duly authorized to administer oaths, and that the above is his genuine signature. I am not interested in this claim or its prosecution. [signed] A.B. Hays, Judge of Probate Court.

I expect to prove my loyalty by the following witnesses and others:

Thomas Carroll, residing in Winston County

William Tucker, residing in Winston County

Thomas Noles, residing in Walker County

And also expects to prove the other facts alleged in the foregoing petition by

William G. Ward, residing in Winston County

Orlena Martin, residing in Winston County

Elizabeth Romine, residing in Winston County

My Post Office address is Larissa, Winston County

My counsel is C.M. Bennett, Esq., whose Post Office address is Washington, D.C.

That, by the following named persons, the Claimant expects to prove the taking or furnishing of the property for the use of the army of the United States:

William J. Ward, of Winston County, Alabama

Olena Martin, of Winston County, Alabama

Elizabeth Romine, of Winston County, Alabama

Carlton Manasco, of Winston County, Alabama

The Claimant now prays that the testimony of the witnesses just designated be taken and recorded, at such place and at such time as the Special Commissioner may designate at the reasonable cost of the said Claimant; and that due notice of the time and place of the taking thereof be given to the Claimant, or to his counsel.

Submitted on this 23rd day of February 1872 [signed] Wiley B. Manasco, Claimant; C.W. Bennett, Attorney.

100 bushels corn ($200); 100 pounds of bacon ($25); 1600 pounds of fodder ($32); 10 bushels wheat ($20); total: $277

To the Commissioners of Claims (under Act of 3rd March 1871), Washington, D.C. The petitioner of Wiley B. Manasco, respectfully represents:

That your petitioner is a resident of the county of Winston in the State of Alabama; that his post office is Larissa in said County and State; and that at the time his claim and each item thereof as above set forth accrued he was a resident of the County of Winston and State of Alabama; that he is the original owner of said claim; that he has never sold, assigned or transferred the same or any part thereof to any person; that no mortgage, bill of sale or other lien of like nature has at any time rested upon it, or any part thereof, nor has it been attached or taken in execution; that the same has not been paid by the United States or any of their officers or agents, nor have the United States any legal offset against the same or any part thereof; that he is the sole owner of the said claim, no other person being interested therein; that said claim does not contain any charge for property which was destroyed or stolen by the troops or other persons; that the rates or prices charged are reasonable and just, and do not exceed the market rate or price of like stores or property at the time and place stated; all of which your petitioner states of his own knowledge.

Your petitioner further states that he is now and was at the time the several items of his said claim accrued, as stated herein, a citizen of the United States; that he remained a loyal adherent to the cause and Government of the United States during the war of 1861, &c.; and was so loyal before and at the time of the taking or furnishing of the property for which this claim is made.

And your petitioner further represents and states that on the 27th day of March, A.D., 1865, at his residence in the State of Alabama the following property or stores were taken from your petitioner for the use of the army of the United States, and for which payment is claimed, viz:

One hundred bushels of corn, one hundred pounds of bacon, sixteen hundred pounds of fodder, ten bushels of wheat and rye, which said property or stores being of the kind, quantity and value above stated was taken by the army known as General Wilson’s Raid, under the command of General Wilson who at that time had command of the United States forces in the District in which said property was taken.

And your petitioner further represents that he has been informed and believes that the said stores or property was taken from your petitioner as above stated and removed to the camp for the use of troops under General Croxton; that at the taking of said property, or store, no vouchers, receipt or other writing was given therefor by the person taking the same as aforesaid or received at any time by your petitioner.

Your petitioner further states that the claim, within and above mentioned has never been presented to any person or persons whatever.

Before the Commissioners of Claims, Washington, D.C.

Claim of Wiley B. Manasco of the County of Winston and State of Alabama numbered 5373.

It is hereby certified that on the 26th and 27th days of June 1876 at the residence of Wiley B. Manasco in the County of Winston and State of Alabama came personally before me, for the purpose of a hearing in the above-entitled cause, the following persons, namely:

Wiley B. Manasco, Claimant

Francis Bell, Witnesses

Thomas Noles, Witnesses

Orlena J. Martin, Witnesses

Elizabeth Romine, Witnesses

Each and every deponent, previous to his or her examination, was properly and duly sworn or affirmed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth concerning the matters under examination; the claimant’s witnesses were examined separately and apart from each other; the testimony of each deponent was written out by me in presence of such deponent, who signed the same in my presence after having the deposition read aloud to such deponent, and the signature of such deponent was by attested at the time it was affixed to the deposition.

Witness my hand and seal this 27th day of January 1876 [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner.

1 – Wiley B. Manasco, 56 years of age. I reside in the County of Winston, State of Alabama and have so resided 20 years and upwards. My occupation is that of a farmer.

2 – I am the claimant.

3 – I was borned in the County of Morgan, State of Alabama.

4 – I resided in said County of Winston for six months before and until the end of the rebellion on the farm where I now reside. My business has always been that of a farmer. I never changed my business or residence during the rebellion.

5 – They were on the side of the Union from beginning to the end of the rebellion.

6 – I never did.

7 – I was.

8 – In the years 1862 and 1863 I fed the Union boys that was lying out, aided and assisted the Union boys to get off to the Union lines, or Union army. I assisted Dr. J.F. Morton, Jack Wilhite, John Lowery, more and many others. I fed and assisted through into the Union lines, and in short, I done all I could for the Union cause, and Union boys from beginning to the end of the rebellion. What I done, was at the risk of my life. The assistance I rendered was here, and around in the settlement where I now reside. The persons aided by me was not of kin to me.

9 – None that I know of, except I had a son-in-law, William Martin, who was in a Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. He entered service, as well as I recollect, at Chattanooga and died while in service at Bridgeport on the Tennessee River.

10 – I never was.

11 – I assisted as before stated, fed Union boys and Union layouts as before stated and many other services in that direction, in fact, all I could do.

12 – I taken the Union side, and voted for the Union cause and done all I could for the Union side.

13 – I adhered to the Union cause from beginning to the end of the rebellion and I am a true Republican today.

14 – I was sorely distressed on hearing of the Battles of Bull run and Manassas but I can’t express how glad I was on hearing of the capture of New Orleans, the fall of Vicksburg and the final surrender of the Confederate forces.

15 – I was always treated kindly by the Union element of this country and when I went into the Union lines, I was kindly treated by all the Union people &c &c.

16 – I never did.

17 – Bill Looney, C.C. Sheats, Bill Tucker and Thomas Noles, Anderson Ward and many others. Some of them will be called upon to testify to my loyalty.

18 – I was threatened to be hanged on account of my principles. The Rebels taken everything I had, that they could get hold of. On my return home, after the surrender, my family scarcely had anything to live on.

19 – I was arrested by Lieutenant McCaskill of the Confederate army on 5th April 1864 for my Union principles and for being in the Union League, “as I was told by said McCaskill.” I was kept from the 5th day of April 1864 to the 11th day of June thereafter. I was carried to Jasper, Walker County, Alabama and there lodged in jail, was taken out, after staying 3 weeks and guarded to Blountsville, Alabama was there tied and carried to Talladega, and thence to Selma, Alabama. Thence to Montgomery, Alabama, and thence to Richmond, Virginia, where I was put into the Confederate army, where I stayed only 5 days, ran away, and went into the Union lines at Athens, Tennessee. Was sent by the Provost Marshal to Chattanooga, Tennessee to General Thomas who sent us to Louisville, Kentucky. There the Provost Marshal swore us and had us to go north of the Ohio River, where we stayed until after the surrender of the Confederate forces.

20 – They taken (the Confederates) in the year 1863 yoke of oxen from me. They pressed them. They left with me $30 in Confederate money. After I left home they taken other property from my wife, and threatened to burn my house because I had gone into the Union lines. I never presented any account to any Rebel officer or the government thereof, for any property taken from my by them.

21 – Nothing more than before stated.

22 – I never did only what I was force to do.

23 – I was arrested, tied, jailed, guarded and put in the Confederate army at Richmond, Virginia where I remained only 5 days, deserted and went into the Union lines. I never done anything for the Confederacy while there.

24 – I was not except as before stated.

25 – I was not.

26 – I never did.

27 – I never did.

28 – I was not.

29 – I was not.

30 – I never did.

31 – I did not.

32 – I never did.

33 – I never was.

34 – I did not.

35 – I never did.

36 – Most all of my nephews was in Confederate service. I advised them not to go in. I contributed nothing to their outfit and support.

37 – I have not.

38 – I have not. I never participated in it.

39 – I think I taken it 3 times about the first days of August 1864. I taken said oath at Chattanooga, Tennessee and at Louisville, Kentucky, and at the Black Swamp Beat in Winston County, Alabama in the year 1865. I taken it because I was willing to abide by the laws of the Government of the U.S. and because it was the order by Proclamation of the President of the U.S.

40 – I never was. I was put under oath while I was in the U.S. lines not to do anything against the Union cause.

41 – I never was.

42 – There was not.

43 – There was not.

44 – I voted against secession before the war and against candidates favoring secession during and since the war.

45 – I did not.

46 – I never was only as before stated. I was taken up by Col. McCaskill’s Rebel Cavalry, was guarded, jailed, tied, and put in the Virginia army. I only remained in said army about 5 days, ran away, and went into the union lines. I stayed therein, until the surrender. I was taken up by said cavalry 5 April 1864 in Winston County, Alabama. I received the notice by being taken up by said cavalry and guarded off to jail and put therein where I remained about 3 weeks and then I was tied and guarded to the Virginia army in the command of Stonewall Jackson’s division, “as I was told.”

47 – I was not.

48 – I never did.

49 – I never was.

51 – I never was.

66 – I was. It was made and raised on my farm in Winston County, Alabama.

67 – Said property was taken from my farm in Winston County, Alabama (as I am informed by my wife). I own 360 acres of land, about 35 acres was in cultivation. The rest was woodland, 15 or 20 acres might be called wasteland.

68 – I never filed a petition in bankruptcy, neither have I ever been declared a bankrupt.

72 – I was not. I reckon I was in the State of Indiana.

73 – It was taken in the daytime “as I was informed by my wife.”

74 – I can’t say as to that.

75 – If any was ever given, I never seen or heard anything of it.

76 – There has not. There has not. There has not. It has not. If so, I never knew or heard anything of it.

77 – It was taken by troops on the march as I learned from my family and neighbors.

78 – As before stated, I was not at home; saw none of it taken, but I expect to prove the taking of said property by my daughters. I had other witnesses, but they have left the country.

79 – The corn was in the crib. My family had shucked about 60 bushels of good, sound corn and put in the crib. They had used but little of it, if any. They had gathered and hauled in 5 loads in the shuck, the wagon said to hold 15 bushels, some of the corn in the shuck, was used, but not much. The troops went to the crib, taken the corn and packed it off to camps on the march. Said troops also went to my mill and taken about 30 bushels of shelled corn and packed it off to camps on the march. There was 600 bushels or more of corn taken by said troops and at the time taken it was worth $2 per bushel in U.S. money. We tended that year (in corn) about 25 acres in corn. It was pretty good corn, would have made 15 or 20 bushels to the acre. We killed that year 5 or 6 good killing hogs averaging 130 pounds each. They were in fine order. The bacon was fine and nice and well dried. They had used pretty well all the joints but none of the sides. They taken all the bacon they had. There was 100 pounds or more of it. They went to the smoke house and packed the bacon off towards camps on the march. At the time taken it was worth 25 cents per pound in U.S. money. Said troops also went to the fodder house and taken about 800 binds fodder—large binds—weighing about 2 pounds to the bind and packed it off to camps on the march. There was at the mill 10 bushels wheat measured up on boxes and [gunes?]. Said troops taken all of said wheat and packed it off to camps on the march. At the time taken the wheat was worth $2 per bushel, the fodder $2 per hundred pounds in U.S. money. Said property was taken 27th day of March 1865 by the troops of Wilson’s Corps, commanded by Major General James H. Wilson. I know the names of none of the officers, “only from hearsay.” There was a great many troops, all mounted. They were passing the house the greater part of the day. The troops said they were out, was obliged to have the stuff, and was going to take it. Officers were present, they called them as such, though I learned no names, officers being present at the taking of said property caused me to think it was ordered taken by them and was for the necessary use of the army of the U.S. The above statement in answer to question No. 79 are the statements made to me by my family on my return home from the Union lines after the surrender of the Rebel forces which I believe to be correct and that taking of which property I can only prove by them. [signed x his mark] Wiley B. Manasco; Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

1 – Francis Bell. I am 34 years of age nearly. I reside in the County of Winston and State of Alabama and have so resided nearly all my life. I am a farmer by occupation.

2 – I am no relation to the claimant except I married his niece and I am not interested in the success of his claim.

52 – In the favor of the claimant.

53 – I have known the claimant intimately for 20 years and upwards.

54 – I lived in 2 miles of him.

55 – I met him frequently until I went into U.S. service which was in July 1862.

56 – The claimant and myself frequently talked about the war. He voted against secession, done all he could for the Union cause, and was all the time up to the time I went into U.S. service a square out Union man.

57 – I am satisfied that he went into the Union lines and remained there until the surrender, though I did not see him while there. I know that he voted against secession and I have no doubt that I am knowing to many things done by him that showed him to be loyal if I could recollect it.

58 – I do not.

59 – I never heard of him saying or doing anything against the Union cause and I never heard anyone say that he ever done anything for the Confederate cause.

60 – It was that of loyalty to the U.S. Government. I know it by his talk, his actions and deeds. I heard Samuel Tyler and John Lowrimore speak of him as such and William M. Jackson, Paulus Ingle and many others, his neighbors during the war, can testify to his public reputation.

61 – The above names persons, Thomas Noles, William Lowrimore, Thomas Carroll, his neighbors during the war, and others can testify to claimant’s loyalty.

62 – I was. He did. He knew that I went into U.S. service in July 1862 at which time I was in service in Captain Smith’s Company, 1st Middle Tennessee Regiment Cavalry Volunteers where I remained until discharged. I then enlisted in the 29th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Company D, where I remained until discharged which was at Marietta, Georgia in November 1865.

63 – I can’t say I do. I left for the Union lines before the Rebels got to treating Union men so bad in this vicinity.

64 – The act of his voting against secession, and I have no doubt he went through into the U.S. lines which I think would have been sufficient cause to have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederate states.

65 – When I left for the Union lines, the claimant was all right, when I returned, I found him still a good Union man and he is a true Republican today and a was a good Union man, as I believe, from beginning to the end of the rebellion. [signed] Francis Bell; Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

1 – Thomas Noles, 31 years of age nearly and I reside in Winston County, Alabama and have so resided since the year 1859. My occupation is that of a farmer.

2 – I am not of kin to the claimant and not interested in the success of his claim.

52 – In the favor of the claimant.

53 – I have known claimant intimately since the year 1859.

54 – I lived in 2 miles of him.

55 – I met him frequently during the rebellion—can’t tell how often and stayed with him in the Union lines nearly 2 years.

56 – He was a Union man, no mistake. He and I were both taken up by Rebel cavalry, jailed, tied, and guarded, carried to and put into the Richmond army where we stayed a short time, ran away and went into the Union lines and stayed there until after the surrender. We were together all the time in the Union lines until we come home from the time we ran away from the Richmond army. He was a square out Union man and so acted from beginning to the end of the rebellion.

57 – I know he belonged to the Union League. It was said by McCaskill, the Rebel Colonel, that he intended to have claimant shot, for belonging to the Union League. I know that he was opposed to the rebellion and so acted from beginning to the end of it; wouldn’t fight for the Confederacy; ran off and stayed in the Union lines until after the surrender.

58 – I do not.

59 – I never heard of claimant saying or doing anything against the Union cause and I never heard of him saying or doing anything for the Rebel cause.

60 – It was loyalty to the Government of the U.S. I know it by his talk, action and deeds. I heard Francis Bell and William Lowrimore speak of him as such, and Samuel Tyler, John York and Samuel Noles, his neighbors during the war, can testify to his public reputation.

61 – The above named persons and John and Perry Lowrimore, his neighbors, can and will, as I think, testify to claimant’s loyalty.

62 – I was. He did. He knew it by my talk, actions and deeds. He knew that he and I was roped, carried off, and put in Confederate prison on account of our principles and he knows that he and I ran off and went through the Union lines and stayed therein, until the surrender.

63 – I can’t say that I know any more of such things, than stated above.

64 – I think I have told enough in my answers, that he was guilty of, to have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederate states.

65 – I know in the year 1864 that myself and other Union men were lying in the fork of the creek, watching for McCaskill’s Rebel Cavalry. Claimant came down and stayed with us until we learned that they had gone on another road. Were for there for the purpose of firing in to said cavalry. I say further and lastly, that claimant was as loyal as any man in Winston County. [signed] Thomas Noles; Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

1 – Orlena J. Martin, 35 years of age and upwards. I reside in the County of Winston, State of Alabama and have so resided most of my life. My occupation is that of attending to my house affairs.

2 – The claimant is my father. I am not interested in the success of his claim.

72 – I was not. I left home that morning and when I returned the troops had taken all the property named in the application.

73 – It was taken in daytime.

74 – I don’t know, only by what my little brother and sister said. There was no one at the house but them, when the property was taken.

75 – None that I ever heard of.

76 – There has not. There has not. There has not. It has not. If it has I have never heard of it.

77 – It was taken by troops on the march. On my return home that day, the road was clogged up so with troops, I hardly could get along. It if had not been for that, I could have got home in time to have seen the troops taken the property named in said application.

78 – As before stated, I did not see the property named in said application taken, but I know that claimant had said property as named in said application. It was all there that morning when I left home and it was gone on my return and the troops was still passing the house and my little brother and sister said the troops taken it.

79 – I tended the land, or help do it that made the corn. We tended that year about 25 acres in corn. It was called good corn, and I suppose would make or did make 15 of 20 bushels to the bushels corn and put it in the crib and had just hauled and put in the crib 5 wagon loads corn, each load averaging 15 bushels to the load and we also had about 30 bushels corn in the mill. It was in boxes and barrels or [gunes?]. I had been tending the mill and know that there was in the mill 30 bushels, or more, of shelled corn. The troops taken all the corn we had in the crib and in the mill. I know there was at least one hundred bushels corn. My sister and brother said the troops packed off the corn toward the camps on the march which was nearby. The corn at the time taken was worth $2 per bushel in U.S. money. We killed 6 or 7 meat hogs that season. They were in good order and averaged about 130 pounds each. Our bacon was well cured. We had used none of the sides and hams, and not a great many of the shoulders. They taken all the meat or bacon we had. There was 100 pounds and more of the bacon at the time taken it was worth 25 cents per pound in U.S. money. We had saved that year about 800 binds of fodder. Some was in the stack; some was in the stable loft. The troops taken all the fodder we had. At the time taken it was worth $2 per 100 binds in U.S. money. We also had about 10 bushels of wheat when in the mill house. Said troops taken all of it. It was in [gunes?] and boxes and at the time taken it was worth $2 per bushel in U.S. money. Said property was taken on the 27th day of March 1865 by the troops of Wilson’s Corps as was said and commanded by Major General James H. Wilson. I did not know any of the officer’s names. They were there. I knew them by their dress. There was a great many troops, can’t tell how many. They were passing most of the day. They were all mounted. I saw no wagons. The troops said to my brother and sister (as they said) that they were without and needed the property or forage; that they were going to take it wherever they found it. I have no doubt from the way the property was taken through the country that it was taken by order of the army officers and was really for the necessary use of the army of the United States. [signed x her mark] Orlena J. Martin; Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

1 – Elizabeth Romine, 28 years of age and upwards. I reside in the County of Winston, State of Alabama and have so resided all my life. My occupation is that of attending to my house affairs.

2 – The claimant is my father. I am not interested in the success of his claim.

72 – I was present and saw the troops taking and going off with the corn, fodder and meat. I was in the field at work when the troops first came. My little brother came and told me that the troops was taking all we had. I went to the house. When I got there, they were taking and going off with the corn, fodder and bacon.

73 – It was taken in the day time.

74 – I said to the officer that was taking the property not to take all we had. They replied that they were out, was obliged to take it. That they were taking it everywhere they went.

75 – No vouchers or receipts was given for said property; none was asked for.

76 – There has not. There has not. There has not. It has not. If it has, I don’t know it. I never heard of it.

77 – It was taken by troops on the march.

78 – I saw the troops taking and packing off the corn, the bacon and the fodder. They were at the mill house but I was not there, when they taken the wheat, but I know, or am satisfied, they took the wheat. Said troops taken at least 100 bushels corn.

79 – We tended that year about 25 acres in corn. It was said to be good corn; would average 15 or 20 bushels to the acre. There was in the crib 60 bushels of shucked corn, and we had just hauled 5 loads corn in the shuck and threw it in the crib. The wagon was said to hold 15 bushels to the load. We also had 30 bushels shelled corn in boxes and [illegible word] in the mill house. They taken that and all the rest of our corn in the crib. There was 100 bushels of corn and more. At the time taken it was worth $2 per bushel in U.S. money. They also taken 100 pounds bacon. We killed 7 killing hogs that season. They averaged 130 pounds each, as was said. We had eat none of the sides and hams and but few of the shoulders when the raid came along. They taken all the bacon we had, 100 pounds and much more, as I think. At the time taken it was worth 25 cents per pound in U.S. money. They also taken our fodder. Some was in the stack and some in the stable loft. There was about 800 binds of it. At the time taken it was worth $2 per 100 binds. We also had 10 bushels of wheat in the mill house in boxes and [gunes?]. They taken that. At the time taken it was worth $2 per bushel in U.S. money. They packed off the corn, wheat, fodder and bacon to camps on the march hard by. Said troops also taken all our lard, molasses, chickens, and all of our household and kitchen furniture not charged in this application. Said property was taken on the 27th March 1865 by the troops of Wilson’s Corps as was said, and commanded by Major General James H. Wilson. Officers were present at the taking of the property. I knew them by their dress, not by name. There was several hundred soldiers—can’t tell how many. They were all mounted. I seen no wagons or teams. Officers being present at the taking of the property led me to think it was done by the order of the army officers and was for the necessary use of the army of the U.S. [signed x her mark] Elizabeth Romine; Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

In the case of W.B. Manasco, he can prove his loyalty by those names in the petition and by George Wilson and William Wilson and John Lowrimore, soldiers of the U.S. army. This case was a hard one. Manasco was well known for his loyalty and being over the age of conscription. The Rebels persecuted him badly in consequence of his zeal for the cause of the old government. The Rebels took him from his family, tied him, and sent him to Virginia, but he left them in 5 days after and traveled over the mountains til he reached Knoxville, Tennessee. From thence he went to Indiana and remained till the close of the war. Consequently, he was not present when his property was taken. When his wife asked the soldiers who was taking the property who was their officer, they would tell her General Wilson and that was all the satisfaction she could get. Poverty is the plea which prevents him from coming to Washington.

The United States to Wiley B. Manasco of Alabama: For the amount allowed him by Act of Congress, Private No. 141 approved June 15th 1878, entitled “An Act making appropriations for the payment of claims reported allowed by the Commissioners of Claims under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1871:” the sum of one hundred and forty-one dollars. Payable in care of C.W. Bennett, Washington, D.C. Treasury Department, Second Comptroller’s Office, July 9, 1878 [signed] E.F. French, Clerk. Treasury Department, Third Auditor’s Office, June 29th, 1878 [signed] Dolittle, Clerk

Note: Ancestry.com reported Wiley Blount Manasco was born 16 May 1820 and died 17 Jul 1896. The small cemetery containing his grave was destroyed by agriculture. It was located near Lynn.


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