Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-21
NASHVILLE BOARD OF CLAIMS.
Property Seized by the Federal Ar
mieS-Thc Awards of the Nashville
Board Reiected-LetIer from ia Mem.
her Of the Board, etc.

Af"PfhAy HtiIrN by the tetAef1t AT
mieS-Thc Awards of the Nashville
Board Reiected-LetIer from IA Mem.
ber Of the Board, etc.
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, February u, 1867
CAPT. WILLIAM MIH-Dear Sir: In an
swer 10 your inquiries respecting the Board
Of Claims which sat at our capital from
March 10th, 1863, to March 10th, 1865,
beg leave TO state there were presented
to the Board about twenty-five hundred
claims OF various amounts, from twenty
dollars to one hundred and eighty-nine
thousand, amounting in all to upwards of
four millions.
Up to October lst, 1864, under an origi-
nal order-that is, "Field Order No. So,
Par. III, date, March 13, 1S63-we tried,
completed, and awarded 1889 claims,
amounting to 81, ,632, 81 10; amount proven
and awarded, 81 1929, I33 62-about thirty
nine per cent.
of this entire number of claimants there
were only ninety-two who did not vote for
separation" as will be seen by refer
ring TO a full record filed with the papers
Of the Board in the War Department
at Washington. The claims of loyal
persons were small not amounting to six
per cent. Of the amount filed with us
For some reason unknown to us, the
work of the Board was brought suddenly
to close before it had completed its task
The books and papers on hand were turned
over to Captain Cist, of General Thomas
staff, and ] fear were lost OF misplaced
there, as l have received several notes from
that department respecting them, and only
escaped importantly upon the subject by
sending a copy of the receipt for them
signed by Captain Cist himself the original
of which was held by Lieut.. Groesbeck,
our Judge Advocate at the time We closed
The entire work of the board, with
full docket of awards and a marginal
statement of character, up to December 10,
1864 Is in the War Department at Wash
lngton. l saw IL there, it having been
sent by Gen. Thomas on the eve of the
battle of Nashville. Since that time many
or nearly all Of those claims have been pot
up IN new shape, or are being remodeled,
many of them enlarged certificates of low
atty in many cases procured, and thus re-
ylsed, are sent to Washington by claim
agents Tor collection, and of course many of
them will be paid, and much labor and ex-
pense be laid upon the various disbursins
departments to which they are presented
lfthis should be allowed to go on, the gov
ernment will eventually pay the entire
amount of the claims, and millions more
that will be trumped up here and all over
the State, instead of paying the just awards
of that court, about one-seventeenth being
the claims Of truly loyal persons, and a
small addition for the very poor and help
less.
Our awards are based on facts. Our re-
corded evidences filed with each claim, and
if examined will prove the CORRECTNESS OF
the award, as we'll as the status of the
claimant Had we felt all this work of ours
was to be foolishly kicked to one side. /,
for one, would not have sat on the board an
hour, nor would any other honest man. |
know II wall be not only a great mistake,
but also an immense loss to the government.
to set aside the decisions and actions OF
that board. An act of Congress should ap-
prove its findings, and by SO doing would
save about three and a third millions Of
dollars, do justice TO poor loyal claimants,
and shut Rebel claims ont forever. To me
it is exceedingly Notifying To be asked
| daily hy claim agents who are remodeling
AN'A'Ni NA@aAAa'u dbbllt tttS NlidA d'ttt
the claimants, whether they are loyal or
not, what is the number Of their claims,
etc, etc, and feel satisfied no stone will
be left untuned that will aid in getting
most of these claims paid.
II you have any friend in Washington
that could be relied on 10 bring this matter
20 notice, SO As 10 sanction the action Of the
| board, it will save much labor and money,
and prevent our government from being
swindled hy known Rebels. Congress
should pass law confirming the finding
Of the board, and 10y a small appropriation
] FSoyide for the claims of the loyal and
destitute here. IL is really very hard fol
these persons 10 pay fifteen or twenty pei
! cent Of their claims TO agents for collect
| ing them, after waiting three or iour wears
II / can render you, aud through you the
| countrv, any farther assistance ia thi-
matter, / will cheeriuily do so. / have d
copy ot the book in my possession. hold
il a solemn duty, which | will willinel,
discharge 10 do anything in NV power ty
| save our government from the claim agents
| and Rebel Yours, respectfully,
WILLIAM DRIVER