Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-04-03
OFFICIAL.
DEPARTMENT OF Tui: INTERIOR.
PENs,oS OrrrcE, March 20, 1851


in the execution of the Bounty Land Act
OF September %, 1850, and some of the
rules and regulations before prescribed eli.
Their misinterpreted or dsregarded, the fol.
lowing instructions, approved by the Sec
rotary of the Interior, are issued for the
benefit OF all persons interested:
/. The act OF February IL, 1871, hay.
ing restricted land bounty, for service in
the Mexican war to the noncommissoned
officers, musicians, and privates of the reg
ular army. the claims OF commissioned Of
ficers in that service are for the first time
recognized by the act CT 2Sth of Scptem-
Der, 1850. |. was not the intention OF that
act to bes,ow bounty land on The mholc army
QfMc United States UhGrcUcr located, but only
on those whose .ervicc was connected with,
or had u direct reference 10 that war; nor
can the act be properly construed to en-
brace the officers and employers attached
TO the War Department in Washington,
their service not being of that kind which
was contemplated. 1t not necessary that
officers should have been actually within
the limits of Mexico, or on the borders
thereof, provided they were actively en-
gagged in The war, and directly connected
with its operations.
2 In the war of 1912, troops were fire.
Iucndy called out by State authority. and
not Immediately mustered in the service of
the United States. If the Federal Govern
ment pail such troops from the time OF
their enrolment, and before they were ac-
tually mustered in the service of the United
States, that pas ment is equivalent to re-.
cognition OF their service from the date OF
the enrolment. The time for which they
were paid by the Unitcl States, furnishes Il
convenient and practical standard for eslm-
a,ing the period of service.
3. The conflicts with the Creek Indians,
which commenced about 9th of May, 1886,
and ended 30,h of September, 1887, are
considered as embraced by the act of 1850:
large bodies OF troops having been mustered
in tho United States service, and several
engagements having occurred, attended by
the loss OF many lives in battle, within that
period. The disturbances on the south.
western frontier in 1896; in the Cherokee
country in 1886 and 1887; and the New
York disturbances in 1888 and 1889, arc
not considered as embraced by the provl-
sions Of the act of Septcmber, 1850.
4. 1t has been settled that Indians who
were regularly mustered into the service
Of the United States, and formed compo.
nent part of the line OF the army, were en-.
titled to the benefit of the act. In the case
of the Cherokces. who have an organize
government. and judicial system in opc.
ration, the affidavit in support of an a2Tli
cation Tor land bounty mus, be made before
one of their Judges, whose official characie
shall be certified by their principal chief
The Creeks having no judicial officers, the
United States agent in that nation, Is au
thoriZed to administer the necessary oaths
5. 1t has been heretofore stated tina
"teamsters and ariifcers' were not entitled
TO land bounty; but this is not to be so I'M
dcrstood, if such tenmsters or artilicer
belonged to the line Of the army, and wer
regularly detailed for that particular ain,
of service.
6. Surgeons employed by command
ing officer at stipulated rate of compensa
ton, bat not commissioned or belonging I
the line Of the army, are not entitled to Ian
bounty.
7. 1t has been decided by the Depart
ment that the substitute performing tn
military service, and not the employer,
entitled to the land bounty; but when tn
engagement is partly performed BY bot'
each Is entlt,eu 10 HIS snare, uCColuiHS
his period of service.
s. Where the declaration of the claim
ant on oath, supported by regular an
authentic discharge is in conflict with II
military rolls, the former, as n general rul
will be preferred. And where the rolls Il
altogether silent MS to claimant, the postl'
testimony of officers and soldiers wi
whom he served and whose names a
found on the rolls will be received as e.
dence.
0. Tie act of September, 1850, G
cludes all persons who have received,
ave entitled to receive, land bounty und
any net OF Congress, heretofore passed.
all applications hereafter presented. IRE
sonable time being allowed for these
structions TO circulate,) it will b. requlr
that the claimant shall state in his decia
ton that he has not received nor is EMIT
to receive such bounty.
10. The Department has decided Il
widows are entitled to the land bounty
deceased soldiers, il they are widows
the passage Of the act Of September
1850. This is the law in its general aP
cation. But the widow OF an officer
soldier killed in battle is entitled to
maximum allowance of Que hundred ;
sixty acres, without reference to the pr
cd OF her husbands service. And, altho'
married woman at the passage OF the
summarized at the date Of her Applicant
her claim Is valid.
II Hha IF M