Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-18
'ensIOus to Deceased Soldiers Mothers.

I ~SS'-1N~ - 'AAO A-AAAeoAy SOA N4So VI LA6 y u
tied States under the act granting pensions
approved July 14,I862;
"PExsIoxs OFFICE, Oct. IS, 1852.
"SIR: To the several questions contain
ed in your letter of the 10th inst, concern
ing the pensions claims of mathers of de-
ceased officers and soldiers, who have left
neither widow nor minor child, reply in
no case will the dependence Of the mothers
upon her son for support, whether wholly
OF in part, be taken for granted on the
mere affidavit Of the claimant The allega-
tiCn must be sustained by positive proof
that she has actually received her support
during a stated period, either wholly or
| in part, from the deceased soldier, on ao-
count Of whose military service she presents
her claim. This can be proved by the
afidaYits of two creditable Witnesses who
are not interested in the result of the ap-
plication; by the production of evidence
that portion Of the soldiers pay by al
lotment ticket or otherwise was regulraly
transmitted to the mother; by proof that
he constantly paid to contributed toward
paying her board, house rent or specific
and necessary expenses, or by such other
equivalent testimony as will clearly estab-
lish the fact in question. It is not su fl
cient that the mothers received occasional
presents from deceased. If the mother has
husband living, that fact is regarded as
pria1d fdcis evidence that she was not in
any case dependent on her son for support
In such case, before she can be admitted
on the pension roll, It must be clearly prov
ed that her husband has refused or neglect
60 v,-,--TIa Eo- ka,- rAo E.,
how long a time, or on account of physical
inability to labor, having no other source
Of income, or else that having deserted her
he is beyond the reach of legal compulsion
to contribute to her maintenance.
The proof required in this case is that
of two creditable and disinterestede wit
nesses, who must state their means Of
knowing the facts to which they make aff-
davit.
at is my opinion that if the mother of
deceased soldier has a husband living who
is not proved to be responsible to support
her, and in such situation that she cannot
enforce her legal claim upon him for sub
sistence, she is not entitled TO receive
pension by reasons Of the service and
death Of her son. Proof of the mothers
marriage to the father Of the deceased SOL
der is regarded as indispensable, and the
fact should be established by record evid-
ence when that can be obtained. If the
marriage took place in a foreign country,
q record Of the baptism Of any child of the
parties will be accepted in place of the
marriage record, if the latter cannot be
Attained without great Inconvenience. If
neither can be obtained, an affidavit to that
effect, private record, or the evidence of
common reputation, shown by two credit
able witnesses having no interest in the
result will be received.
Respectfully yours,
tJosEPH d. BARRETT, Commission.
The Escape of Stuart---Who is Respon-
sibles
The correspondent Of the New York
Times, who describes StuarCs raid ana es-
cape, says:
"a But there must be some one on whom a
terrible weight Of responsibility falls for
permitting the huge disgrace brought upon
US by the rebel raid into the Free States.
And, first, in the tangled skein Of blunder-
ings and stupidities, the cavalry force
guarding the Upper Potomac had of late
been split up and scattered-a portion Of
them being sent away above Hancock, and
the rest in other out-of-the way directions.
The door was thus left open for the entry
of the rebels, and if it had been intended
TO invite them in, they could not have been
more ftly managed.
"An indignant public will next inquire
what principles Of military strategy it
was that oon6ded the prime and all-impor-
tant task Of capturing these audscious in
vaders to 8 small force .foIJocing in their
rear The signal corps stationed on every
mountain peak Of Maryland kept the Com
manding General fully informed of every
move of the rebels, and it was perfectly
known what point they were making for,
and what force there was to intercept
them. Why, 1t will naturally be asked
was not every ford guarded with artillery,
instead of being left wholly defenceless,
while even the pickets between Point of
Rocks and Whites Ferry had, two days
before. been Withdrawn For three hours
the cannonading was heard from head
quarters, dozen miles of, and no attempt
| to send reinforcements madel For three
| hours the perilous cannonading was heard
at the headquarters Of General Stoneman,
at Poolesville, five miles of, and reinforce
ments csre sent. The firing was heard at
So'clock the reinfoJcements "a brigade Of
infantry, a regiment Of cavalry, and two
! Quns) reached General Pleasanton at II
| o'clock, Just two hours after the rebels
were all safely across the Potomsol The
rebels had the foresight to send forces to
cover the crossing Of their friends-fOr
early in the morning battery was moved
over from the Virginia side and planted
in the Poolesville road, while another was
planted opposite Whites Ferry to protect
! the transit. We had not the wit or the
will to take the like precautions to secure
a splendid success