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Petersburg Va March 27, 1863
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| I William Falconer being duly sworn on the
Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, do certify and affirm that on the
night of the 26 March 1863 I assisted in taking from a train of cars
belonging to the South Side Rail Road Company at the depot of said
Company in this city one hundred and seven (107) head of cattle
shipped from Lynchburg by Maj Thos C E Coler C. S., that two head
wandered when taken from the train and three more were unable to walk
and died before morning; and that two others notwithstanding every
attention possible was given them died today before 12 o'clock
noon. |
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I do further certify that I was present today when ninety
six of the cattle in question were weighed to Maj Jonas and they
averaged between four hundred and ninety three and four hundred and
ninety four pounds gross per head; that I have heard and believe they
averaged when weighed early in the present month near Mount Airy in
Wythe county Virginia on an average six hundred and eighteen pounds
per head and in view of the fact that they were driven to Lynchburg a
distance of about 155 miles on the hoof and were then as I have been
informed two days and nights on the cars between this place and
Lynchburg without food or water, I do not deem the diminution in
weight as very great -- especially when it is taken into consideration
that the cattle are small and young and were driven through a spell of
weather that was exceedingly bad and unfavorable to live stock. I
further certify that I have been buying cattle for the Government for
the last 18 months and think I know something about stock. I should
add that four (4) more of the cattle are in a helpless condition and I
do not think they can live; this accounts for only ninety six of these
cattle being weighed to Maj Jonas. I further certify that I am now the
agent of Maj Robert Yannahill CS at Petersburg and in no will
interested in these cattle. Given under my hand this 27th March 1863.
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| W. Falcomer |
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