 To take the Ironclad Oath, a person had to swear he had never borne arms against the Union or supported the Confederacy — that is, he had "never voluntarily borne arms against the United States," had "voluntarily" given "no aid, countenance, counsel or encouragement" to persons in rebellion and had exercised or attempted to exercise the functions of no office under the Confederacy.A farmer who sold grain to the Confederate Army would be covered.The oath was detested by ex-Confederates; some called it "The Damnesty Oath."