Cynthia Tice and her fraudulant claim

Many southerners didn't pass the Union loyalty requirement. This southern woman's 24-page case file begins at http://footnote.com/viewer.php?image=580964

Cynthia Tice, Floyd County, Virginia, a lady who "could have worn the breeches"

Case #8829, filed 23 October 1871, $444 itemized below. Rejected.

Claim for:

• 5-year-old gelding ............................. 150
• 6-year-old mare ................................. 200
• 20 bushels of oats & 2 stacks of oats ... 24
• 10 barrels of corn .................................. 50
• 1 stack of hay & 50 lbs. bacon .............. 20

Cynthia Tice is a 65-year-old widow from Virginia. Her claim covers horses and provisions she lost when General George Stoneman's Cavalry passed "through the Country on a raid" in April 1865.

She is described by one witness as a "Lady of Character" (Kitterman, page 15) another as a "Lady of high Character" (Elliott, page 14). Although she lists five people to testify on her behalf, a man named Winston has no official deposition recorded in her case file, but his comments are referenced in a "Memorandum" on page 22, signed at Richmond, 6 Sept [1872] with initials "A.G." The memorandum settles the case by stating, "Winston says: She is a widow. Strong secession family. Has four sons in rebel army & would have gone herself if she could have worn the breeches. As disloyal as any one, all the time."

In the commissioners summation they state, "It is evident she was entirely confederate in her feelings. The claim is disallowed."