72. Were you present when any of the property charged in this claim was taken? Did you actually see any taken? If so, specify what you saw taken.

The said Nathan T. Thomas being first duly sworn deposes and says my age is 37 years old. I reside in Blount County Alabama and I am a Farmer.

I was present at the time and saw the mule taken. I did not see the mare taken. The mare was at my sisters house about two miles from my Fathers.

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?

The mule was taken in the daytime *************(?) taken publicly in that we could all see and knew that he was taken.

74. Was any complaint made to any other of the taking of any of the property? If so, give the name, rank and regiment of the officer, and state who made the complaint to him, what he said and did in consequence, and what was the result of the claim.

If my Father the claimant made any complaint about the taking of the property I did not hear it.

75. Were any vouchers or receipts asked for or given? If given, where are the vouchers or receipts? If lost, state fully how lost. If asked and not given, by whom were they asked, who was asked to give them, and why were they refused or not given. State very fully in regard to the failure to ask or obtain receipts.

If any voucher or receipt was asked for by my Father I did not hear it and and if any was offered or given I did not see it or know of it. I cannot state why my Father failed to ask for and obtain a receipt for his property.

76. Has any payment ever been made for any property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken at the same times as the property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken from the same claimant during the war, and if so, when, by whom, for what property and to what amount? Has this property, or any part of it, been included in any claim heretofore presented to Congress, or any court, department or officer of the United States, or to any board of survey, military commission, State commission or officer, or any other authority? If so, when and what tribunal or officers was the claim presented; was it larger or smaller in amount than this claim, and how is the difference explained, and what was the decision, if any, of the tribunal to which it was presented?

If the soldiers paid or offered to pay my Father for the mule or mare I did not see or hear of it and if they paid or offered to pay him for any other property taken from him at the same time that this was taken I did not see or hear of it. I know nothing of anything further contained in this question.

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?

The property charged in this claim was taken by they soldiers marching in the direction of Elyton. There had been no recent battle or skirmish.

78. You will please listen attentively 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 mule taken. I did not see the mare taken as she was taken from the premises of my sister about two miles from my Father's.

79. Begin now with the first item of property you have just said you saw taken, and give the following information about. 1^st. Describe the exact condition, as, for instance, if corn, whether green or ripe, standing or harvested, in shuck, or husked, or shelled; if lumber whether new or old, in buildings or piled; if grain, whether growing or cut, etc., etc. 2^nd. State where it was. 3^rd. What was the quantity; explain fully how you know the quantity and if estimated, describe your method of making the estimate. 4^th. Describe the quality to your best judgment. 5^th State as nearly as you can the market value of such property at the time in United States money. 6^th. Say when the property was taken. 7^th Give the name of the detachment, regiment, brigade, division, corps, or army taking the property, and the names of any officers belonging to the command. 8^th. Describe the precise manner in which the property was taken into possession by the troops, and the manner in which it was removed. 9^th. State as closely as you can how many men, animals, wagons, or other means of transport, were engaged in the removal, how long they were occupied, and to what place they removed the property. 10^th. State if any officers were present; how you knew them to be officers; what they said or did in relation to the property and give the names of any, if you can. 11^th. Give any reasons that you may have for believing that the taking of the property was authorized by the proper officers or that it was for the necessary use of the army.

The mule and mare was both good sound property and the mule was fat and the mare was in good working order. The mule was five (5) years old was of medium size was sorrel in color was well broken and worked well to the Plow and Wagon and was kind and gentle under the saddle. The mare was about 10 years old was a full medium in size was bay in color was well broke and was a good saddle animal and worked well to the Plow and Wagon. I think the mule was worth fully two hundred dollars ($200.00) in United States money at the time the mule was taken and think that the mare was worth fully one hundred and twenty five dollars ($125.00) in United States money at the time she was taken. This property was taken about the last day of March 1865 and was taken by soldiers belonging to the command of General Wilson of the Union Army. I did not hear the names of any of the officers but that of General Wilson. The soldiers came to my Fathers and put to the saddle and put a bridle or halter on the mule and led him out of the lot and mounted the mule and road him off in the woods back that came to my Fathers. I cannot state the precise number of soldiers that was at my Fathers at the time and engaged in the taking of the mule but there was some 10 or 15 or perhaps more than was on guard of them, and I thought at the time there was about 15. The soldiers did not remain at my Fathers ******black mark on page******. the soldiers carried the mule off in the direction of Elyton or Myricks Ferry on the Road leading to Elyton. I did not know officers from soldiers and if there was any officers present I did not know them as such all that I heard said about the taking of the mule was that they had orders to take all such property for the use of the Army. I cannot give you the names of any of them, the soldiers said that they belonged to General Wilson's command of the Union army. I think from the fact that army was on the march and in a section of country where they could not purchase or buy such supplies as they needed that they were justifiable in taking this property and I would think that they had the proper orders from the proper officers to take such supplies as was needed to carry on the Army and supply the wants of the soldiers.

******(?)

I have no interest in this claim separate and apart from that of my Father the Claimant.

Further this deposition saith not.

attest James Thompson                                                              Nathan T. Thomas - his mark