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Testimony of Craven King
Son-in-law to Claimant
By Commissioner Aldis.Q What is your age.
A I am 53.
Q Where do you live?
A I live at the present time right under the foot of the Bull Run mountain in Prince William Co. Va. I don't live now where I did during the war. I lived then about 2 ½ miles North of Haymarket. We bought a mill called Dodds mill and I lived there from the beginning to the end of the war. I just left there last fall.
Q What county was that in?
A Prince William Co.
Q Were you acquainted with Mrs. Claggett?
A Yes sir.
Q Is she a widow?
A Yes sir.
Q When did her husband die?
A He died about 1843, or 1844.
Q Long before the war?
A Yes sir.
Q And she has ever since lived a widow?
A Yes sir.
Q Has she any children?
A Yes sir.
Q How many?
A She has six children I think now. I am a son in law of this Claggett.
Q Were any of them in the rebel army?
A None at all.
Q Were any of them boys?
A Three of them were boys.
Q How old were they?
A There are only two boys living. The youngest one i suppose is between 28 and 29 years old. He was old enough to go into the service, but through the influence of myself and himself together he kept out of it. He was not very strong.
Q Which side were you on?
A On the U.S. side.
Q Were you in the rebel army?
A No sir; I would have suffered these things (ears) to have been cut off before I would go in.
Q Were you within the union line?
A Yes sir, the line was extended beyond us after the first battle of Bull Run.
Q After the first Bull Run battle did you stay at home or did you leave?
A I left at one time but I went back home; for all I had was this mill property and I had a large helpless family and I could not leave them. I was arrested and carried before Colonel Flournoy charged with being a yankee sympathiser and I explained myself to them I could not go into the army unless they forced me into it, and wanted them to allow me to go north.
Q Didnt you at any time pretend to be a confederate?
A Never in my life.
Q Did you always present to the contrary?
A Yes sir.
Q You never were arrested but this one time.
A Never but that one time.
Q How long after the battle of Bull Run was it that you left?
A I left and went over the river with Gen Hancock, with his command in July 1863 to the best of my recollection.
A That was two years after the first battle of Bull Run.
A I think it was in 1863.
Q Right after the battle of Bull Run did you stay on [crossed out "your"] the farm.
A I staid right there.
Q Was it not unsafe for a union man to be there after the battle?
A It was not safe for them there I assure you, but i was hackled pretty badly. I was a ripple and consequently they could not make a soldier of me and I had to remain on the list of neutrality and do the best I knew how and stay and protect my family as well as I could. I have in my jacket a recommendation from Colonel Cunningham. (I have had it a year or two) to one of you gentlemen who sit around this table.
Q Now let us call your attention to this Claggett, what have you to say about her loyalty?
A Well sir, i believe she was as loyal a woman as any. The only thing she would do, she was high - strung in her temper and if anyone went there and took anything from her she would talk as long as she could talk, but it was all she could possibly do. she was an old lady and alone there during the war and if it hadn't been for me she would have really suffered. She was paralysed about the first of January 1861 and I think she has been helpless almost like a child ever since. She hadn't a son who did take any part whatever.
Q Where were her sons during the war?
A One of them was [Benjamin F. Claggett] from Illinois and was stopping here when the war broke out and at the very first opportunity the old lady borrowed 175 dollars [or about $5,000 as of 2021] from me for him and his family to go home; and he went home and has never returned since. Another one [Thomas J. Claggett] was at home with her and the conscript officers got after him to catch him and he left Fauquier Co. and came to my place and I showed him about the best I could to keep him out of the service until the thing wore down in the way of conscripting - in fact until he got inside of the lines where the conscript officers couldn't come.
By Commissioner Ferriss
Q How far was your place from this city?
A It is about 9 miles from Manassas to Haymarket and my place is 2 ½ miles north of Haymarket.
By Commissioner Aldis
Q Which way is Haymarket from Manassas?
A It is between Manassas and Washington to the north; it is right at what we call the Manassas Got railroad.
By Commissioner Ferriss
Q In coming from that place here do you go through Manassas last?
A Yes sir.
Q it is about 9 1/2 miles beyond Manassas?
A It was further than that; the rail-road extends that far.
Q 12 miles then?
A Yes sir 12.
Q What proportion of the time was this place within the confederate lines?
A I didn't consider it in their lines after the 7th or 8th of March 1862. The army fell back then and I believe the very first corps or divisions that came to Manassas - I voluntarily got on my horse and went out and took the oath of allegiance to the U.S.
Q How you say that the old lady would talk?
A That is all: she would talk.
Q Was she particularly spirited?
A She was a loyal woman to the U.S. government - as strong as the sun ever shone upon.
Q Didn't she denounce the government for sending its troops over into Virginia?
A Not at all; she called the secessionist band of thieves in my hearing. I was there oftentimes.
Q Didn't she say the same of the yankees when they took her property?
A No sir I never her say an iota against them. i was present in her house when Gen. Bartlett was there. I was trading with Bartlett's camp and I was there in that house when a party of rebels came there and tried to capture Gen. Bartlett and she went on at a terrible rate. I really thought the old lady would go into a fit.
Q A party of rebels?
A Yes sir.
Q Do you remember the substance of her talk to them: what did she say to them?
A She called them nothing but a band of highway thieves. Her temper had got up so high that I really thought she would go off and die a natural death. She was paralysed and never did hurt any creature.
Q Did they take any of her property at that time?
A The rebels did not: they hadnt time to take anything: They were thankful to get away with whole bones.
Q Did you ever know of her furnishing them with any property or supplies?
A Not a cent to my knowledge.
Q do you think the old lady was glad to hear of a union victory?
A I don't think about it at all, I know it i can stand before you with a clear conscience and say that.
Q When she heard (which was pretty rare in the early part of the war) of a union victory she was glad of it?
A She was.
By Commissioner Aldis
Q What is Mrs. Claggetts age?
A I think she is about in the neighborhood of 75 years old. It would be impossible to get her here in her condition.
By Commissioner Ferriss
Q Do you know anything about her property being taken?
A I know that she had this property all there I know of the taking of a great deal of it, but not all.
By Counsel
Q The first item is for wood, can you tell anything about the taking of that?
A That was taken by Gen. Bartlett of the second division of the sixth army corps: he camped there and need a great deal of wood -- they used all the fences around there.
Q At what time?
A I disremember exactly what time although I have got a pass about me somewhere by which I can tell almost the very time.
by Commissioner Ferriss
Q What condition was the wood in?
A A great deal of it was fencing and it was put down as cord wood. There was a farm of 271 acres well fenced and divided into fields and the fences were destroyed every bit and the farm was left bare. It was all fenced and in good condition and good order and laid off into fields.
Q How much of that fence was taken?
A All of it. There was just a little bit left around the garden and around the yard.
Q What kind of fencing was it?
A Mostly post and rail: It was very costly fence.
Q Was it five rails high?
A It was a six rail fence.
Q Have you made any calculation as to how many rods there were?
A I reckon a calculation was made and is in that bill. I will not be certain.
By Counsel
Q You refer to the petition.
A Yes sir.
By Commissioner Ferriss
Q The first item here is for wood.
A Well Judge, there was about 30 cords of real good timber to the best of my recollection.
Q What was it?
A It was oak and hickory -- real nice wood: It was all oak except a few scattering trees.
Q Cut by whom?
A Cut by Gen Bartlett's command, and there was another division came along a little before him. I disremember the generals name.
Q How long were they there?
A Gen Bartlett I think was there between five and six weeks but i will not be positive about that.
Q What did they do with it?
A they used it to cook and to make fires with; for fuel.
Q All of it?
A Yes sir.
Q How much of it did they use?
A I cannot tell you: it was all made way with and of course they must have used it. I didn't say Bartletts command used it all but there was a corps camped there a right smart while before he went there but you will be able to ascertain that better from Sugire Weaver, but they got a hack of wood.
Q How much would that cut to the tree?
A I have no idea because I never saw it tried: bit it would cut as much as any body elses wood: it was nice timber -- tall long trees.
Q Do you know how much timber will cut?
A I can only judge by estimating it from what I could see and I would rather you would leave it to somebody who knows more about that than I do: I can only say that it was really an "A No. One" piece of woods.
By Commissioner Aldis.
Q Was this wood land on the side of a mountain or hill?
A No sir; it was on a piece of flat land.
Q How many acres did you say?
A I think there was about 30 acres in wood. This farm was formerly owned by Joseph Horney of Warrenton and my mother in law bought it and gave a big price for it -- 33 dollars an acre and this timber land on it was all their was there to support her. It laid right on the road above New Baltimore and Mr Horney always thought so much of it that he every day he would go and rose around that piece of woods to drive off any tresspassers that might be there.
By Commissioner Ferriss
Q When did she buy it.
A She bought it and came into possession of it the first of Jan 1860
By Comm. Aldis.
Q She paid 33 dollars an acre for it you say:
A Yes sir.
Q How large was her whole farm?
A 271 acres: these 30 acres was a part of that land.
By Commissioner Ferriss
Q Did she pay 33 dollars an acre for that portion of the land or did she pay that rate for the whole of it?
A She paid that price for the whole of the farm: There was a good house on it also
Q Was the farm in a good state of cultivation?
A Yes sir very good: it was fenced up nicely and in good order.
Q What became of the barn?
A To the best of my recollection it was torn down and made houses of.
Q How large a barn was it?
A I reckon it was 60 feet long and probably 30 feet wide: it was a good large barn!.
Q That was a large barn 60 feet long.
A I mean the barn and the stable at each end of the barn and the haymow and the wagon house on the side of it also.
Q Was it taken by Gen Bartlett?
A I don't recollect whether the barn was destroyed by Bartlett or not.
Q Wasn't it taken by the rebel troops?
A No sir I can vouch for that.
Q What do you know about the wheat?
A There was wheat in the barn.
Q How much?
A I can not tell you exactly.
Q Is there anybody here who can tell?
A I hardly think there is: I think there was in the neighborhood of 60 bushels in the barn.
Q What makes you think so?
A It was cleaned up and put in the barn for bread and the balance had been used. Whether they took that much or not I can not say: I wasn't there all the time.
Q Do you know that the union army took any of it.
A Yes sir.
Q What command took it?
A I do not know which one.
Q And yet you know they took it?
A Yes sir I am satisfied they took it.
Q Did you see them take it?
A No sir I didn't see them take that out.
Q You have heard it from somebody else and suppose they took it: what do you base your judgment on.
A In the old lady's statement: You will be better able to ascertain about the grain in the barn by another witness.
Q What do you know about the hay?
A I know they had it there, a fine choice of it. This barn was full of hay, and several stacks in the meadow: I could not say how many tons there were.
By Counsel
Q What part of the barn was the hay in?
A In the upper portion.
By Comm. Ferriss
Q Tell us what you know about the harnesses?
A The harnesses were taken but I could not tell who took them.
By Counsel.
Q You know she had them?
A Yes sir, i know that.
Q Do you know when it was taken or about what time?
A It was taken when the barn was destroyed.
Q You know it was there when the troops came there?
A Yes sir the harnesses was there.
Q And you know it was not there when they went away?
A Yes sir I am satisfied about that.
Q I dont want to know what you are satisfied about.
A Well sir I know it.
By Comm. Ferriss
Q Did you live there in the family?
A I was backwards and forwards almost every week.
Q How far did you live from them?
A I lived about 8, or 9 miles from them I earned the old woman her meat and bread. If it hadn't been for me she would have suffered, during the war .
By Counsel
Q Do you know anything about the oats?
A No sir, the oats and the wheat both went together.
Q How many oats were there there.
A I couldn't say any thing more than that the old lady said --.
Q Never mind! What about the horses?
A The horses were taken, but you will be better able to prove by another witness: You cannot ascertain from me except about one horse.
Q Well tell us about that one.
A There was a horse taken by the 8th Illinois
By Comm. Ferriss
Q Did you see that taken?
A I saw the horse after he was taken.
By Counsel
Q You saw him in their hands and knew the horse?
A yes sir: Mr Davis was with the 8th Illinois who had the hose: He was a thoroughbred, full blooded colt.
By Comm. Ferriss
Q Is that a Cavalry regiment - the 8th Illinois?
A Yes sir.
Q You knew the horse?
A Yes sir, and he was three years old.
Q Was the horse in use when you saw him?
A I saw them carrying the horse along -- leading him away: Mr Samuel Davis had him in company with the regiment.
By Counsel
Q Was Mr Davis guide to the regiment?
A Yes sir; he was called "Yankee Davis", and he was with the 8th Illinois when they captured that horse.
By Comm. Ferriss
Q Yankee Davis was the man you saw leading the horse?
A Yes sir he had the horse.
Q Was he the man leading it?
A Yes sir, he was leading it.
Q He was a guide?
A Well he was with them.
Q Was it not understood that he was a guide to that regiment?
A I reckon you might call him so.
By Counsel
Q How did he come there.
A He was forced to leave home or be butchered by a band of thieves: That is the way he went there -- for protection.
By Commissioner Ferriss
Q That is all you know about the horse?
A Yes sir: but I would like to state some-thing about my friend Yankee Davis, who was going with the 8th Illinois.
By Counsel.
Q Did he go with them as a part of the regiment -- was he in the union army?
A No sir he was not, only at times.
Q How long was he with that regiment?
A I disremember what time he went but from that time until the war close he staid at Fairfax Court House with them.
Q Who was in command of the 8th Illinois?
A Col. Gamble
By Comm. Ferriss
Q Do you know anything about the hogs?
A I dont know any thing about them more than that she had them.
By Counsel
Q Is that all you know about them?
A Yes sir and I know they disappeared -- were gone.
Q Disappeared when?
A While Gen Bartletts army was there.
Q That is all you know about them?
A Yes sir.
Q The next item is for fat cattle; what do you know about them?
A I know she had them there.
By Comm. Ferriss
Q How many?
A It strikes me she had 25 or 26. She had just bought them; I disremember how many:
By Counsel
Q About how many hogs had she?
A She had a good lot of them: You might put that at least 20 I reckon: I am not positive about that I want you to understand.
By Comm. Ferriss
Q What about the cattle?
A They were cattle she had bought at sales just before the war broke out.
By Counsel
Q Here is another charge for hay: what about that hay?
A Well you can ascertain better about the hay from other witnesses than I can tell you about.
Q There is another charge for bacon - what do you know about that?
A I wasn't there, I didn't see it taken.
Q Here is a charge for corn: what do you know about that?
A I see by the memorandum that it was taken at that time: I know that the corn was taken but I do not know who got it, but to the best of my knowledge it was taken when Gen. Bartlett was there: I could not say positively about that.
By Comm. Ferriss
Q Do you know about the family?
A yes sir.
Q Do you know how many rods of fence there were?
A I could not tell you that: I only can tell you this much: there were 270 acres of land well fenced and laid off in several different fields.
Q Fenced all around?
A Yes sir every inch of it to my knowledge.
Q She owned half the division fences?
A No sir to the best of my knowledge every part of the fence around was hers.
Q Did she own all this fence?
A On one side: she put a little over half the farm under fence and the other half was out in common and this fence that you term dividing fences was all hers to my knowledge, the gates and everything of the kind and the turnpike road came around half way on the outside and of course she had nobody there to join her with, and she had to make her own fencing on that turn-pike road, at least she found it already made when she bought the farm.
Q Is there anybody here who can tell how many rods of fence there were?
A I dont know that there is: There will be another witness here and he will be able to tell about that.
Q You dont know anything about the length of that fence?
A No sir, only just as I tell you about the plantation being laid off.
Q Are you familiar with the farm?
A Yes sir.
Q Perfectly familiar?
A Yes sir, I think I can tell how many fields there were.
Q If you can figure up the length of these fences can you tell us how many rods they were?
A We worked by yards, we considered it 3 yards to a panel: You can figure it up yourself. I am a poor figurer.
Q What kind of a horse was that you have been telling about?
A It was a dark bay -- a thoroughbred horse.
Q Do you know about the age?
A He was three years old to the best of my recollection: If I have told you anything wrong it is not intentional.