Phillip Lough and His Sorrell Mare
Wednesday December 23 2020
Philip Lough has a record in the Union Citizens File that was found on fold3.com. It is a very interesting story, comprising of 12 pages of documents all about this sorrel mare.
It seems that on 5 Sep 1853, the 24th Ohio Mounted Infantry came calling at the Lough home in Lewis County. They "traded" a horse for Philip's sorrel mare and went on their way. Capt. John Grace's statement (made on 24 Dec 1863) describes the transaction:
…in reference to a horse being taken near Weston, West Virginia by one of the men in my command. The horse that he was riding could not travel in consequence of having sore feet and being worn down as he had been on the trip to Wytheville, West Virginia previously and had not sufficient time to fully recover before starting to Clarksburg West Virg.
I ordered him to take the first horse he could get and leave his in the place of the one taken which he did between Weston, West Virginia and Clarksburg, W. Va of whom I do not know. The reasons why I have no papers or vouchers was this. I did not think it necessary as this horse left was better than the one taken. If he had had rest and time to recover.
Later, some soldiers "said to be of the 6th VA Infantry took this horse away." In other words, the Union Infantry traded him a horse and the Confederates came along and stole it from him!
There then begins correspondence from the Colonel of the Brigade, A. Wilkinson, who is looking for this missing horse. His letter dated 16 Feb 1864 reads:
Sir, I am directed to make inquiry as to what became of the horse that the soldiers of the 24th Ohio Mounted Infantry left with you, 5th the time they took your sorrel mare. Is it still in your possessions or where is it? Give a statement verified by witnesses if possible.
The reply, dated 23 Feb 1864 states:
This day personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace of Lewis County, Margaret C. Lough and made oath that the horse left with my father, P Lough, by the 34th Ohio Mounted Infantry was taken from him by the sixth Virginia soldiers sometime in September 1863. Under my notice given and signed…Henry Steinbeck.
Also included in the documentation is a letter written by Philip outlining how he really needs his horse returned:
After a few more letters and affidavits, including one from Philip's son-in-law, Noah Life, the government presented Philip with $65 to pay for the sorell mare taken from him. Noah was the husband of the aforementioned Margaret and was a judge in the county. His house is still visible near the Jane Lew, WV exit on I-79.
What a fascinating story this is! And the best part is that the documents are fairly legible and the signatures are shown clearly. What I find really interesting is that, in spite of all the things going on and getting lost during the war, the Quartermaster Core was determined to find out what happened to this one horse! I'm really happy that Philip was able to get reimbursed for his loss.
Lineage for this story:
Gen 1: Julane Crabtree is the daughter of
Gen 2: Gene Cayton Curtis & Joan Carol Betler. Gene was the son of
Gen 3: Gene R Curtis and Myrtle Marie Cayton. Myrtle was the daughter of
Gen 4: William Henry Cayton and Talitha Ann DeBarr. William was the son of
Gen 5: David Cayton and Ruhama Lough. Ruhama was the daughter of
Gen 6: Philip Lough and Sally Fisher
It seems that on 5 Sep 1853, the 24th Ohio Mounted Infantry came calling at the Lough home in Lewis County. They "traded" a horse for Philip's sorrel mare and went on their way. Capt. John Grace's statement (made on 24 Dec 1863) describes the transaction:
…in reference to a horse being taken near Weston, West Virginia by one of the men in my command. The horse that he was riding could not travel in consequence of having sore feet and being worn down as he had been on the trip to Wytheville, West Virginia previously and had not sufficient time to fully recover before starting to Clarksburg West Virg.
I ordered him to take the first horse he could get and leave his in the place of the one taken which he did between Weston, West Virginia and Clarksburg, W. Va of whom I do not know. The reasons why I have no papers or vouchers was this. I did not think it necessary as this horse left was better than the one taken. If he had had rest and time to recover.
Later, some soldiers "said to be of the 6th VA Infantry took this horse away." In other words, the Union Infantry traded him a horse and the Confederates came along and stole it from him!
There then begins correspondence from the Colonel of the Brigade, A. Wilkinson, who is looking for this missing horse. His letter dated 16 Feb 1864 reads:
Sir, I am directed to make inquiry as to what became of the horse that the soldiers of the 24th Ohio Mounted Infantry left with you, 5th the time they took your sorrel mare. Is it still in your possessions or where is it? Give a statement verified by witnesses if possible.
The reply, dated 23 Feb 1864 states:
This day personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace of Lewis County, Margaret C. Lough and made oath that the horse left with my father, P Lough, by the 34th Ohio Mounted Infantry was taken from him by the sixth Virginia soldiers sometime in September 1863. Under my notice given and signed…Henry Steinbeck.
Also included in the documentation is a letter written by Philip outlining how he really needs his horse returned:
After a few more letters and affidavits, including one from Philip's son-in-law, Noah Life, the government presented Philip with $65 to pay for the sorell mare taken from him. Noah was the husband of the aforementioned Margaret and was a judge in the county. His house is still visible near the Jane Lew, WV exit on I-79.
What a fascinating story this is! And the best part is that the documents are fairly legible and the signatures are shown clearly. What I find really interesting is that, in spite of all the things going on and getting lost during the war, the Quartermaster Core was determined to find out what happened to this one horse! I'm really happy that Philip was able to get reimbursed for his loss.
Lineage for this story:
Gen 1: Julane Crabtree is the daughter of
Gen 2: Gene Cayton Curtis & Joan Carol Betler. Gene was the son of
Gen 3: Gene R Curtis and Myrtle Marie Cayton. Myrtle was the daughter of
Gen 4: William Henry Cayton and Talitha Ann DeBarr. William was the son of
Gen 5: David Cayton and Ruhama Lough. Ruhama was the daughter of
Gen 6: Philip Lough and Sally Fisher