The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-17
IiaE RE EXAMINATION OF THE CLAIMS on
SOUTHERN LOYALrsTs AGAINST
THE UNITED STATES.
THE NEW. RECONSTRUCTION mr11.

Il
THE NEW RECONSTRUCTION MILL.
United states Commissioner Pleasant
has commenced taking depositlons in rela
ton to the claims Of southern loyalists 70,
property taken or destroyed by the Unitef
States Government during the war. So 70,
only two cases have been investigated
that Of Miss F: L.. Sheppard, of. Henricc
county, and that Of Francis Lanse, Of the
city of Richmond. Miss Sheppard claim,
81, ,6H.75 and Mr.. Lange $1 $50. .
AS these claims are. becoming nu.
merous, and as many of the claim.
ants are well-known citizens, It NAV
be interesting to- the general reader
to know the n,odus operand of OBJ.
tanning the Government allowance, un.
der the act passed by the last Congress.
We refer more particularly to the steps
taken after the oath of allegiance has been
taken and the claim fled in Washington.
This done, it is referred to United States
Commissioner in the neighborhood of the
claimant, who examines the latter under
oath. requiring answers in detail to about
one hundred questions ingeniously framed.
So that person must be either as guiltless
of sympathy with the South as an angel is
of sin, or must perjure himself in order 10
have any chance OF success. .,
The questions are printed in two series,
on foolscap pages. The first series is rela-
tive " to the loyalty Of the claimant" and
the second "as to the taking or furnishing
of the property" lie is first asked where
he resided for six months prior to the 1st
of April, 1861 where he was In person
during that time, and what was his busl-
ness or occupation. Then, where be re,
sided from 1st April, 1861, to June, 1853 !;
Whele he was personally during that Pc
riod: what was his business, and II he
chan ged his residence during the period.
Questions follow as to whether ne ever took
any obligation to support the Confederate
States, or any amnesty oath; whether he
was ever in the Confederate service in any
capacity as soldier, sailor, civil officer,
clerk. or agent whether he ever furnished
n substitute for the Confederate army or
navy, or was ever directly or indirectly
connected with the commissary, quarter
master, engineer, medical, ordnance, pro-
yost marshal, or any other department,
branch, or bureau of the Confederate Gov
ernment whether he ever had charge Of
any trains, teams, wagons, vessels, boats or
other craft. or munitions Of war for the
Confederate Government; whether he ever
furnished any stores, supplies, munitions
OF war, boots, saddles, shoes, harness,
leather, or clothing, to Confederate troops,
home guards, or any officer or soldier, or
gave any information to assist the Contede-
rate troops in their movements against the
Federal Government whether he ever ran
the blockade, or was interested in traffic
between the lines; whether he was ever
directly or indirectly employed or interest
ed in manufacturing or furnishing supplies
for the Confederate Government and
whether he left the Confederate States
between the 10th of April, 1861, and 19lh of
April, 1865. and it so, when, for how long,
and for what purpose?
Then follow the following searching
questions:
Was any of your property ever taken by
the Confederate authorities or by any oth-
Ger, soldier, or other person acting or as
suming to act on their behalf, or in behalf
of any State in rebellion if so, what pro-
perty, when, and for what use, and have
you received pay therefor? 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?
Were you ever molested or in any way in-
iured OH account Of your Union senti-
ments? If SO, state fully all the particu-
lars.
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? SO, state fully as to the
same. Did you ever do anything for the
United States Government or its army, or
for the Union cause during the WARP Ii so,
state fully what you did? Had you any
near relatives in either the Union or Con-
an Gfntn vhro o,,I !,
related to you. Did you contribute any,
thing to supply them with military equip
menIs, or with money? State fully as to
the same. Lave you owned any Confede-
rate 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?
Have you ever given aid and comfort to /!
the rebellion? If so, state fully all the Cir .
cumstances.
Were you ever engaged in making raids |
into the United States from Canada, or en-
gagged in destroying the commerce of the
United States in the lakes and rivers ad-
Joining Canada? Wece you ever engaged |
in holding in custody, directly or indi-
rectly, any persons taken by the rebel Gov !
ernment as prisoners of war, or any persons !
imprisoned or confined by the Confederate !,
or the authorities Of any
State in rebellion, for political causes ; it
so, when, where, and under what circum |
in what capacity were you en-
gagged, and what was the name, rank, and
command of your principal? Were you
ever member Of any society or associa-
ton for the imprisonment, expulsion, exc
culion, or other persecution OF any persons
OH account of their loyalty to The United
States, or did you ever assist in such acts ?
Were you ever paroled prisoner of the
United States II so, when and where,
snd by whom paroled? Have you ever
held any office in the army or navy of the
United States? Were you educated Dy the
United States at the Military Academy ut
West Point, or ut the United States Naval
Academy Did you ever receive any pass
from any officer of the Confederate Gov
ernment, or from any person having or as
suming to have authority to issue the same;
il 80, 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 1t, or swear or promise to
"bear true faith and yield obedience to
the Confederate States" did you use the
pass, and for what purpose?
Are YOU, or were you, under the disabili-
ties imposed by the 14th 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-calIed) "iron.clad" oath?
at the beginning of the rebellion did you
sympathize with the Union cause or with
the rebellion? What were your feelings
and what your language on the subject?
On which side did you exert your influ-
ence and cast your vote9 What did you
do, aud how did you vote? How did you
vote on ratifying the ordinance Of seces-
sion After the ordinance of secession was