Deposition of William F. Paddon, this 6th March, 1865

Deposition of William F. Paddon

British Consulate, City of Charleston:

William F. Paddon, of 7 Marion street, and 447 King street, Charleston, gas-fitter, make thoath and saith as follows:

I have been engaged for two or three years past in salt-boiling, in connexion with which I have employed two vessels (wood-floats) in bringing to the city from landings up the river, cord-wood; that at the time of the occupation of the city by the forces of the United States, I had not less than twelve cords of pine wood stacked in Harrison’s and Hamep’s wood-yards on Gadsden’s Green. On the 21st ultimo it was taken possession of by the United States troops and a guard put over it. On the 24th I was allowed by Major Wil-loughby, provost marshal, to whom I applied for the restoration of it, one load (one-quarter of a cord) for my own family use. On Saturday, the 4th of March, I again applied to him for my wood, and also for a pass for a servant to go up the river for one of my wood-boats detained there. Major Willoughby told me first to go to Captain Appleton, provost marshal general, and get a pass, as the boat was beyond the limits of the city. On applying to Captain Appleton, I was told to go to Colonel Woodford, the commandant of the city, for a license. On applying at Colonel Woodford’s office, his adjutant, Captain Jenks, referred me to Lieutenant Haviland, the post treasurer. On applying to him he told me he could not give me any license unless I took the oath of allegiance. I made known that I was a British subject, and showed him the papers I had received from the British consulate. He told me his orders were to give no licenses for any business to any parties who did not take the oath of allegiance to the government of the United States. I then went to Captain Jenks, and he said such were the orders that had been received. He permitted me to see Colonel Woodford, and I asked him whether it was actually necessary to take the oath of allegiance. He said he understood my position exactly; he said, if Charleston was to be attacked would I take up arms? I said I would not. And he told me that he did not want anyone to do business in Charleston that would not fight for it, and no one could do business that could not take the oath and fight for the place. On leaving he said he would be delighted to give us passes to leave the country. Mr. George Dowie and Mr. W. McComb, also British subjects, were in company with me during the interviews I had to-day with Lieutenant Haviland and Colonel Woodford.