UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

The United States are not responsible for the injury or destruction of private property caused by their military operations during the late civil war, nor are private parties chargeable for works constructed on their property by the United States to facilitate such operations.

Accordingly, where bridges on the line of a railroad were destroyed during the civil war by either of the contending forces, their subsequent rebuilding by the United states as a measure of military necessity, without the request of, or any contract with, the owner of the railroad imposes no liability upon such owner. clubjuris

Page 120 U. S. 228

These were appeals from the Court of Claims. The case is stated in the opinion of the Court.