The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-22
CONGRESSIONAL.

In he Senate, february 20, 1852,

A. MCNEIL widow OF the late General John MCNEIL
MIR. HUNTER. Is there any report accompanying that
bill.
The PRESIDENT There is no report
Mr.. BORLAND will state that reported that bill
from The Committee on Pensions There is no written
report in the We did moi make report. because
considered the plain and in which most
OF the facts We're known 10 the Senate and the country,
that very little explanation would be sufficient 10
satisfy the Senate OF It's merits II proposed pay TO
the widow OF the late General John Mcneil, very gal
liant officer IN our army what we consider arrears OF
pension General Mcneil severely wounded, and
lost his leg but he continued in the service certain
length OF tme, and then resigned his commission in the
army lie received his pension from the time he
signed his commission, although he believed all the while
that he entitled. and think clearly enl
tied, TO pension from The Tune OF receiving The wound
by which he lost his limb
Since his death, his widow applies for the OF
pension due from the time he was wounded up TO The
time lie resigned his commission in ibe army Ii is but
TO pay arrears from the tune he lost his leg TO the time
he left the army.
No amendment being moved. the bill was reported to
the Senate.
On motion by Mr.. BORLAND, the blank in the bill
was filled with The word "ihiriy, 10 make the bill
read "thlrty dollars per month"
MIR. CLARKE should like 10 know why the com
mee put in the time to extend only to 1880. This
gentleman was in the service till within year or two
Mr.. BORLAND. II the senator had listened to my re-
Marks think he woad have understood the IL
Is TO pay arrears OF pension from the time he lost his
leg till the time he resigned his commission in the army
DIR CLARKE beg TO cay he never lost leg.
have seen ham great many times lie was wounded IN
the knee He had stiff knees but he had as many legs
to be buried With as he was born with do not know
MIR BORLAND. He ia consider himself entitled to
pension from the time he wounded till he resigned
He did not get it. He put upon the roll only from
the time he left the army But he always considered and
asserted his right to be put upon the pension ROLL and his
widow now reasserts that right aud makes this applica
Mr.. ATCHISON. do not intend to oppose this bill.
do not intend to make war upon the widow OF gallant
officer but would like to know what the grade Of
Gen. Mcneil while in the army.
Mr. NORRIS He was major.
Mr. ATCHISON. A, the time he left the army what
MIR DODGE, of Wisconsin That of a colonel.
Mr. ATCHlSON. He then received his full pay
officer, OF the grade he held in the army, up the time
he resigned and from that time forward he received his
full pension Now, this additional amount of pay
not an arrearage of pension, but increase OF pay
while an officer in the army | am perfectly willing 10
vote for special case but TO adopt such principle
as general rule strikes would make very great
inroad into the public treasury of the United States to
amount Of millions perhaps want clearly understood
that vote for this being special case and with
out regard TO any principle whatever lLaugher.l
Mr. NORRIS. If hisis special case. there have been
other special before. But contend ii spe
cal in hopes that this bill would have passed
without objection Having introduced into the Senate,
IT becomes my duty under the circumstances, to give
some further explanation OF this bill, and state the
grounds upon which think it ought 10 pass la doing
this, sir its not my intention enter into detailed
count OF the services OF General McNeill very brief
summary will show the true grounds upon which this
bill stands
That he was a brave, distinguished and skul officer
that he received permanent and disabilities while
in the line OF his duty, in the public serviceis well
known to every senator here That he suffered severely
and almost constantly from these injuries from the time
OF their reception up 10 the time OF his death, equally
well known TO every person who had intercourse with
him.
Sit, General Mcneil entered The army of the United
States in March, 1872 captain OF the nth infantry
regiment constituting part OF the forces raised under
the act OF the preceding January. SO merorlous
his conduct officer, that he promoted 10 the
rank OF major In August 1913. Ii is unnecessary
for to state TO the Senate, here, that he dis
charged the duties of his advance-rank with singular
abilities, with distinguished credit TO himself and honor
to the country. On the 9th Of July, 1914, his regiment
constituted portion OF the forces engaged in the battle OF
Chippewa. After the fall of the gallant Colonel Camp
bell--carly in that conestthe command Of that regi
ment dcyolved upon General Mcneil; and such his
bravery and military skill and daring courage that
occasion 10 receive the applause and appreciation OF
all his distinguished compeers and Tor these dis
tinguished aud gallant services that occasion he
ceived the brevet rank OF Lieutenant colonel Now, sir,
only twenty days aer-on the 25th OF the same month
n day which shed much upon American
vaor and American arms-he led the regiment TO
the bloody and triumphant battle Of Brdgewater 1t was
here in the heat OF the contest while al the head OF the
column, urging il on by his example and by his VOICE
in the face Of post CALLING and destructive fire from the
snemys battery that be struck in the right knee BY
shot, shalterng and rendIng IN the most ter
rbIe manner. and nearly severing the limb From the
effects OF that wound General Mcneil never recovered
True. be did not lose his limb my friend from Arkan-
[Mr. BoRLAkD] supposes but the knee render
cd ever afterwards entirely snh and such the shat
tered and broken condition OF the limb that he
Il
whole sysem, with the most excruciang suffering and
which finally undermined and destroyed his once becu
lean constitution
Sir the close OF the war, such the distinguished
merits and skill OF General Mcneil that. nowithsiand.
ing his injuries, he retained upon the peace esab
lishment major OF The 9Th regiment In 1918 be
advanced to the rank OF lieutenant colonel OF the in
fanry. Again, SIR, in 1922, when in command OF the
post at Chicago while leading detachment of bis men
10 the rescue of vessel in dstress-baving on board
supplies for his iroops-be severely injured in
the right arm, rendering that limb almost entirely sh
and greatly mpaIrDg ats In 1924 he breveted
brgsdler general Tor faithful service In 1926 be
still further promoted TO the advanced rank OF colonel
in the army In 1880, the 23d OF April, he resigned
his commission in the army; his constitution having
been broken down, his health impaired and be having
dured sueriDes from injuries received in the pub
lie service From that time be has received a pension
from the government for full disability. And sir.
would here state that in 1878. soon the nature of
his wounds would permit, he applied TO the War Depart
ment TO be placed upon the roll OF invalid pensioners Of
the United States, under the contract that he alleged he
had made with the government when he entered its
service lie made also application IN 1919. Upon
poth OCCASIONS hls application was refused And why,
sur Was because be bad not been seriously and per
manenuy disabled while in the line OF his duty in the
Pupne service NO, sir Tor that apparent 10 all
But ne was told that the War Department had made
ruie mai no ofce while he retained bis commission in
the army, should be placed upon the roll of invalid pen
aioners To that ACT, and agans, that decision, General
Mcneil then, and ever afterwards protested He
claimed that under the law of 1912 he had rgh 10 he
placed upon the pension roll OF the United States of July
lsi4.
Sir have made this brief and true statement, Of facts IN
show the ground upon which this bill ress Th;. Hi