, 1861-04-26

Horses and other property lost or des
troyed in the Military service of the
United States. s
BE il enacted By The Senate and House Of
Representatives Of lie Uaited States Of
America in Congress assembled, That any
| field, or staff, or other officer, mounted
militn-man, volunteer, ranger, or cavalry,
engaged in the military service Of the Uui.
ted States since the 18th Of June, 1912, or
who shall hereafter be in said service, and
has sustained, or shall sustain, damage
without any fault or negligence on bis part,
while in said service, by the loss Of horse 10
battle, or by the loss of horse wounded in
battle, and which has died or shall die Of
said wound, or being so wounded, shall be
abandoned by order Of his officer and lost,
or shall sustain damage by the loss of any
horse by death or abandonment because OF
the unavoidable dangers Of the sea when on
board an United States transport vessel,
or because the United States failed to sup
| ply transportation for the horse, and the
owner was compelled by the order of bis
commanding officer to embark and leave
him, or in consequence OF the United States
failing TO supply sufficient forage, or be-
cause the rider was dismounted and sepa-
rated from his horse and ordered to do duty
on foot at a station detached from his horse,
or when the officer in the immediate com.
mand ordered, or shall order, the horse
turned ont to Craze in the woods, prairies,
or commons, because the United States
failed, or shall fail, to supply sufficient for
age, and the loss was or shall be conse-
quent thereof, or for the loss of necessary
equipage, in consequence Of the loss Of his
horse, as aforesaid, shall be allowed and
paid the value thereof, not to exceed two
hundred dollars: PrOrided, That if any
payment has beenspr shall be, made TO any
one aforesaid, for the use and risk, or for
forage after the death, loss, or abandon
ment of his horse, said payment shall be
deducted from the value thereof, unless he
satisfied, or shall satisfy, the paymaster at
the time he made, or shall make, the pay
ment, or thereafter show, by proof that be
was remounted, in which case the deduc-
tion shall only extend to the time he was
on foot: And pyorided, also, If any pay
ment shall have been, or shall hereafter be
made to any person above mentioned, on
account OF clothing to which he Hns not
entitled by law, such payment shall be de-
Quoted from the value Of his horse or ac-
coutrements.
Sec. 2. And be IL further enacted, That
any person who has sustained, or shall sus-
tain, damage by the capture or destruction
by an enemy, or by the abandonment or
destruction by the order Of the command
ing general, the commanding officer, or
quartermaster Of any horse, mule, OK, wag-
on, cart, boat, sleigh, or harness, while
such property was in the military service of
the United States, either by impressment
or contract, except in cases where the risk
to which the property wonld be exposed
was agreed to be incurred by the owner;
and any person who has sustained, or shall
sustain, damage by the death or abandon
ment and loss of any such horse, mule, or
OK, while in the service aforesaid, 10 conse-
quence Of the failure on the part of the
United States to furnish the same with suf-
icient forage, and any person who has lost,
or shalllose, or has had, or shall have, des-
troyed by unavoidable accident, any horse,
mule, OK, wagon, cart, boat, sleigh, or bar
ness, while such property was in the SER
vice aforesaid, shall be allowed and paid
the value thereof at the time he entered
the service: Pr0rided, II shall appear that
such loss, capture, abandonment, destrnc-
ton, or death, was without any fault or
negligence on the part Of the owner of The
property, and while it was actually en-
ployed in the service Of the United States.
Sec. 8. And Be IL further enaeted, That
the claims provided for under this act shall
be adjusted by the Third Auditor, under
such rules as shall be prescribed by the
Secretary Of War, under the direction or
with the assent of the President Of the Uni
ted States, as viii in regard to the receipt
Of applications Of claimants as the species
and degree Of evidence, the manner in
which such evidence shall be taken and au-
thenticated, which rules shall be such as in
the opinion of the President shall be best cal
culated to obtain the object Of this act, pay
ing q due regard as well to the claims Of
individuals justice as to the interest of the
United States; which rules and regulations
shall be published for four weeks in such
newspapers, in which the laws of the Uni.
ted States are Published, as the Secretary
of War shall direct.
Sec. 4. And belt further enacted, That
in all adjudications Of said Auditor upon
the claims above mentioned, whether such
judgments be in favor of or adverse 10 the
claim, shall be entered 10 book provided
by him for that purpose, and under his di
rection; and when such judgments shall be
in favor Of such claim, the claimant or his
legal representative shall be entitled to the
amount thereof, upon the production Of q
copy thereof, certified by said Auditor, at
the treasury Of the United States.
Sec. 5. And be IL further snaeted, Thai
in all instances where any minor has been
or shall be, engaged in the military service
Of the United States, aud was, or shall be
provided with q horse or equipments, o.
with military accoutrement by his paren
or guardian, and has died, or shall die
without paying for said property aud tn