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Southern Claims Commission for William Harb Linn of Monroe Co., Tenn.
Which included depositions from W.H. Linn regarding the use of his property and taking of food
from his property from the Union Army commanded by Gen. Sherman in late 1863. I have
transcribed the formal application and W.H. Linn's deposition
One note about the deposition. You will note that some of the questions merely have a "No sir" as
the answer. Unfortunately, the papers did not come with an exact list of questions asked, so don't
know what was asked. The other stuff we can venture to guess the question.
Submitted by: Bob D'Angelo
W.H. Linn was a man who had loyalties to the Union and eventually enlisted with the Union Army
in Jeffersonville, Ind. In fact, his tombstone at Mt. Isabella Church Cemetery in Rafter does reflect
his Civil War service. What I find fascinating about what I am posting to you is the stories he tells
about being arrested and harassed by those in Monroe Co. with Confederate sympathies. I think it
sheds more light on the tensions that abounded in Tennessee during the Civil War, as it was a
state divided in its loyalties. Truly, brother against brother. As he was married to a Kirkland,
certainly some of her kin were Confederates, and I'm sure there was a tie to the Kirkland
Bushwackers as well.
Before the Commissioners of Claims
Act of Congress, March 3, 1871
Case of William H. Linn
No. 8751
It is hereby certified, that on the 20th day of January 1874, at
Madisonville, in the county of Monroe and State of Tennessee, personally
came before me the following persons, viz:
William H. Linn, Claimant, J.S. Carson, Counsel, or Attorney, and
Thomas J. Linn and William Williams, Claimant's Witnesses, for the purpose
of a hearing in the above entitled cause.
Each and every deponent, previous to his or her examination, was
properly and duly sworn or affirmed by me to tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, concerning the matters under examination; and the
testimony of each deponent was written out by me, or in my presence, and as
given before me, and subsequently read over to said deponent, by whm it was
also subscribed in my presence.
Witness my hand and seal this 24th day of January, 1874. (Seal).
T.R. Robinson
Special Commissioner of the Commissioners of Claims
Deposition of William H. Linn:
In answer to the First General Interrogatory, the Deponent says:
My name is Wm. H. Linn, my age 41 years, my residence Monroe
County, in the State of Tennessee, and my occupation a farmer; I am the
claimant, and have a beneficial interest in the claim.
That, as stated in the Petition referred to, the property in question was
taken from or furnished by Wm. H. Linn of Tellico Plains, in the State of
Tennessee, for the use of a portion of the army of the United States, known as
Sherman's Army and commanded by Gen. McCook, and that the persons
who took or received the property, or who authorized or directed it to be
taken or furnished, were the following:
McCook, Brig. Gen., 14th Ill. Cav.
That the property was removed to the actual use of the army, and used
for or by said 14th Ill. Cavalry; all this on or about the day December,in the
year 1863, 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.
William Williams of Monroe Co., Tenn.
Thomas J. Linn of Monroe Co., Tenn.,
and others.
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:
Wm. H. Linn of Monroe Co., Tenn.
T.J. Linn of Monroe Co., Tenn.
And others.
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 as 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 his counsel.
Submitted on this 20th day of January 1874
By William H. Linn, Claimant
J.S. Carson, Attorney
P.O. Address of Attorney: Madisonville, Tennessee.
(The actual deposition)
William H. Linn
vs.
The United States
Deposition of the Claimant a witness in his own behalf in the above
entitled case, and after being duly sworn by the Special Commissioner to tell
the whole truth and nothing but the truth in the matter appertaining to his
claim against the United States Government, an in answer to the first set of
questions, he says:
1.) My name is William H. Linn, aged 41 years, residence Monroe County,
State of Tennessee, occupation a farmer.
2.) I resided from the first day of April 1861 to the 1st June 1865 in the
County of Monroe, State of Tennessee, on rented lands of Jas. Kirkland.
Said lands were situated in the 20th Civil District of Monroe Co., Tenn..
My occupation during that time was Farming and a Federal Soldier. Did
not change my address.
3. ) No sir I did not, unless it was in the line of my duty, as a Federal Soldier.
4. ) No Sir I did not.
5-12.) No Sir.
13.) ---
1.) No Sir.
2. ) I never was at any time connected or employed in either of the branches of
this question.
3.) No Sir I was never employee on any Rail Road, never did assist in the
transportation of any soldiers or any thing for the Confederacy.
4.) I did not at any time have change or case of any thing for the Confederate
Army or Navy.
5.) I answer No to all branches of this question.
6.) And I have never been so employed or engaged in any such manufacture,
neither did I assist those so employed or engaged.
7.) I never was no employee directly or indirectly in either if the branches of
this question.
8.) I never was so engaged, never had any interest or share in any goods,
wares, merchandise or anything else bought into or escported from the so-
called Confederate states during the war.
9.) I left my home in May 1864 and went to Jeffersonville, state of Ind., I left
for the purpose to keep out of the way of Rebels, and to join the Union
army, and was absent from my county till in August 1865, and was
engaged as a Federal Soldier from the Seventh day of Jan. 1865 till the
Eight-day of Aug. 1865, after I was mustered out of service I returned to
my home.
10.) I never was the owner or part owner, of any such vessel or boat so
used.
11.) Yes sir I was three times arrested by Confederate soldiers; I was first
arrested in 1862 at my home by one Col Burch Cooks of the Rebel Army,
I did not stay under arrest but a short time till I broke custody from the
Rebs; in 1863 I was arrested in Madisonville by a Captain Rudd and his
men of the Rebel Army, he and his men stripped me of my clothing,
saying that I would not need any clothing as they intended to kill me. I
was under arrest about half an hour and broke away from them, and as I
was running away, they shot at me at least fifty times; the third time I was
arrested which was in the same year, I was at Madisonville. I was only
under arrest at this time, I did again brake and got away, they used me at
this time, badly robed me of every thing I had, took what little money that
I had and my clothing that I was wearing. I got away each time as above
stated, and took no oath to their Confederacy. Was never arrested by the
United States Government.
12.) I do not now recollect that the Rebels ever took any property from me,
more than Rebel Raiders did at different times kill some of my hogs.
13). I was often threatened with death by Rebels, was several times
threatened to be killed.
14.) Yes sir, was often molested and frequently robbed by Rebels, three
different times was arrested, was shot at at different times by them, my
family was also molested in many ways. The bad treatment I received
from them was on the account of my Union sentiments, for I would at all
times speak my sentiments.
15.) I did not contribute any thing to the Government or Army, as I was a
poor man and had but little of this worlds goods.
16.) I did all that I could do for the Union cause, I did assist many men in
getting out of the Rebel lines, kept Union men concealed, and fed them,
was a Federal Soldier as a private in Co. A, 17th Ind. Regt Vol. From the
7th day of January 1865 till I was honorably discharged on the 8th day of
Aug. 1865. I think I did make a good Soldier while in the service.
17). I do not think I had any Bro or nephew in the Rebel Army; if I had I
never heard of it or new it.
18.) I have never owned any Confederate bonds or interest in share, therein,
never had any interest or share in any loans to the Confederate
Government. I did not in any way contribute any thing in aid or support
the credit of the so called Confederate states during the late war.
20.) No sir never so engaged,
21.) I was never so engaged, but have been engaged in releasing Union men
held by Rebels.
22.) I never was the member of any such society or association.
23.) No sir.
24.) I was never an officer in the Army or Navy of the United States, was
never educated at any Military Academy of the U. States.
25.) No sir.
26.) I am not nor never was under any disabilities, held no office since the
war.
27.) At the beginning of the Rebellion, and all the time of the war, my
sympathies was all the time for the Union cause. My feelings and
language, was all the time for the Union, and I so escerted all my influence
and so voted, I voted no Convention, no Seperation and no Representation
and I still adhered to the Union cause after my state adopted the ordinance
of secession.
28.) In Conclusion I do solmenly declare, that from the beginning of
hostilities against the United States to the end thereof, that my sympathies
were constantly with the cause of the United States and that I never of my
own free will and accord did any thing or offered or sought or attempted
to do any thing by word or deed to injure said cause or retard its success,
and that I was at all times ready and willing when called upon, or if called,
to aid and assist the cause of the Union, or its supporters so far as my
means and power, and the circumstances of the Case permitted.
And the Claimant being further examined by the Special Commissioner
deposes and says that the charge as he has presented in his petition and
application was his own property, and that at the time his corn was taken he
was not at his home, being at the time with the Army, about five miles distant
from where my corn was, the corn was taken by my consent, the corn was
taken and brought to the camps where I was. The forage master when he
came to camps, told me that he had got my corn, he had shelled the corn, had
bougt it, and had it stored away. There was (130) one hundred thirty Bushels
of the corn which was sound and in good order, being partly in sacks and in a
gamer, the corn had been measured to be 130 Bushels, and the soldiers of
Genl McCook's command got it; all, in the month of Dec. 1863. I am fully
satisfied that the army got my corn, for when the corn came to camps, I well
knew my sacks, as I had my sacks masked with my name on them, and the
soldiers told me they got all my corn; I saw the corn used by the army. Corn
at that time was worth one dollar per Bushel. I went the next day to where I
have had my corn stored away and found that it was all gone as the soldiers
had told me.
He says that he is a native born citizen of the United States, was born
in the County of Monroe state of Tenn., and he has never took the benefit of
the Bank Rupt Law, and that he has never received any pay for any part of his
claim, this being the first application that he has ever made.
Attest
T.R. Robinson
Special Comm.
And further he
sayeth not
his
William x H. Linn
mark
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