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Descendants of William and George Phelps
Deposition of E. C. Weaver as to the Loyalty of Julia F. Claggett
[In answer to the Standard Interrogatories]
Qn 1 My name is Erastus C. Weaver. I am 46 years old. I am a Justice of the Peace and live in Washington D.C. at 613- 7th Street.
Qn 2 I am not related to the claimant in this case and have no interest in its success.
53 to 57 During the war I was an Orderly Sergeant in Co K 121st New York Vols. Bartletts Brigade. Our Brigade was camped on claimants farm in Fauquier Co from July 31st to Sept 15th 1863.
During this time Gen Bartlett had his Hd Qrs in claimants door yard and I often saw her in occupancy with the officers on the porch of her house; especially on Sundays during divine service where she and her family would mingle with the officers freely. I was not brought in immediate contact with claimant and never heard her talk on war or other matters; I only know that her manner and conduct whenever I saw her, was apparently of a friendly character towards our officers, who appeared very kindly towards her and her family, and I thought were very different from what we generally witnessed in that country.
Qn 58 & 59 I don't remember anything in particular.
Qn 60 I think she was generally regarded as a union woman by the citizens as well as by the army. My reasons for thinking so are that orders were given for the troops to protect her property and especially a field of corn then growing and the fences around it, because she was a union woman. She was regarded and spoken of by the Soldiers as a union woman and was treated as one by the Brigade. Orders were given at first not to burn her rails; and wood was hauled to supply the troops. Afterwards the wood gave out and the rails were taken and hauled to the company streets in U.S. Army wagons.
Her reputation in the neighborhood was that of being unfriendly to the Confederate cause. This fact was developed when some rebel cavalry dashed into camp one night and fired into her house while attempting to capture Gen Bartlett, and when spoken about to a neighbor he said it made no diference to the cavalry how much damage they did to Mrs. Claggett as she was not in sympathy with them.
His remark was made within a week after the time of the raid.
Qn 61 I dont know of any union people in the neighborhood except Mrs Claggett and her family. She had a married son [Thomas Johnson Claggett] who lived with her, with his family, who mingled freely with the army and was always very friendly with the soldiers and was regarded by them as a friend and was always at ease and at home among them.
His manner and conduct towards our troops was very different from that we generally met with in that country. I have no doubt myself about the loyalty of the claimant and her son Thomas who lived there.
And further deponent saith not.
Attest
Isaac P. Baldwin E. C. Weaver J.P.
Special Commissr. Late Capt. 121st N.Y. Vol. Inf'y
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