Bits of Evidence, No. 371 Enos Richmond: Special Agent Sent to Investigate Cane River Claims 28 February 1876 Claim of Jean Conant Affidavit of Richmond “In the above case, I made the investigation on claimant’s place and in his neighborhood. Claimant is an intelligent man, was born free, and owned good property before and during the war. He did nothing to aid the Confederate cause, that I have been able to learn. He lived in a settlement of free colored Persons, and they all seem to have been loyal with one or two exceptions. “In regards to the property [said to have been taken by the U.S. Army], I could learn nothing definite from claimant [or from] witnesses Sarpy & Metoyer, as to the actual amount taken by the Federal troops. So I reexamined the claimant whose testimony you will find inclosed. There is some discrepancy between the amount charged in [his] bill of items and the amount he testifies to losing. “He testifies to the following property as being taken: 3 Horses, 1 Mule, 3 Cows & Calves, 4 Oxen, 3 Beef Cattle, 150 bushels of corn, 3,000 lbs. of fodder, 2 carts, 3 saddles. Did not see any officer when the property was taken. Did not see the corn taken. “There can be no doubt as to the ownership of property in this case. But as to the amount actually taken by Federal troops, I have failed to find any one that knows. He had considerable property, so all his neighbors say. I find no indications of any fraud in the case. “Respectfully submitted, Enos Richmond, Special Agent, Feb. 28th 1875 [to] Hon. Commissioner of Claims, Washington, D.C.” SOURCE: “Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims 1871–1880,” digital images, FOLD3 (fold3 : accessed 7 September 2014), images 31–32 of 40; Claim 20888, Jean Conant (Natchitoches Parish, La.); citing Record Group 217 [Records of the Accounting Offices, Dept. of Treasury], National Archives, Washington, D.C. Transcription by Elizabeth Shown Mills, with (a) minor editing of punctuation, for clarity; and (b) omission of some boilerplate where ellipses appear.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 14:00:03 +0000
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