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Note: The Southern Claims Commission was created in 1871 by an Act of Congress to settle the claims of citizens of the South who had supported the Union for stores and supplies taken by the United States Army during the Civil War. The claim of Ellison Casey was allowed and paid in whole and by the Treasury Department.
Claim of Ellison Casey of the County of Dekalb in the State of Alabama # 387.
Before Special Commissioner Richard Chitwood came Ellison Casey, his Counsel J. N. Winston, witnessed by sons William H. Casey and James Wesley Casey, and wife Sarah F. Casey.
1) What is your name, age, residence and how long has it been such, and your occupation?
" Ellison Casey is my name, my age is about sixty two years. I live within three miles and one half of Valley Head, Dekalb County, Alabama.
I have lived here about six months, farmer by occupation." 2) If you are not the claimant, in what manner, if any, are you related to the claimant or interested in the success of the claim?
" I am the claimant." 3) Where were you born? " I was born in Jackson County, State of Georgia." 4) Where were you residing and what was your business for six months before the outbreak of the rebellion, and where did you reside and what was your business from the beginning to the end of the war? And if you changed your residence or business, state how many times, and why such changes were maid.
" I was living in Mississippi six months before the outbreak of the Rebellion. I was farming. I lived in Mississippi three years after the war broke out. I then removed to Bartow County, Georgia and lived there about nine months. I then went over to Chattanooga, Tennessee and was living there at the close of the war. I was farming while in Miss. My wife and children made our crop in Georgia which was taken by the Federal Army while said crop was working. I was at work for the Government on the Georgia State Railroad. I came home occasionally when could do so without too much risk for my safety, and I lived in Chattanooga
I was still in the employ of the Government, part of the time I worked on the rail - road and part in the rock quarry and a part burning lime. I removed from Mississippi in order to get nearer the Federal Army and avoid conscription by the
Rebels. And removed from Georgia to Chattanooga to work for the Government
and be perfectly safe in the federal lines."
5) On which side were you sympathies during the war, and were they on the same side from beginning to end?
" I was for the Union from the beginning to the end of the War." 6) Did you ever do anything against the Union cause; and if so, what did you say or do, and why?
" I never said nor done anything against the Union side." 7) Were you at all times during the war willing and ready to do whatever you could to aid the Union cause?
" I was." 8) Did you ever do anything for the Union cause, or its advocates or defenders?
If so, state what you did, giving times, places, names of persons aided, and par -
ticulars. Were the persons aided your relations?
" Owing to the circumstance, I could not do much for the Union cause. I ad - vised my relations, James Hubbard and William H. Casey who were of age, to
keep out of the Rebel Army. I did this in Mississippi after the conscript passed. I
sent my son away from home to avoid conscription while in Mississippi. I could
not with safety do anything for the Government. My brother had to leave home for trying to get North to join the Union Army and I carried him to the Railroad after
night."
9) Had you any, near relatives in the Union Army or Navy? If so, what company
and regiment, or on what vessel, when and where did each one enter service, and
when and how did he leave service? If he was a son produce his discharge paper, in order that its contents may be noted in this deposition, or state why it cannot be produced.
" I have no relations that I know of excepting one brother in the Federal Army,
Robert Casey. He was in an Illinois Regiment, he was discharged on account of his health."
10) Were you in the service or employment of the U.S. Government at any time during the war? If so in what service, when, where, for how long, under what officers, and when and how did you leave such service or employment?
" I was, in working on the Railroad in Georgia in 1864 and at work in the rock quarry and burning lime in Chattanooga in all about twelve months. I was working
under Captain Files in Georgia of an Illinois Regiment and Chattanooga under a man by the name of Brown. The head man at the Rock Quarry was by the name of Walker. I worked until the close of the war and honorably discharged."
11) Did you ever voluntarily contribute money, property, or service to the Union cause, and if so, when, where, to whom, and what did you contribute?
" I did not. I was unable to." 12) Which side did you take while the insurgent States were ceding from the Union in 1860 and 1861, and what did you do to show on which side you stood?
" I was Union. I voted for conservative men for the constitution while in Mississippi and I told my friends I was against secession and advised them to vote against it."
13) Did you adhere to the Union cause after the States had passed into rebellion, or did you go with your State?
" I adhere to the Union cause all the time." 14) What were your feelings concerning the battle of Bull Run or Manassa, the capture of New Orleans, the fall of Vicksburg, and the final surrender of the Confederate forces?
" I was always glad to here it. The success of the Union cause believing it
would bring the war to an hasty close in favor of the Union. I was delighted to here the final surrender of the Confederate Army."
15) What favors, privileges, or protections were granted you in recognition of your loyalty during the war, and when and by whom granted?
" None." 16) have you ever taken the so-called " Iron-clad oath"since the war, and when and on what occasion?
" No." 17) Who were the leading and best known Unionist of your vicinity during the war? Are any of them called to testify to your loyalty; and if not, why not?
" When I lived in Mississippi in Attalla County I knew of no Union men except
my self and my brother. My brother who was with me in Mississippi now lives in
Kentucky. In Georgia where I lived about nine months, during the war in Bartow County, my acquaintance was quite limited among the people. I know of one Union man in the settlement where I lived in Georgia, Peter Brewer. I suppose he still
lives in Bartow County, Georgia. I can not conveniently bring him to this place
about one hundred miles to testify for me. He went back within the Federal lines."
18) Were you ever threatened with damage or injury to your person, family, or
property on account of your Union sentiments, or were you actually molested or injured on account of your Union sentiments? If so, when, where, by whom, and in
what particular way were you injured or threatened with injury?
" I was, while in Georgia and had to leave and go inside of the Federal lines. I was told they wanted to hang me for my Union principles. They were Confederate Scouts Dick Aycock was Captain. I jumped up in the night time and seized my clothes and ran through a garden and taken my son James with me and made our
escape and got back inside of the Federal lines."
19) Were you ever arrested by any Confederate officer, soldier, sailor, or any other person professing to act for the Confederate Government, or for any other State in the rebellion?
" I was not." 20) Was any of your property taken by Confederate officers, soldiers, or any rebel
authority?
" Yes, one good mule in 1864 in Bartow County, Georgia. They were all strangers to me. I was never paid for it, nor never endeavored to collect anything
for it."
21) Was any of your property ever confiscated by the Rebel authority, on the grounds you were an enemy to the Rebel cause?
" It was not." 22) Did you ever do anything for the Confederate cause, or render any aid or comfort to the rebellion?
" I never did voluntarily. Sometimes they came in and taken our provisions."
23) What force, compulsion, or influence, was used to make you do anything against the Union cause?
" No force was used to make me do anything against the Union cause." 24) Were you in any service, business, or employment, for the Confederacy, or for any Rebel authority?
" I was not." 25) Were you in the civil, military, or naval, service of the Confederacy, or any Rebel State, in any capacity whatsoever?
" I was not." 26) Did you ever take any oath to the so called Confederate States while in any Rebel service or employment?
" I did not." 27) Did you ever leave any charge of any stores, or any other property, for the Confederacy, or did you ever sell or furnish any supplies to the so called Confederate States, or any State in the Rebellion?
" I did not." 28) Were you engaged in any blockade running, or running through the lines, or
interested in the risk or profits of such ventures?
" I was Not." 29) Were you in any way interested in the vessel navigating the waters of the Confederacy, or entering or leaving Confederate port?
" I was not." 30) Did you ever subscribe to any loan of the so called Confederate States, or any
Rebel State; or own Confederate bonds or securities, or the bonds or securities of
any Rebel State issued between 1861 and 1865?
" I did not." 31) Did you contribute ______________ or support of troops, or the building of gun boats in aid of the Rebellion;____________ or invalids, or to relief funds or subscriptions for the families of persons serving against the United States?
" I did not." 32) Did you ever give any information to any person in aid of military or naval
operations against the United States?
" I did not." 33) Were you at anytime a member of any society or organization for equipping volunteers of any conscripts, or for aiding the _______________________?
" I was not." 34) Did you ever take an oath of allegiance__________________ state how often, when, where, for what purpose, and the nature of the oath or affirmation?
" I was not." 35) Did you ever receive a pass from Rebel authority?
" When I moved from Mississippi to Georgia, I got a pass to come over a bridge in Mississippi that was guarded. The pass was given upon no condition and was only to pass over the bridge."
36] Had you any near relatives in the Confederate army, or in any military or naval service hostile to the United States? If so give names, ages on entering service, present residence,if living, what influence you exerted, if any against their entering the service and in what way you contributed to their outfit and support.
" They seized my son William H. Casey, but he remained with them only about two or three weeks and deserted the chance he had. I had always advised him to keep out of the Confederate Amy and furnished no outfit. This was in Georgia. He now lives in this county."
37] Have you been under disabilities in posed by the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution ? Have your disabilities been removed by Congress?
" I have not." 38]Have you been specially pardoned by the President for participation in the rebellion ?
" I have not." 39] Did you take any amnesty, oath during the war, or after its close?
" No." 40] Were you ever a prisoner to the United States authorities, or on parole, or under bonds to do nothing against the United states cause?
"No." 41] Were you ever arrested by the authorities of the United States during the war?
" No." 42] Were any fines or assessments levied upon you by the authorities of the United States because of your supposed sympathy for the rebellion?
"No." 43] Was any of your property taken or sold by the United States under the laws relating to confiscation or to captured and abandoned property?
" No." The following questions will be put to all male claimants or beneficiaries who were not less then sixteen years of age when the war closed.
44] After the Presidential election of 1800, if of age, did you vote for any candidates, or on any questions during the war, and how did you vote? Did you vote for or against candidates favoring secession? Did you vote for or against the ratifications of the ordinance of secession, or for or against separation in your State?
" I voted for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860 for President. I voted for no other candidate for Presidency during the war. I voted for Union candidates for the convention."
45] Did you belong to any vigilance committee, or committee of safety, home guard,or any other form of organization or combination designed to suppress Union sentiment in your vicinity?
" No." 46] Were you in the Confederate army, State militia, or any military or naval organization hostile to the United States?
" No I did not let them know my age in Mississippi and after I came to Georgia and after the conscript law became more stringent I went within the federal lines as before explained. I furnished no substitute."
47] Were you in any way connected with or employed in the Confederate quartermaster, commissary, ordnance, engineer,or medical department,or any other department, or employed on any railroad transporting troops or supplies for the Confederacy, or any other department,or otherwise engaged in transportation of men and supplies for the Confederacy?
" No." 48] Did you at any time have charge of trains, teams, wagons, vessels, boats,or military, supplies or property of any kind for the Confederate government?
" No." 49] Were you employed in saltpeter works in tanning or milling for the Confederate government,or making clothing, boots, shoes, saddles, harness, arms, ammunition, accoutrements, or any other kind of munitions of war for the Confederacy?
" No." 50] Were you ever engaged in holding in custody, directly or indirectly, any persons taken by the rebel government as prisoners of war, or any persons imprisoned or contained by the Confederate government or the authorities of any rebel State for political causes?
" No." 51] Were you ever in the Union army or any navy, or in any service connected therewith?
" No." The following questions will be put to every person testifying to the loyalty of claimants or beneficiaries.
Answers 52 to 65 where answered by a witness. The following questions concerning the ownership of property charged in claims will be put to all claimants, or the representatives of deceased claimants.
66] Who was the owner the property charged in this claim when it was taken and how did such person become owner?
" I was the owner. I bought the stock after I came to Georgia. I sowed the wheat. The soldiers cut the wheat and fed their stock and pastured the wheat in part. My wife and children made the corn. I rented the land that the wheat and corn was made on of Samuel Mc Dow. I was to give him one third of the wheat and corn and I was to have two thirds. I charge in this claim for only two thirds of the crop, my own part. All was taken in May and June 1861 excepting the corn and the corn was taken early in the fall of 1864."
67] If any of the property was taken from a farm or plantation, where was such farm or plantation situated, what was its size, how much was cultivated, how much was woodland, and how much was waste land?
" All of said property was taken off the farm of Samuel Mc Dow in Bartow County Georgia. Mr Mc Dow's farm No. about two hundred acres of cleared land and one hundred of woodland. There were two renters besides myself on the place . I was living in Cherokee County Georgia when I filed this claim in 1871."
68] Has the person who owned the property when taken since filed a petition in bankruptcy or been declared a bankrupt?
" No." The following questions will be part to female claimants. Answer 69 was answered by female claimant. The following questions will be put to colored claimants. Answer 70 was answered by colored claimant. The following questions will be put to all colored witness behalf of white claimants.
Answer 71 was answered by colored witnesses on behalf of white claimant.
The following questions will be put to claimants and witnesses who testify to the taking of property, omitting in the case of each claimant or witness any questions that are clearly unnecessary.
72] Were you present when any of the property charged in this claim was taken? Did you actually see any taken?
" I was present where some of this property was taken. I saw one of the horses taken, all the hogs except the sow, and the sheep. Also the ox and some of the wheat."
73] Was any of the property taken in the night time, or was any taken secretly, so that you did not know of it at the time?
" One sow was taken in the night, the other property was taken publicly in daylight and within sight of some members of the family."
74] Was any complaint made to any officer of the taking of the property?
" No." 75] Were any vouchers or receipts asked for or given?
" No." 76] Has any payment ever been made for any property charged in this claim?
" No." 77] Was the property charged in this claim taken by troops encamped in the vicinity, or were they on the march, or were they on a raid, or expedition, or had there been any recent battle or skirmish?
" Yes, they were camped in the vicinity and remained there as long as I did.
78] You will please listen intensively while the list of items, but not the quantities is read to you ,and as each kind of property is called off, say whether you saw any such property taken.
" I saw the bay horse taken. He was in good order and between seven and eight years old. It was at home on Mc Dow's place. I consider he was well worth one hundred dollars in any currency. It was in May 1864. He was taken by men of the 156th Regiment Illinois Troops so I was told by some of the soldiers there and then. Capt. Files belongs to this Regiment. There was a great many solders present. Both Cavalry and Infantry. General Sherman was present. I talked with him in my yard. He asked me my principles and I told him. Also remarked he was glad to see me. That kind of man and find me at home. The horse was in my lot,and they put a halter on him and led him off. There were a good many men around the horse. Some riding and some walking. They took him in the direction of Kingston. The General above named told me he was General Sherman. Soldiers present also told me the same. His uniform was that of general. The property was taken in presence of the officers. I am satisfied the taking was authorized by them, else they would not permit it. Also satisfied it was taken for use of the army for they were subsisting upon the county as much as possible. Within a day or two of the same time, they took my ox and drove him off in the direction of Adairsville. One mile distant, where they were encamped and living off the county the ox was fattening for beef. He was in my Woodling pasture where they drove him off. He was well worth twenty dollars. Capt. Files men of the 156 Illinois Regiment got the ox. There were some five or six men drove him off. I don't know whether there was any officer present or not. Some days later they taken my six hogs, they were in good order. I had been feeding them some. They were taken from a lot near my house. They killed them in the lot and put them in wagons and hauled them off in the direction of Kingston. They were worth all of three dollars each. I don't know what command got the hogs. There were twelve or fifteen men with two wagons. There was one in the dress of a Lieutenant. They said nothing to me about killing the hogs. They just went to the lot and shot them down, throwed them in their wagons. Likewise I saw the seven shoats taken. They were fat. They were in the yard when they killed them. They were worth two dollars each. Captain Files men of the 156 Illinois Regiment got them. They shot some them and caught some of them and stuck them with a knife and carried them off on Thier shoulders did not take all the shoats the same day. The troops were foraging in the county and whenever they needed it they would come and kill them a shoat or two and carry them off. I saw a portion of the wheat taken. Perhaps about one half. It was standing in the field when I saw them take it. It was mostly ripe. It was on Mc Dow's farm. There was twenty acres in the field and it would of made low estimate 7-1/2 or weight bushels per acre. From years previous to that time the same lot yielded two hundred and four bushels. So Mr Mc Dow told me, it was fine red wheat. It was worth at least one dollar per bushel. Capt. Files men got some of the wheat Thier mules. That was carried to Thier camps and some pastured with Thier beef cattle. Capt. Files men would just come in the fields, reap it and carry it off on Thier mules as they needed it. Some thirty or twenty seven would come at a time. They carried it out in the direction they were camping. I don't know whether there were any officers or not. I did not go to the field where they was. I saw
Capt. Files was that the and carried it in the direction they they took it all with them. Taking about the time the six hogs were taken out of the field. The soldiers carried them away on Thier shoulders. I suppose there were some eight to ten soldiers after the sheep. I don't know whether there was any officer among them or not for I did not go out among them. I am satisfied the property was taken by authorization of the officers of army and was used as quartermaster and any supplies. My acquaintance while I lived in Bartow was quite limited from the fact that I had only lived there about six months previous to the taking of most of the property. There was only one Union man in the settlement that I knew of and that was Peter Brewer and my father-in-law who lived with me and my family were all Union. Mr Brewer went north some few weeks before the army reached there. He knows I had this property and he knows that I was a Union man for he and I been quietly talked about it. He, I suppose, still lives in Bartow County Ga. Some eighty or one hundred miles from here and I have no means to get him here to testify as to my loyalty and property. And my father-in-law who lived with me at that time lives now in Cherokee Co. Ga. about one hundred miles from this place. He is very old and feeble and unable to come here. And if he was I have not the means to bring him here Mc Dow, together with his Negroes,the owner of the farm that I lived upon and also all my near neighbors had ______ South upon hearing that the army was approaching. Therefore, they cannot testify to the taking of the property as they were necessarily absent at the time. Mr Mc Dow knew that I had this property and knew that I was a Union man and suppose he lives now near Adairsville, Ga. He came to me several times and tried to get me to go with him below but I refused to go and could not go north for I had no means to go with and carry my family and I had to stay there and work for them. They were dependent upon me for support before the army reached there. Capt. Files of the 156 Illinois Regiment knows that I had property. He knows also that I was a loyal man. After the army arrived there and the soldiers had taken my property, he sent wagons and teams and a file of men and moved my family inside of the federal lines and gave me employment to work on the railroad and by this means I was enable to support myself and family.
Ellison Casey { his X mark } Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of July 1877.
Richard Chitwood
Registers in Chancery.
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