The Report of the Board of Claims Stationed at Nashville lists financial claims made by residents of Nashville and the surrounding area against the United States Army for resources seized during the Civil War, as well as the amount of compensation ultimately awarded and brief remarks about claimants. Claims are grouped alphabetically according to the first letter of claimants' surnames, and each records a claim number, the amount awarded by the "Q. M. Department," the amount awarded by the "C. S. Department," the amount of damages, the total award, the initial amount claimed, and, frequently, remarks. These brief remarks accompany several entries on each page, and most often consisted of "Disloyal," "Rebel," and "No evidence" or "Not supported." Most claimants with a proven claim received a monetary award, including those marked "Disloyal" or "Rebel." Individual claims ranged from under $100 to several thousand dollars, although the amount awarded was nearly always significantly less than the amount claimed. Claimants were both male and female, though primarily male. The final two pages of the volume contain a brief history of the Board of Claims and include the text of the oath taken by claimants, which included an affirmation "that I am a true and loyal Citizen of the United States…At the June election in 1861 I voted against (or for) separation and I have taken the Oath allegiance and the Oath of amnesty."
Two additional items are laid into the volume:
- Partially printed letter to Captain I[srael] Huckins from the Ordnance Office of the War Department, regarding an ordnance return for the second quarter of 1863, signed by George F. Balch (January 7, 1864)
- Letter to Captain [Israel] Huckins from Henry Wideman, regarding his upcoming movement to Nashville from a camp in Georgia (February 2, 1864)
On March 13, 1863, Major General William Rosecrans issued Special Field Order 69, which created a Board of Claims to assess financial claims brought against the United States Army for resources seized during the war. When filing claims in Nashville, Tennessee, citizens swore their loyalty to the Union and presented evidence that the army had appropriated, and offered no compensation for, "Forage Stock and other property." Though the Board dissolved after completing its initial hearings, General Thomas soon reinstated the committee, with extended jurisdiction throughout middle Tennessee.
The Board originally consisted of the following members:
- Honorable Russel Houston, Chairman
- Captain Silas F. Allen, 29th Indiana Infantry Regiment
- Captain Argus D. Van Osdal (or Vanosdal), 3rd Indiana Cavalry Regiment
- Horace H. Harrison, Esq., Clerk of the United States Court
- William Driver, Recorder Clerk
- William I. Cochran, Engrossing Clerk
- Duncan R. Dorrac, Stenographic Clerk
Van Osdal resigned soon after the Board convened, and was replaced by Captain Ezra C. Hatton of the 22nd Michigan Infantry Regimen. Captain Israel Huckins of the 10th Michigan Infantry Regiment replaced Houston, who resigned in August 1863 to return to his legal practice. Cochran, the Board's former clerk, replaced Allen after the latter resigned his army commission in February 1864.
