CVYX {■ Duke University Libraries Report of Commi Conf Pam #276 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS. IN THE CASE OF MARY CLARK. House of Representatives, December 29, loG3. Mr. Speaker : The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the petition of M iry •lark of Washington county. Virginia have instructed me to report: That the claim of the p titioner is that she may l>e paid the value of a certain slave belonging to her, which, under an act of the Legis- lature of Virginia, was iiuor ssed by the Governor of that State, to labor on the fortifications around the ci'y of Richmond, and vvhile engaged in this service contracted, it is alleged, a disease of which he The committee have reason to believe that there is a large number of claims of this description, and thas any attempt to a 'just them, on the part of Congress, would necessarily lead to -great em- barrassment and confusion, and that the remedy of those aggrivei), is to be sought from State authorities, leaving the matter to be adjusted between the State and Confederate governments. The committee, therefore, ask to be discharged from the further eonsideratian of the petition in this case, and that it do lie on the table. To the honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confede- rate Studs : The petition of Mary Clark of Washington county. Virginia^ would respectfully represent: That in the month of February, 1863. a slave belonging to your petitioner, named Jacob, was impressed under the act of the Legisla- ture of Virginia, to labor on the fortifications then being erected for the "defence of the city of Richmond. He was employed in this duty for about fifty-one days ; when his term of service being over, he was started back, along with other slaves from this county, by railway, on his return home. He was attacked on the ears by a mortal di<< ase contracted in the service, the consequence of exposure, and died with- in a few days after arriving at the residence of your petitioner. All that medical skill and the utmost care of your petitioner could effect, 'vas done to save him, but in vain. Your petitioner is satisfied, and so expressly alleges, that the death of her said slave was occasioned by exposure while in the public ser- vice. When returned to her he was suffering under the attack of a mortal disease, which no care or effort of her's or of her family physician could relieve. Under the circumstances above stated, your petitioner is advised and believes that she is entitled to compensation for the loss of her slave. The evidence which accompanies this petition, will show what his value was, in the then condition of the currency. Your petitioner prays, from the justice of Congress, compensation for her property lost to her in the service and defence of the Confede- racy. MARY CLARK. VIRGINIA— Washington County : This day, William C. Edmondson, personally appeared before me, Noble J. McGinnis, a justice of the peace, and made oath, that on the evening of Sunday, the 12th day of April, 1863, Jacob, a slave, belonging to Miss Polly Clark, reached the house of his affiant about 10 o'clock. The house of his affiant is about two miles from the plat- form at Emory and Henry College. The said slave, Jacob, had got off the train of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad at Emory Henry that evening, in a condition of great pain and suffering. lf<' came to this affiant's house on foot, supported by three other negro men, and was evidently very severely sick. He was anxious to get home, to the residence of his mistress, a near neighbor of this affiant, but was in such condition that this affiant, judging him utterly unfit and unable to proceed on foot, even with the assistance of his coloied friends, sent him home on horseback, supported and aided by two negro men. The said slave, Jacob, when he got to this affiant's house, was *Jt*4V*~+-ts C+CA+ on his return, with other slaves from this county, from working on the fortifications near Richmond, under a call marie upon this county by ' rovernor Letcher. The said slave Jacob, was a remarkably fine, athletic man, about 24 yours old, of excellent character, and of great value, 'ibis applicant h fully three thousand d< liars. ■ Given under m\ hind, this 20th day of April. IS'i.I. N T OBLB i. McGINNIS. •/. P. ity : This day, Dr, William. F. Barr. of Abingdon, Virginia, personally appeared before me, John 8. Cauldwell, a justice of the peace, in and for the State and County, aforesaid, and made oath as follows : That he was. on Monday morning about 4 o'clock, A. M . April 13th, i 863, called to see a slave belonging to Miss Mary Clark, of the afore- said county, by the name of Jacob, aged about 24 yens, and found him attacked very violently, with pneumonia. The boy Jacob, na \ re- turned but a few hours before, from Richmond, where he had been engaged in working upon the fortifications or public works in defence of Richmond, having been sent there, in conformity to the requisition up< o W asjiington county, by Miss Mary Clark ; that in his opinion and juJ-ment the disease had been contracted by exposure before Jacob arrived at home, as he (Dr. B.) saw him in a few hours after he reached his home; and that he (Dr. B.) r.egarded the case not incurable, so soon as he saw him. The boy Jacob constantly and very attentively attended to, by the nurses, who Miss Clark ; and that he (Dr. B.) visited ling physician, but notwithstanding every effort e the said slave, Jacob, died on Saturday ril 1 sth, lso'.;. Given under my hand, this 80th day of April, 1863. JOHN S. CAULDWELL. /. P. ' > i V [A — Washington County, to wit : This day, John S. Bradley, made oath before me, a justice in and for said county ; that he went to Richmond in February, 1863, to super id t.ke care of a portion of the slaves, sent from this voik on the fortification of the city of Richmond. Amongst sent, was Jacob, the property of Mary Clark. He was not one of the number under my immediate charge, but I saw him frequently while there. During the time the slaves were at work, it rained a great deal. The ditches and works would partially fill with water, with the exception of a few dry places, and the slaves had generally to work with their feet in the water. 1 left Richmond with a portion of the slaves, -arid among them Jacob, about half past four, P. M., on the ! 1th of April, \6ti3. and arrived at Emory and Henry College on the 12th of April, 1863, about half after six, P. M., travelling by the Danville, Southside and Virginia and Tennessee railroads; Jacob got off the cars at Emory and Henry College. Ho did not complain to me, but some of the other negroes told me on the way, that Jacob was complaining of being !*ick. Given under iny hand, this 8tn day of December, 1 803. NOBLE J. McGINNIS; /. P. Richmond, March 3, S863. At the request of Robert F. Clark, we have examined Jacob, and consider him worth twenty-seven hundred dollars; and Edward Morel) twenty- five hundred and fifty dollars. D. M. DANIEL. N. M. LEE. Richmond, March 3, 1803. Received of Mary Clark, the following slaves, viz : Jacob, for work on fortifications ai and near this City, By order of Lt. Col. W. II. STEVENS, Chief Eaglmer, I). N. V. J. LAMB, Government Agent. P H8.5