About this Item
The Confiscation Act of 1861 authorized Union forces to seize the property [including slaves] of disloyal citizens. Ohio Congressman John Armour Bingham wrote the final version of the Confiscation Act of 1861. The 8 x 12 3/8 manuscript document offered here demonstrates the Confiscation procedures when a very unfortunate Josiah Buck went off to war as a Confederate, now deemed a traitor. He lost his property to advancing Union forces. The events occurred in that portion of Virginia, which was destined to become West Virginia. The document is signed by John Campbell, Colonel of the 54th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers and John Culp, the lessee of the seized property and W.H. Rose as witness. "Whereas Josiah Buck, late of Morgan County, Virginia, being in possession of a certain freehold in said county situate about five miles south of the town of Bath on the line of the Morgan and Fredrick Turnpike Road on the banks of Sleepy Creek, and having deserted the same and enlisted as a soldier in the Rebel, or so called "Confederate States" army, now arrays against the government of the United States in armed violation of the Proclamation of the President of the United States calling upon them to disperse and lay down their arms-- thereby committing the heinous crime of treason against the said government of the United States. "Now the said property having been taken possession of by the United States forces, it otherwise lying idle and going to waste, and John Culp, a loyal citizens of the said government, being desirous of working and protecting the said farm or freehold, it is thus agreed this twenty-fifth day of April in the year of our Lord 18§2 by and between Jacob M. Campbell, Col. comd g 54th Reg. Tenn Vols on behalf of the government of the United States of the first part and John Culp of Morgan County, VA, of the second part as follows. "The said Culp shall take possession of the said property of the said Josiah Buck as above described and have and use the same upon these conditions. First the said Culp shall repair and make good all the necessary fences on the property and otherwise put it in good farming repair and order. Secondly, he shall deliver to any duly appointed agent of the United States Government the one fourth part of all grain, hay and all other crops raised by said Culp on the farm in the year 1862 and the one half part of all crops of grain hay and all other productions raised by him every other following year so long as he may either by himself or his agent have possession of the said property. Keeping possession of the same and paying to the proper legal representative of the Unites States Government as above agreed until removed therefrom by some competent legal authority. Witness our names and seals at St. John s Run, the day and year first above written. "Signed and sealed in presence of: W.H. Rose, J.M. Campbell, Col. 54th Reg., TN "John Culp" On verso: "Know all men by these presents "That I John Culp am held and firmly bound unto J.M. Campbell Col. cmdg 54 Reg., TN, Vols. for the use of the United States Government in the full and just sum of five hundred dollars to be levied of my good chattles lands and tenements for the proper use of said government of the United States hereby binding myself my heirs executors administrators and assigns firmly by these presents as witness my hand and seal at St. John s Run this twenty-fifth day of April 1862. "Now the condition of this obligation is such that if the above bounden John Culp does well and truly comply in every respect with the agreements and covenants written signed and sealed on the opposite side of this paper then this bond be null and void otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue. "signed in presence of: "W.H. Rose John Culp, Seal A couple of spots at the bottom of the first page. Else in excellent condition. Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you discover.
Seller Inventory # NN-RMY-SZS-RL
Contact seller
Report this item
