Shepherdsville Baptist Church in Civil War

According to a document published by the United States Senate during the 61st Congress, 2nd Session, (Volume 62, Document 563), the Baptist Church of Shepherdsville requested and received compensation for the use of its building as a hospital by Federal troops during the Civil War.

That document is transcribed below.

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LETTER FROM THE ASSISTANT CLERK OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS TRANSMITTING A COPY OF THE FINDINGS OF THE COURT IN THE CASE OF TRUSTEES OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF SHEPHERDSVILLE, KY., AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

May 25, 1910.—Referred to the Committee on Claims and ordered to be printed.

Court Of Claims, Clerk's Office,

Washington, May 24, 1910.

Sir: Pursuant to the order of the court, I transmit herewith a certified copy of the findings of fact filed by the court in the aforesaid cause, which case was referred to this court by resolution of the United States Senate, under the act of March 3, 1887, known as the Tucker Act.

I am, very respectfully, yours,
John Randolph,
Assistant Clerk Court of Claims.

Hon. James S. Sherman,
President of the Senate.

[In the Court of Claims. Congressional, No. 13063. Trustees of the Baptist Church, of Sbepherdsvllle, Ky., v. The United Statea.]

STATEMENT OF CASE.

This is a claim for use and occupation alleged to have been furnished to the military forces of the United Statea during the civil war. On the 2d day of March, 1907, the United States Senate referred to the court a bill in the following words:

"[S. 7441, Fifty-ninth Congress, second session.]

" For the relief of the trustees of the Baptist Church, of Shepherdsvllle, Kentucky.

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to pay, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the trustees of the Baptist Church of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, the sum of two thousand and five hundred dollars, in full compensation for the occupation, use, and incidental injury to said church by United States military forces daring the civil war."

The said trustees of said church appeared in this court March 23, 1907, and filed their petition in which it is substantially averred that:

During the late civil war the military authorities of the United States took possession of the property of the Baptist Church of Shepherdsville, Ky , consisting of a large, well-constructed, brick church building, and occupied the same as a hospital from 1862 until the end of the war in 1865, and the property thereby greatly injured; that a claim was presented in the War Department for repairs and a small allowance made on said claim for repairs but no allowance or payment on account of rent or use and occupation of the property; that the reasonable rental value of said property, including the repairs necessary to restore said property to the same condition as before such occupation, was the sum of $2,500, for which no payment has been made; that the claimant has at all times borne true allegiance to the Government of the United States, and has not in any way voluntarily aided, abetted, or given encouragement to rebellion against the said Government.

The case was brought to a hearing on loyalty and merits on the 25th day of February, 1908.

Messrs. Coldren & Penning appeared for the claimant and the Attorney-General, by William H. Lamar, esq., his assistant and under his direction, appeared for the defense and protection of the interests of the United States.

The court, upon the evidence adduced and after considering the briefs and argument of counsel on both sides, makes the following

FINDINGS OF FACT.

I. The Baptist Church of Shepherdsville, Ky., as a church, was loyal to the Government of the United States throughout the late civil war.

II. During said war the military forces of the United States occupied the church building described in the petition at different times for a period of about a year and a half, during which time the building was damaged, for which the claimant was paid the sum of $811.90, no allowance being made for rent. The reasonable rental value of the building for the time occupied was then and there the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150), no part of which appears to have been paid.

III. A claim was presented to the Quartermaster-General, an allowance being made by him as per settlement number 6055 of 1871 for damages, the claim for rent being disallowed for want of jurisdiction. Thereafter the claim for rent was presented to the Fifty-ninth Congress and referred to this court by resolution of the United States Senate, as hereinbefore set forth in the statement of the case.

By The Court.
Filed May 2, 1910.
A true copy.

Test this 23d day of May, 1910.
[seal.] John Randolph,
Assistant Clerk, Court of Claims

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