MBIA
AN) BLOOMSBURG GENERAL ADVERTISER.
I LEVI L TATE, EDITOR,
' - J" TERMS: $2 50 IN ADVANCE,
"TO HOLD AND TllIM THE TORCH OF TllUTII AND WAVE IT O'ER THE DA11KENKD EARTH."
VOL. 19. NO, 7.
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PENN'A,, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 18G5.
VOLUME 29:
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT,
" Our Constitution cnard U over !
Our plorlons Union hold It dear !
Our Flarry nog forsake It novcrl
The proud Caucasslan our only peer!
uDITKD BY LUVI I.. TATE. raOFRIETOR.
BLOOMSBURG ;
Saturday Morning, Apr. 15,10GG.
TERMS OF THIS PAPERs
( .FTCa JASUAtlY lT, IEC3. )
$3 00 per Year, or
2 50 if paid 3trictly in advance.
The Columbia Co. Invasion.
Claim of Joseph Coleman.
t'i'rrrsjioiiileiire awl Papers.
Jus'j'h Colt-man to General Couch.
To M uou Gemuiai. I). N. Couch
your information, copy of a report of
Capt. V. M. Wood, A. Q. M., and on
"Extract" from a Hoport furjihlicd by
Capt. John P. Short, V. R. 0. Command
ing U. 8. Forcos in Columbia County, to
whom your claim was referred for inves
tigation aud report.
1 am, Sir, very Rcspcotfully,
Your' Obedient Servant,
JNO. S. SCIIULTZ,
Assistant Adjutant General.
I
Commanding Department, j
Tbo undersigned, a citizen (if Columbia
County, rc-pectfu ly represents. That
the troops leerntly sent to ibis county
wero eiicmiped lor about four weeks upon
Ins liuidin the lowr.ship of Fisbingcreek,
p-tablishing il. rcon a cunip named Camp
Hancock aud thutiti addition to their use
of hisveal estate (includfng a part of hie
House) they used and consumed, without
permissiou, vaiinus articles of personal
property. That no compensation has
been tuude fur such ue of his property or
lor it.juries thereto. That he has applied
within a few davs to Quarter-master
Wood, and also to Capt. John P. Shoit,
nt Orangovtlle, nbo declined aeting in
the ease, the former lor alledged want of
authority, aud the luttcr I ec.tise (a8 he
said) the causes of claim beside the oc
cupancy of laud) did not arise w hi'e he
In Id acua command ut C unp Hancock.
Hut the other chief fli n who held com
mand tlune, nrn hi luvnd io be ruuuved
iroin the county.
'I be uudcisigiitd appends hcrelo a state
merit ol property in-id or a preprinted
ly the troops,aud he ii"w npplies f.ir some
impropriate order of a praisement or val
uation in his ca.-o uud lor the payment to
him of Mich sum a may ho found to be
ju-tly hi- due. All of which is le.-pectfully
eubimitcd.
JOSEFH COL KM AX.
October 29,
Slatrment of Items.
Use of sis acre.', of enclosed land for
lour weeks for encampment.
Use f f a field ol seven acres of grass
land, Mime time, lor drill.
Use ol' a thiid field of four ares of
grass l.mil, part of snmu lime, for raine
purp'oie.
Use ol ham aud stable four weeks.
Use of three niuiu room, of dwelling
house an 1 two beds, same time, by Colo
nel, Quartermaster. &o.
One Ainciican Flag loaned to troops
for UbC aud carried off by them. Yulue,
270 sawed fcncd rails ued.
20 young segar maple trees wed or
consumed.
Straw of ouo thousand sheaves of wheat.
One ton of hay in barn.
10 bushels of potatoes in field.
20 buheli eoru iu the ear from field,
20 bushels apples and peaches.
Two acres of buckwheat in the ground
j lost by destruction of fences.
150 sugar troughs aud three largo sap
troughs used aud destroyed.
300 feet poplur aud linden boards from
sawmill.
40 loads of slab3 taken from saw mill.
Ono rifle, valuo 15, taken from
Iiousj ol Charles Coleman, .
Axe, foot-adz aud crowbar takin.
One shoat, five mouths old, taken arjd
killed.
A quantity of (cwls and three turkeys
Sonio boards torn from saw-mill.
llEn QUARtcru t)NiTiiiHrtr Tunica, I
Urungcs ilic, I'd., Novemliur U, UH. j
D. N. Coucu,
Maj. Oeu'l Com. Dept. Susquehanna,
Ohambcrsburg, Pa.
General
Extract.
I am certain during the short period
that I was in command at Camp Hancock
no property was destroyed belonging' to
said Joseph Coleman, and further that on
application from Hiram Kama, son-in law
of Joseph Coleman, I appointed a board
j of Appraisers composed of tho following
named residents of Fishing Creek town
ship, farmers aud men of good judgment
and eharaeter,natnety - James Buckalow,
Peter Laubach aud Wjriam Hulmo ; who
after examination of the premises found
the damages so slight they deemed, (2)
two of them, unnecessary to givo report
on the same, as they said the amount of
manure left on tbo premises recently oc
cupied by tbo troops, would moro than
pa) for tho damages done.
In reference to quarters used by the
Quarter Matter and his Clerk at tbo House
of said Coleman, al.-o the stabling for
horses, and also the stores nllcdgcd to
have been appro; riated by the command
without compensation, I refer you to tbo
statement of W. M. Wood, Captain and
A. Q M , herewith (inclosed.
1 am, General, vory respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN P. SHORT,
Cttit. I', II. C. Com. U. S. loreex in ( o
ttniliia Count, I'a,
True copy, fuiniihed for tbo informa-
lion of Mr. JoicphCilcniu
.k0 8. SCIIULTZ,
Assiu sbljuVmt General.
Asst. Qn. Ma?. Office,
Oraimeville, Pa., Nov. U, 1 60-i
Gait. Jno. P. Shout,
Commanding U S. Forces
Slit : In refereuoe to the statement
tuude by Joseph Coleman, in hN list of
items. I have the honor to sUto as fol
low; ;
That I aud mv clerk applied to .Mrs.
Coleman for hoard and lodging, which
she willingly furnished, and that we paid
her for the same.
That an ucoccupicd stable was used, by
permia-ion of Mrs. Coleman, lor stabling
two horseB, aud a portion of tho time a
third horse-
That some white-pine slabs were given
to the men to use for floors in their tents
by Mr. Coleman, who remarked that they
were of "no account" and "would'ut be
used."
That if any hry or straw was used I
know nothing of it , it was cot used by
imcj nor do I know anything of the use
of corn, railfi sugar-maple trees, &o.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
W. M. WOOD,
Captain uiul A. Q, M.
Truo copy, respectfully furnished for
tho information of Mr. Joseph Coleman.
JNO. S- SCIIULTZ.
Assist. Aiji Gen.
troubling you further upon tho Euhjoct of
rpy claim,
H.'eptain Short nays, "tbot during tbo
short period ho was in command nt. Camp
Hanoock ho is certain no property wat
destroyed belonging to Joseph Colctnan."
To this 1 answer : lit. That if strictly
accurate, it furnishes no reason for non
payment of damages mffcrcd when he was
not in command, which, according to htm,
was nearly tho wholo time in question.
2nd. That his remark applies only to des
truction of property and uot to use otul
occupation which constitute, mainly, tho
foundation ol the claim. 3rd. Iiut although
in its restricted and jut application the
statement is not very important in its ef
feet upon tho case, its accuracy is not ad
mitted lleforoticcis hero made to tho
concluding part of tho affidavit of Mr.
Karns, horewith trausmitted.
Captain S. docs uot speak of his own
knowlcdgo to tho merits of tho case, in any
other particular than tho ons just mentioned.
A full and complete answer to tbo state
ments of fact made by tho Quartermaster
is given in the affidavits of Mrs. Colcnv.n
and Hiram Karns, now lorwarded, and to
which attention is respectfully requested.
Tho explanations contained thorcin are be
lieved to bo fair and full upon all tho point
mentioned by the Quartermaster, and ex
tend beyond them to the gcneial merits of
tbo Claim.
Two thincs are to bo considered : that
tbo Quartermasters statement applio3 only
to a few items of uomand, and that upon
them ho is shown to bo mistaken and his
statements incomplete.
But one point remains lo be mentioned,
not becauso it effects the merits of the
case but because it U calculated to create
prejudice ,agaiust the claim it left unnotic
ed. Captain Short states that he named
three persons as appraisers to examine
tho premises, who haviug examined them
found the damages slight and two of them
thought it unnecessary to mako report. He
adds that they said the raanuru left on tho
premises would more than pay the dam
ages done ! There might havo been somo
imnortance attached to this statement
while unexplained, if the conclusion had
been omitted. Hut the utter absurdity of
tbo reason assigned for non-assesstneut of
damages, removes all forco from an ul
leged opinion resting upon it. Tho occu-
nanev of a larse nuantitv ollanU by a eon
i a k
sidtrable force with destruction of fences
and crops ; the sweeping off of sugar camp
trees with implemsnts and fixtures ; the
priuoipal ut: of a dwelling Houo aud ol
Stables j consumption of Hay, straw und
lumber iu matotial quantities by the
troops, aud tbo various other oppiopi
dceision
All this
Mn. Conu.vtAN ro Gen. Couch.
Maj. Gen D N. Couch,
Com Dvp t. of the Su'quebatinn.
Gb.nbrai. : I have tho honor to ac
knowledge tho receipt of a communication
from Captain Jno. S. Schnltz, AssLtant
Adjutant General, dated tho Oth instant,
in reply to ray letter to you of October
20th. And I havo givcu particular atten
don, not only to this communication, but
No occupation ol laudi or buildings, or to tbo statements of Captain Short and
int-tni, nr mn nf nrnnnrrv. was hv consent Asistand Quarter-master Woou
u-'ww , .. . - -
or upon request made to mo or any mem
ber of my family.
JOSEPH COLEMAN.
Stillwater, Oolutnbja Couuty, Pa.
which
accompany it and which (as 1 am told by
Captain Sohultz) aro transmitted to me
for my information.
As the explanations of Captain Short
and Quartermaster Wood apply to but a
part of the items of claim mentioned in
my former letter, and as some ol those
explanations tiro insufficient upon their
faoo and tho remainder erroneous in point
of fact, tbo information conveyed to tne
by them is far from satisfactory ; and I
edgo tho receipt, of jour communication J am oompellod by a duo regard to my own
dated Octobr 20th, 1 8 G4, relative to interest and position as a claimant, to ox
nroncrtv used and destroyed by tbo U. S. noso tUoir imperfections. Hut in doing
Forces in Columbia County, and in reply this, I shall endeavor to speak with propor
lam directed to trantruit herewith for decorum, aud shall regret tho necessity. of
. ' Reply,
Ileill'QUAUTl.Rll, Pll'AUTMlST Or THE Sl'WMUXNA, I
Cliiuiilimburi;. I'a., November if, lttit. j
Mk. JosErii Coleman,
Stillwater P. 0.
Columbia County, Pa.
Sir t I have the honor to noknowl
lions of property and purncu ar u.juues
whicb bavo been stated all to he com
pensated by somo refuse littur aud horse
droppings of a temporary Camp! It is
very certain that no intelligent man ever
formed tuch au opinion or ever doliber
atoly und honestly expressed it.
Hut tho truth is, thai the appraisers
nev.er went through wi.ih tho cx iniiimtiou
ol my claim ; did not havo my statement
nf narticulais before them; wero never
i
sworn, and uover mot to form a
or to mako a report in the cue.
is shown by the certificate of William
Ilulme, one of the appraisers herewith
transmitted.
The appraisers wore fippointcd without
my know lrge and one of them is persona
bly unfriendly to mo. Thii may ac.;ouut
for their failure lo p-ooeed, for which 1 am
in no way responsible. I may add that
Mr. Peter Laubach, one ol them has fur
nihhed mo a nolo dated tins I Oth, int, in
which ho Hays that ho prefers to havo
another mm appointed in bis placo to ap
praise tho Camp damages.
I believe I havo now gone through with
all the poii't mentioued in the papers
eont uie, and given to each of them u Bat
isfaotory soever. And besides doing this
in tho affiidavits now sent evidence is fur
nishod eomowhat in detail to sustain the
justice of rny demand.
JOSEPH COLEMAN.
Stillwater, Nov. 2(1, 1800.
Statement of Airs. Coleman.
On tho Saturday when tbo troops oamc
to encamp on tho farm, in September,
Capt Wood, Assistant Quarter Master
came to tbo IIouso with Cuiumingi his
Olerk. Upon hearing knocking I went 'to
the front door and thoy came in. Ho
said ho wanted a room in tbo IIouso.
Ho looked around in aeveral rooms and
selected rooms and beds, and directed the
thincs to bo takon out. Hy this timo Hi
n .
ram Karns ourao and assisted to clear tho
another. In :i third room the furnituro und
bod wero loft, tho latter being used by the
Quartermaster himself. He had posses
sion of tho thrco rooms within one day of
four weeks. Tho Oolono! in comuiaud of
tho troops was thoro at tho timo the rooms
were taken and knew what took place. 1
was alarmed at tho timo and did not resist
the proceeding, but I did not givo them
permission to occupy the rooms. Thoy
took them and I supposed 1 had to give
them up. Tho three rooms were on tho
first floor of tho Ilou-o, a sitting room a
bed "room and a dining room. Thosittinc
room was UFcd as an office. The dining
room with a bcil wvs used by the Uuar-
torunsler olid the bed lonm was used by
his clerk us u sleeping room and to keep.
government clothing, iVc. lhesc rooms
occupied tbo wholo first floor of the House
except tho hall which they also used.
I'lierc was a back Kitchen to tho IIouso
of ono story whero they ate their meals
nd which wos tho only room left to tho
family down stairs. My family consisted
of four persons, in tho absenae of my hus
band. Hiram Karns, my daughter Ma-
rja of middle ago, a boy namo Isaao E.
lloat 10 years old and myself.
When the Quartermaster took posses
sion he told me ho wanted mo to board his
Clerk which I did as long as bo remained
theie. Tho Quartermaster boarded for
about a week at the camp, sleeping in the
b.ousc and occupying it during tho day
in the c v o n i u ' : after this bo told me I
mii3t board him also which I did. No
price was fixed for board. At the end of
throe weeks 1 sent a request to them by
Karns for money on board at tho rato of
five dollars per week. lie reported they
would pay but three dollars which thoy
did aftor.wards; but thoro was no conver
sation with me at any time about terms ;
I took what was given me. No payment
was ever inado for use of house, but only
for board and that at the price fixed by
themselves as abovo mentioned. They
used two beds which were made up and
kept in good 'order by mo.
I had nothing to do with the use of the
stables at tbo barn. My consent to their
uso of the stables was never asked or giv
en. Any conversation or arrangement on
that subject, if it ex'sud, must have been1
with Mr. Karns.
As to the ue of slabs, logs and boards
from the saw mill, they were taken - with
out my permission. On the Wednesday
before tho Friday when tho Soldiers left,
I saw soldiers with tho farm wagon load
ed with slabs, and amon" them somo oak
slabs which wero for our u-e m firewood
1 to d tbem tliey suould not taKe luem as
we needed thein in the houso ; I did not
care if they took the others, but they must
let my firewood bo. That was what pass
cd aud it was after the appropriation of
iuot of the lumber and other article from
the mill.
I called tho attention of the Quarter
master to tho digging of our potatoes by
tho soldiers, aud also spoke to the Colonul
on the same subject.
Isawalarga qnanity of straw taken
openly from the barn to tbo eamp.
her
MARY M y, COLEMAN,
maik.
wero about four horses there, on an ovor
ago, during tho four weeks tho troops re-
mo that ho had a siaUmcut of tbo partic
ulars of bi3 claim, mado out at tho in
lo him. 1 went to' Orangevillb and met
the Quartermaster at Stewart's storo. Ho
mained. During the first week, they fed
Coleman's bay for tbreo or four liorace ,
and I then stoppod them, as the hay was
getting low and needed for Coleman's
horses. Afterwards they fed a few, times
from Coleman's hay when thoy bad none.
A tou or moro was u?od. Tho raok and
ttough in the cow stablo wero destroyed,
and tho horso stablo was danmged. No
compensation has been inado for uso of
stables, for damages deno to them, or for
hay used.
There was a largo quantity of wheat
straw taken Irom tho barn to tho camp,
for which no permission was over given.
ohtitnato that two tons of straw were
taken. Tho maiu amount was taken one
day when I was absent. Wo bad just
threshed four hundred sheaves of wheat
and put the straw iu tho shed. Tho wholo
of this was taken, and nearly all tbo other
straw in the shed and bam. Beside what
was taken to camp, a great deal was scat
tered along the road and wasted.
I tpoke to the Quartormastcr about this
appropriation and waste. He laughed at
mo and said I ought to stay at home and
keep watch. I asked him to pay far it.
Ho said the law did not mako provision
for tho men to draw straw, and ho rcluscd
lo pay. The straw was wotth twelve dol
lars per ton. Hay worth twenty dollars
per ton' The barn was used for storing
oats for uso of tho Camp.
I spoke to Quartermaster about pay for
the uso of tho House, tho week before ho
left. Mrs. Coleman desired mo to do so
Ho said, ho bad nothing to do with pay
ing for the IIouso he was not to pay for
it tho government furnished him quar
tors, and wo must bring it in with tho gen
eral damage to the plico,
When be first came there and after
ward?, he 6aid to mo und also to Mrs
Colouian. that shu should bo paid for use
of the House,nnd all that was taken away
and all the damage done.
The flair loaned bv Coleman to the
troops was taken off by tbo battery whon
they left. I doaianded it of a Lieutenant
of the Dattcry wheu leaving, who refused
to givo it up
I counted twentyfivo stumps of valuable
sugar mapltt tree3,cut for uso in the Camp
A large number of sugar troughs and
tbreo sap or leading troughs, worth five
dollars each, were used, Also about five
hundred feet sugar camp boards.
The head gales of tho race wero mostly
taken out and used. New ones are nec
essary, to cost twelvo dollars. A sta
ble of Coleman's on his lot next the farm
was gutted, tbo repair of which will cost
fifteen dollars.
Tbo use of land for encampment and
drill ; tha injury to fences and crops, and
tho appropriation of lumber, slabs, pota
toes, corn, fruits, tools and fowls, are rea
sonably and justly slated in Mr. Colo
man's communication to Gen. Couch of
Oct. 20, 1804, which I havo seen.- 1 ncv
or gave any consent to use of tho articles
or property bofore mentioned, except tho
stables and hay for which compensation
sho'd have been inado. I complained a
number of times to Col. Stewart and to
stanco of tho uthr appraisers. There j asked mo if I had got zi man to appraisa
was no meeting aud there has bean none
sinco. Thers has never been to my
knowlcdgo any dceision in tbo oaso,or any
report made.
WM. HULME.
November 23, laOl.
Mr. Coleman'8 Statement,
I am sixty eight years of ago ; was
born in Northampton.county and have re
tided in Columbia county forty years. I
own a farm of ninety-six acres whereon I
rcsido, in Fishingc'reek township.
I served for three mouths as a Volun
teer, in th service of the United States,
near tho olo?e of tho war of 1312.
I was unlawfully arrested at my home
on the morning of 31st. of August 180 1
by order of Col Stewart in command of
troops then occupying this county, and
whoso own subsequent military arrest for
swindling is notroious. I ivc soldurs came
to my house in the night, ut two or tbreo
o'clock, remained around or near it for
samo timo aud wero admitted near day-
light on proteiico of looking for doserter.
I gave my assent that tho house should
bo searched alter daylight should como.
When that came they asked for breakfast
and while it was prepariug Col Stewart
cimc along with a dozen or fifteen soldier
and several citizen prisoners. I was or
dered by him to come into tbo ranks and
go along up to Benton Church,as was also
my boy, Laao E. lloat. lie rofusod to
wait for us lo eat breakfast, saying that
wo could be back home again in an hour
or an hour and a half. 1 was taken with
the other arrested men lo Benton Church
and kept thoro until eleven o'clock. The
boy Boat was then discharged. Wo (the
prisoners) wore then marched to Blooms
burg- and taken by way of Northumber
land and llarrisburg to Philadelphia where
we arrived next day. Had uothing to
cat during all this time except some eata
bles at Benton Church brought in by the
neighbors. Wc were not allowed to get
food on tho way.
Col Stewart promised mo at the church
that I might stop at homo on the way
down for some clothes, but I was not per
mitted lo stop by my guards, although wa
passed tho door of my bouse, I was iu
differently clolbed at tho timo and had no
change of clothes with mo,
We were taken to Fort Mifilin in tho
afternoon of Sept. 1st, and there placed
in confinement in Bomb-proof No three.
Nearly seven weeks afterwards I was re
leased along with John Yorka and Elias
MsIIoury,on parol,to appear when called
for by tho military authorities, and an
oath of allegiance was exacted. No. charg
es againbt me wore ever announced,
nor any trial or hearing given me ; nor
was I ever furnished with any direct in
formation as to the causes of arrest or the
reasons for my discharge. I was driven
from homo as if I had been a beast; thrust
into an unhealthy aud detcfUble prison
aud kept there nearly two months as if I
hud beou ono of tho vilest of criminals,
uud then turned loose without explanation
or redress. Aud as the condttious upon
the Caixip Damages. I told him no, hut I
knew whero I could got ono. Ho asked'
mo who it was, and I told him William
Ikilnie, He said1, ''then I must chooso a
man " I added, "and' tho two choose a
third." Ho said, "very well." Ho fur
ther said ho would let mo know when tho
time was to be, and wc parted and I went
borne.
Mr. Hulmc came down to Orangevillo
the same evening and saw Quartermaster
Wood, lie informs me that he asked
Wood who bo had chosen for appraiser;
Ik said, J. Sanderson Woods. Hc.thon
asked him who was to lie the third man
and Wood- replied ho wan to' be himself.'
Hulmc told him that was not tho under
standing, tho understanding was ho was
to select one man, I another, and tho two'
a third, and he knew 1 would not agree io
dic change. Then ho said he must put
Sanderson Woods aside andseleot aco'her;
and he named A. B. Stewart (merchant.)
But he still insisted upon acting as tho
third man himself, and said ho would coma
up the next day to hold the appraiBcmont.
Hulmc returned borne in tho night and
informed me of this conversation. I told
him I would not agree that Quartermaster
Wood should bo the third man.
Tho next day tho Quartermaster camo
up and brought Sam Achcnbach with him.
They passed my house without stopping
and went on to Benton, leaving word with
Captains Lambert and Short, who were ' ch 1 3 1010 aio thc ejnyment of ray
r ' f I C ...l.:l. T l,,,n
rooms whioh was dono excopt a tablo and
olook in ono room and a bed and desk in 1 damage done would bo paid for
COJ.UMMA COUNTY', SS :
Before me one of iho Justices of
tho Peace iu and foiuid county person
ally uppeaud Mrs Mary M Coluinan who
being i uly swum uccoidiug to law saith:
That the facts sit forth iu tho above
statemeut arc just and truo and further
saith not. Sworn and mbseribed before me
this 2 Jtb, day of Novomber, 1801.
SAMUEL RHONE. J. P.
Statement of Ihram Karns.
I was in ohargo of tho Coleman farm
while thc troops were oneamped upon it.
I canio into tbo House shortly after tho
Quartermastor arrived on tho Saturday
when tho troops came, and heard him
direct Mrs. Coleman to toko furniture out
of tho sitting room, and I assisted to re
move tho articles including tho Carpet.
Colonul Stewart was coining out of tho
House when I arrived. Ho said to me
that 'the old lady was pre'ty much alarm
ed, but ho thought he would get along
with her after awhilo." When I wont in
to the IIouso sho was oryiog and said,
thoy calculated to have rooms and two
beds. We clou red out tho roonis,and then
tho Quartcrm after and I went to tho
bam. He soleolod a horse stablo to uso,
aud wo conversed about tho uso of Hay.
Thero wero sovoral tons of timothy Hay,
and lie said, every pound used should bo
paid for. They put horcs in tho stablo
and also in tho cow-stablo. Ho said, any
Thoro
successively iu command, about injuries
doue and property taken about taking
slabs and lumber from tbo null the des
truction of fences tho pasturiug of mead
ows and use of tbem for drill dopradi
tions upon tho crops cutting down the
sugar camps, kc. Captain Short excused
himself to mo on the ground that most of
the damages wero dono before ho was iu
command. But a good deal was dono
while he had control there.
(Signed )
HIRAM KAKXS.
Columbia County, es :
Hiram Kama being duly sworn
acoording lo law saith: that the forego
ing statement is just and truo to the best
of his knowledge and belief.
Sworn and subscribed boforo mo, No
vember 21th, 1801.
SAMUEL RHONE, J. P.
Mr, Hitlmc's Certificate,
I hereby certify that I was appointed
ono of the monto appraise tho damage on
Joseph Coleman's property by tho sol
diers aud officers. The appraisers met
once but thero was no justico to swear us
aud no witncssp.s wero cxaminod. Wo
looked at tbo prcmiso3 and agreed to meet
at Esquiro Kriekbaum's on tb followtug
Monday to bo 6vorn and consider Mho
ease. I attended on Monday at nino or
ton o'clock in tho morning, but tho others
had been thoro and gono.
Joseph Coleman also attended ; said to
Mr. Ilulme when they passed his bouso
that they would be back at 1 1 o'clook to
hold the appraisement. They roturncd
ufter twelve o'clock and saw Mr. Hulmo
who told them 1 would not agrco to Wood
as the third man. Thon Wood Baid wo
must get other mon. Mr Ilulme named
four or five men to him He said ho did
not kuow the men it was getting late in
tho day he must go on and he would,
return and attend to thc business anothor
timo. lie went off. and that is thc last J
have heard of Quartermaster Wood, I
do uot know where bo is, nor have I sinco
been favored by his notice in any way
whatever.
Before wr'U'mg to Gen. Couch in Octo
ber last, Quartermaster Wood told ino I
could never get any damages they wero
not going to give me any. I asked him
why, Ho said because I had been taken
prisoner ; they wero not going to givo
me anything' Ho said"tt'C." It was not
to be expected in view of this declaration
of hi, and in viow nlso of bis falso and
unfair roport to Qen . Couch upon ray
case, that I should bo foolish enough to
submit my claim to bis judgment. That
would have been, indeed, like submitting
tbo lamb to the nursing caro of the wolf.
Having waited several month:: without
any further notice ol proceedings in my
case, I had three reputable and intelligent
men of thc neighborhood to view my
premises and make appraisement of tho
damages justly due me. This was in
view of my going on to make repairs upou
the property ,and putting the land under cul
tivation, ns the arrival of spriug rendered
theso things necessary. Tbo appraisers
made report ns follows :
"Wo the undersigned, Appraisers, af
ter due notice all met at tbo IIouso of
Joseph Coleman near Stillwater in Fish
ing Creek township, on tho 23rd day of
March, 1805, and after being duly sworn
accordiug to law, do assess tho damages
us follows : "
(.Signed)
''Samuel Rhone,
John 0. Dildine,
Cyrus B. McIIonry."
Then follows an assessment upon the
several items of claim mentlonod in my
letter to Gen. Couoh of 29th October, and
upon tbreo small additional ones stated in
papers accompanying letter to same of
20th November amounting in the wholo
to $510,70.
Thus the rase stands at present. I havo
had tho facts prefented to tbo Genoral
freedom of which I had been deprived
without law and against justice I was sub
jected to the indignity of au extra-judicial
and unauthorized oath, aud to a parol or
engagment to hold myself ready to respond
to any call, lawful or not, made upon me
by military power.
Meantime during my imprisonment
a military camp was established upon my
farm and depredations committed upon
my property, for which no compensation
hah been mado, and ray bouso was turned
into officer's quarters, free of charge, aud
my family subjected to official domination.
I returned home just sovon weeks after the
date of my arrest to find ray fences swept
off, crops destroyed, trees cut down, barn
oloaned out, meadows couvortcd into pa
rade grounds, and various articles of per-1 lately in command of "tho Department of
soual property approprioted or destroyed. a Susquehanna," and have disproved
Tho main particulars of injury are stated I tho misstatements and nnswored iho
iii my correspondence with Gen. Couch
A short timo after my second letter to
Genoral Couch, dated November 20th, I
recaived verbal notice from Assistant
Quartermaster Wood by my son Samuel,
that I should meet him at Orangevillo to
choose men to appraise my damages; that
ho would choose a man aud I cboosu one,
and tho two ohooso a third, Afterwards,
I received a written notico from him on
tho same subject.
I supposo theso notices and tho project ; of tbo olaiin pnd confirms tbo othor e
ar
guments (if they can bo called suoh) of his
t-ubordinatc.i, Capt. Short and Quarter
master Wood. That answer with the ev
dence submitted, appears to havo induood
an order for an appraisoincnt of my dam
ages, but tho evident determination of
Quartermaster Wood to provent any fair
assessment, has prevented, thus far, any
execution of the ordor. Tho valuation re
cently made by Efquiro Rhono and Messrs
Dildine and Mollonry, shows tho exten
of selecting new appraisers, woro in pur
suance of some ordar or direction from
General Couoh consequent upon ray letters
donco of its reality and justice.
JOSEPH COLEMAN.
AprilB, 1865.
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