Thomas Carroll's Claim

Submitted 17 Jun 1871

Warrant returned for payment 28 Mar 1879

Remarks: The claimant is a farmer; tended a grist mill, 60 years old. Testified that he was on the Union side from the beginning to the end of the war. He hid and fed many Union layouts and Federal soldiers. None wee of his kin except one—carried about 60 women and children through the lines at Decatur, Alabama whose husbands were in the Union army and who had been broke up by the Rebels—felt sorry and sad on hearing of the Bull Run disaster—was heartily glad on hearing of New Orleans, Vicksburg, and final surrender. A Rebel lieutenant abused him, arrested him, threatened to shoot him on account of his Union principles and took his horse. He was obliged to lay out and dodge about to avoid conscription. Two of his neighbors, who were intimately acquainted with him, testify fully to his loyal conversation and reputation. The property was taken March 26^th, 1865 by a large body of men under General Wilson. We allow in all one hundred and fifteen dollars. [signed] A.O. Aldis, O. Ferriss, and J.B. Howell, Commissioners of Claims.

To the Honorable Commissioners of Claims, Under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1871, Washington, D.C.: The petition of Thomas Carroll of Larissa, Winston County, Alabama respectfully represents:

That he is a citizen of the United States, and resides at present in Winston County, Alabama.

That he has a claim against the United States for provisions, corn, fodder, bacon, salt, meal, flour, and pork taken by order of General Wilson in March 1865 and used by the U.S. Army as follows: 50 bushels corn ($100); 600 pounds fodder ($6); 300 pounds bacon ($75); 50 pounds salt ($1.50); 1 ½ bushel meal ($3); 40 pounds flour ($4); 100 pounds pork ($10).

That all the items in the above schedule were of the full value therein set forth and were taken from the premises of your petitioner for the use of and were used by the United States army and General Wilson’s men on their march south to Selma on or about the 26^th day of March 1865 and were used by said command at or near the residence of your petitioner by said command.

That no voucher, receipt or other writing was given therefore taken by the person taking the same as afforded or received.

That your petitioner resided at the time his said claim accrued in Winston County, Alabama.

That Thomas Carroll of Winston County, Alabama was the original owner of said claim, and that he has not transferred the same or any part thereof and he is the present owner of the same.

That your petitioner remained loyal adherent to the cause and the Government of the United States during the war, and was so loyal before and at the time of the taking of the property for which this claim is made.

That said claim has not before been presented to any department of the government or Congress for adjustment.

That Stilson, Bundy and Webster, of Washington, D.C., are hereby authorized and empowered to act as his Attorneys for the prosecution of this claim.

Wherefore your petitioner prays for such action as your Honorable Commission in the premises, as may be deemed just and proper.

[signed] Thomas Carroll, Witnesses: [signed] A.J. Ingle, Paul Ingle.

State of Alabama, County of Winston: I, Thomas Carroll, 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] Thomas Carroll, Witnesses: [signed] A.J. Ingle and Paul Ingle.

Names and residences of witnesses who will be relied upon to prove loyalty:

Silas Morphew, Larissa, Winston County, Alabama

William M. Jackson, Larissa, Winston County, Alabama

Names and residences of witnesses who will be relied upon to prove the other facts alleged in the foregoing petition:

Silas Morphew, Larissa, Winston County, Alabama

William M. Jackson, Larissa, Winston County, Alabama

Post Office address of claimant: Larissa, Winston County, Alabama

I certify that W.H. Wilbanks is an acting Justice of the Peace and is duly qualified and commissioned as such in and for said county this May the 27^th, 1871. [signed] R.D. Swinney, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Winston County, Alabama.

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

In the matter of the Claim of Thomas Carroll of Larissa, in the County of Winston and State of Alabama.

Comes now the Claimant before John C. Moore, Esq., Special Commissioner for the State of Alabama, 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 five 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 or buildings, grounds or other real estate, is as follows:

That he has a claim against the United States for provisions, corn, fodder, bacon, salt, meal, flour, and pork taken by order of General Wilson in March 1865 and used by the U.S. Army as follows: 50 bushels corn ($100); 600 pounds fodder ($6); 300 pounds bacon ($75); 50 pounds salt ($1.50); 1 ½ bushel meal ($3); 40 pounds flour ($4); 100 pounds pork ($10).

That, as stated in the Petition referred to, the property in question was taken from or furnished by Thomas Carroll, of Winston County, in the State of Alabama, for the use of a portion of the army of the United States, known as Wilson’s Cavalry and commanded by General James H. Wilson, and that the persons who took or received the property, or who authorized or directed it to be taken or furnished, were the following: General James H. Wilson.

That the property was removed to the camps of the Union army, and used for by them; all this on or about the 26^th day of March, in the year 1865, as appears by the petition presented to the Commissioners.

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.

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:

Silas Morphew, of Larissa, Winston County, Alabama

William M. Jackson, Larissa, 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 proper cost of the said Claimant; and that due notice of the time and place of the taking thereof be give to the Claimant, through his counsel.

Submitted on this 7^th day of July, 1874. [signed] Thomas Carroll, Claimant; [signed] C.L. Bundy, Attorney.

Before the Commissioners of Claims, Washington, D.C.: claim of Thomas Carroll of the County of Winston and State of Alabama, numbered 2641.

It is hereby certified that on the 28^th and 29^th days of June 1876, at the residence of James R. Martin in the County of Walker and State of Alabama, came personally before me, for the purpose of a hearing in the above-entitled cause, the following persons, namely:

Thomas Carroll, Claimant

James R. Martin, Witness

Paulus Ingle, Witness

Patsy A. Smith, Witness

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 the 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 me attested at the time it was affixed to the deposition.

Witness my hand and seal this 29^th day of June 1876

[signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

1 – Thomas Carroll. I am about 60 years of age. I reside in the County of Winston, State of Alabama. I have so resided since the year 1863. I am a farmer by occupation.

2 – I am the claimant.

3 – In the State of Georgia, County of Hall.

4 – Six months before the war, I lived in Walker County, Alabama during the rebellion in the year 1863. I moved to the County of Winston, Alabama where I resided until the close of the rebellion. My business was that of farming, and attending to a grist mill during the rebellion. I moved about 2 or 3 times during the war. I moved thinking to better my situation in making support for my family.

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

6 – I did not.

7 – I was.

8 – I done many things in aid of the Union cause. I fed Paulus Ingle, Silas Morphrew, Benjamin Williams, who were lying out at various times during the years 1863 and 1864 in the county of Winston, Alabama. Some of them were Union layouts, some were Federal soldiers. I aided and fed many men that were trying to get into the Union lines. None of them aided by me were my kin (except one).

9 – None that I knew of.

10 – I was not.

11 – I give my services to the Union men and fed them as before stated, on rations furnished from my own house, without any compensation therefor, in the year 1864. I carried about 60 women and children through the lines at Decatur, Alabama whose husbands were in the Union army and who had been broken up by the Rebs after their husbands had went into the Union service.

12 – I took the Union side, talked and done all I could for the Union cause, but talked, but little. I voted against secession.

13 – I did. I was a Union man from beginning to the end of the rebellion.

14 – I felt sorry and sad on hearing of the Battles of Bull Run and Manassas; was heartily glad on hearing of the capture of New Orleans, the fall of Vicksburg, and the final surrender of the Rebel forces.

15 – I was treated kindly and friendly by the Union people of the country, wherever I went.

16 – I never have, if I have, I don’t recollect it.

17 – Paulus Ingle, W.B. Manasco, and James RL. Martin and many others; some of them will be called to testify to my loyalty.

18 – Col. Sides, Rebel lieutenant, taken a horse from me, abused me, arrested me and kept me under arrest about six hours, threatened to shoot me &c &c. on account of my Union principles. This was in the year 1864 in Winston County, Alabama.

19 – Only a before stated. I give no bound, nor taken any oath to obtain my release. They dropped back, after carrying me 4 or 5 miles and told me I was released.

20 – Nothing more than before stated except some other little things. I never was paid for anything taken from be by the Rebs and I never presented any account for pay for the same to any officer or tribunal of the Confederacy.

21 – Nothing ever was, except as before stated. The horse that the Rebs taken from me was recaptured by one of my Union friends, Jesse Nevels, and brought back to me.

22 – I did not.

23 – I was arrested for my principles and because I wouldn’t tell on the Union boys and aid in the rebellion &c &c.

24 – I was not.

25 – I was not.

26 – I did not.

27 – I did not.

28 – I was not.

29 – I was not.

30 – I never did.

31 – I did not.

32 – I did not.

33 – I was not.

34 – I did not.

35 – I never did.

36 – I did not.

37 – I have not.

38 – I never done anything for which I needed a pardon.

39 – I taken the amnesty oath after the surrender at Houston, Alabama in the year 1865 administered by Judge Williams. I taken it because I was willing to abide by the laws of the U.S. and because it was the order as proclamation of the President of the U.S.

40 – I was not.

41 – I never was.

42 – There was not.

43 – There was not.

44 – I don’t think I voted during the rebellion. If I had voted, I should have voted against men or candidates favoring secession.

45 – I did not.

46 – I as not. I kept out of Rebel service by lying out and dodging about, accidently, they never got hold of me.

47 – I was not.

48 – I did not.

49 – I was not.

50 – I never was.

51 – I never was.

66 – I was. I obtained it by my labor.

67 – The property was taken from the farm of Patsy A. Smith, whose husband died in the Union army which farm was situated in Winston County, Alabama. The farm consisted of 80 acres, I cultivated the year before about 15 acres in corn on said farm. The balance of the 80 tract was woodland.

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

72 – I was not. I was gone from home.

73 – I suppose it was taken in the day time. I was so informed by those that was there.

74 – I was informed by those that was there, that they begged the officers and soldiers not to take all I had that I was a Union man. They replied they were obliged to have it.

75 – I was informed, non was asked for, and none was given. I never seen any.

76 – There has not. There has not. There has not.

77 – It was taken by troops on the march.

78 – When I left home in the morning of 26^th March 1865 I left the items of corn, fodder, bacon, salt, meal, flour and pork, as named in my application all at home and when I returned home next day my wife (who is now dead) told me that Wilson’s Raid had come by while I was gone and taken all my property; had left us nothing to eat &c.

79 – As before stated, I never saw any of the property taken. I was from home, my wife is dead, and I had no children. There was no one there but my wife and Mrs. Patsy A. Smith. I had tended 15 acres in corn. The corn was good; made about 15 bushels to the acre. My corn was shucked assorted and in the crib and there was 50 bushels and more of it and worth at the time taken $2 per bushel in U.S. money. I had gathered and [housed] 300 binds fodder, large binds. I suppose to weigh 2 pounds to the bind, worth at the time taken $1 per 100 pounds in U.S. money. They took all the fodder I had. I killed that season 5 or 6 hogs that averaged 150 pounds each. We had eat but few of the shoulders and none of the hams and sides when the raid come along. They taken all the bacon I had. There was 300 pounds of it and I think more. At the time taken it was worth 25 cents per pound in U.S. money. I had just bought 50 pounds salt and put it in the crib under the corn and in getting the corn, they found my salt and taken it. At the time taken the salt was worth 3 cents per pound in U.S. money. Said troops also taken 1 ½ bushel meal I had just brought home from the mill; at the time taken it was worth $2 per bushel in U.S. money. I had in a sack 40 pounds of flour that I had just brought home. The troops taken it. At the time taken, it was worth 10 cents per pound in U.S. money. Said troops also killed a pork hog that would weight about 100 pounds at the time taken it was worth 10 cents per pound in U.S. money. Said property was all taken on the 26^th day of March 1865 by the troops of Wilson’s corps commanded by Major General James H. Wilson. It was said by my wife that officers were along and present at the taking of my property, but she knew none of them by name, only by their uniform. There was said to be several thousand troops mounted and a 100 wagons and teams. Officers being present at the taking of said property caused me to think that it was taken by order of the officers in command and for the use of the army of the U.S. [signed] Thomas Carroll, Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner.

1 – James R. Martin, 61 years of age. I reside in the County of Walker, State of Alabama and have so resided 18 years nearly. 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 been acquainted with him about 15 years. I was intimately acquainted with him during the whole of the rebellion.

54 – At the beginning of the rebellion, he lived in 4 miles of me. During the rebellion he moved and settled in 12 ½ miles of me and so remained until the final surrender.

55 – I met him frequently, can’t tell how often, sometimes 2 or 3 times a week and sometimes not quite so often.

56 – He and I, when together, spoke of the rebellion frequently. He on all occasions I ever heard him speak of the rebellion he spoke against it and was as I thought a true Union man from beginning to the end of the rebellion.

57 – I know that he told me of such and such men lying out, to avoid Rebel service that he was feeding them and that I could see them if I wished and I know he would tell me that the Federal soldiers would be in, in a short time, that they were coming to my house &c &c. This was in the years 1863 or 1864 in Winston County, Alabama. I know that the Union lyouts was not afraid to meet him at any time. I have heard Paulus Ingle, Silas Morphew, Pete Cheatham and many other Union lyouts speak of him as being loyal to the United States.

58 – I do not.

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

60 – His public reputation was that of a loyal man to the U.S. Government. I heard Paulus Ingle speak of him as such, and William Smith, Silas Morphew and W.B. Manasco, his neighbors, during the war, can testify to his public reputation.

61 – The before mentioned, You Norris, Jo Norris, Doc Ingle and many others, his neighbors during the was can testify to claimant’s loyalty.

62 – I was. He did. He knew it by my talk, actions and deeds. He was well satisfied that I was feeding Union men and Union loyalists.

63 – I can’t say I do.

66 – I know that he belonged to the Union League. That I think would be sufficient cause to have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy.

65 – I can’t recollect of anything else more than I have told.

[signed] J.R. Martin, Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

1 – Paulus Ingle, 48 years of age. I reside in the County of Walker, State of Alabama and have so resided in Walker and Winston counties all my life. 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 been acquainted with him 15 or 16 years. I have been very intimately acquainted with him since the year 1862.

54 – From the years 1862, to the surrender, I lived in ¾ of a mile of him.

55 – In met him very often, can’t tell how often.

56 – I talked with him many times about the war, and on all occasions, I ever talked with him, he talked against the Rebel cause, and in favor of the Union cause and he so acted from the year 1862, the first of my intimate acquaintance with him, until the surrender.

57 – I know that he packed out provisions to me and other Union lyouts for us to live on, while we were lying out and dodging and scouting around to keep out of Rebel service. I was told by Federal soldiers that claimant fed and harbored them, while they were around through this section of country. This was in the years 1863 and 1864.

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. I know that he went and helped the Union men bushwhack the Rebel cavalry that was in this section, hunting up Union men.

60 – It was loyalty to the U.S. Government. I know it by his talk and actions and deeds. I heard Silas Morphew and James R. Martin speak often of him as such and William M. Jackson, George Holts and James Holt and William Smith, his neighbors during the war, can testify or could have testified to claimant’s public reputation.

61 – The before mentioned persons and Young Norris, Jo Norris, and many others, his neighbors during the war, who I am fully satisfied can and will testify to claimant’s loyalty, if necessary.

62 – I was. He did. He knew it by my talk and what I done. He knew that I lay out to avoid Rebel service and he knows or has heard it, that I have been proven to e loyal before the Claims Commission at Washington, D.C. and have received pay for the property taken from me at the same time his was taken.

63 – I can’t say I do, no more than what was common treatment to all Union men of this country. They were all treated badly by the Rebels, as a general thing.

64 – I think that I have stated enough to have kept him from establishing his loyalty to the Southern Confederacy.

65 – I know that he belonged to the Union League and was a truly, loyal man to the U.S. Government from the year 1862 to the close of the rebellion. I further say, that I do know that claimant had plenty to live on, when the Raid passed on through the country and when they had passed by claimant’s house I know that he did not have one bite to eat. They taken all he had, and I know he was not at home. No one there of his family, but his wife, who is now dead. I know that the Raid passed his house at the same time they passed mine which was 26^th March 1865. I lived then ¾ of a mile of him and I am fully satisfied that the troops taken the amount of property claimed by him from him. [signed] Paul Ingle, Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

1 – Patsy A. Smith, 69 years of age. I reside in the County of Walker, State of Alabama, and have so resided about 12 months. My occupation is that of attending to my house affairs.

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 been intimately acquainted with claimant about 18 years.

54 – I lived in ¼ of a mile of him.

72 – I was. I saw the corn, the fodder, the bacon, the meal, the flour, and the shoat (or pork) was killed at the camps and the salt was, as Mr. Carroll said, in the crib, under the corn.

73 – Part of it in the daytime and part of it in the night time. The most of it was taken in the day time. The troops was camped near to the house of Mr. Carroll’s and they were at the house time and again, during the night. I stayed all night with Mrs. Carroll. If I had not, she would have been alone, by herself.

74 – Mrs. Carroll begged them not to take all she had to live on; told them her husband was a Union man. They replied they couldn’t help that, that they had, or was obliged to take it. That was their orders. I saw one captain and colonel, or at least, they said they were such. They heeded not, Mrs. Carroll’s entreaties, taken all she had.

75 – None was given, none was asked for.

76 – There has not. There has not. There has not. If so, I am not apprised of it. It has not. If so, I never heard of it.

77 – It was taken by troops on the march.

78 – I saw the corn, the fodder, the bacon, the meal, the flour and I know though I didn’t see it, that the troops taken the salt and the pork.

79 – I can’t tell the number of bushels of corn claimant had, but I am satisfied there was 50 bushels of it. The troops taken the corn out of the crib, packed it off to camps. At the time taken it was worth $2 per bushel in U.S. money. There was fodder taken. I am satisfied from the amount I saw them packing off that there was 600 pounds of it, and it was worth $1 per 100 pounds in U.S. money. I saw the bacon taken by the troops and from the amount they packed off from the looks of it, I am satisfied that there was 300 pounds of it, and it was worth 25 cents per pound in U.S. money at the time taken. Mrs. Carroll said, and I have no doubt she did, that she had 50 pounds salt in the crib under the corn and that when the troops taken the corn, they taken the salt. At the time the salt was taken it was worth 3 cents per pound in U.S. money. I saw the troops take about 1 ½ bushels meal, at the time taken, it was worth $2 per bushel in U.S. money. I saw the troops take a sack of flour, about 40 pounds at the time taken, it was worth 10 cents per pound in U.S. money. They also taken and killed a hog at the camps supposed by Mrs. Carroll to weigh 100 pounds worth 10 cents per pound in U.S. money. Said property was taken on the 26^th day of March 1865 by the troops of Wilson’s Corps and command by Major General James H. Wilson, or was said. I knew none of the officer’s names. There was a great many troops, perhaps 5000 or more. They were all mounted. I saw 50 or 100 wagons and teams. Officers were present at the taking of the property. I knew them by their uniforms but not by name. They being present at the taking of the property, caused me to think that it was taken by the order of the army officer’s and was for the necessary use of the army of the U.S. Said troops had just taken most of my property and my husband had died in the 1^st Alabama Regiment Cavalry Volunteers serving his country and the Union cause. [signed x her mark] Patsy A. Smith, Attest: [signed] John C. Moore, Special Commissioner

The United States to Thomas Carroll of Alabama: For the amount allowed him by Act of Congress, Private No. 183, approved March 3, 1879, 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 $115 payable in case of C.S. Bundy, Washington, D.C. Treasury Department, Second Comptroller’s Office, March 21, 1879 [signed] William A. Saxton, Clerk. Treasury Department, Third Auditor’s Office, March 12, 1879, [signed] J. Fred Frommel[?], Clerk

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