Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-29
CoNTRDEsATE STATES CONGRESS.
H0Hso.-Thursday, April 16, 1868.
VOgSFa lost Y,r Srpvtrz

Mr. Clopton, from the COMMITTEES en- claims
reported bill to pay for horses killed, or whiof
nasy die, or may become disabled from wounds
received in the public service.
The committee recommend that the bin d.
pass.
Mr.. Boteler, of Virginia, was glad to hear tha
ct last committee of the house had passed OF
the subject of paying for horses lost in the pub
Tic service. The bill was very good one. but
in his opinion, did not go far enough. He de-
sired TO offer q substitute
The substitute provides further thst payment
shall be made for horses ursv0idably lost by
tbs soldier, when the soldier is in the proper dis
charge of his duty.
Mr.. Sexton, Of Texas, offered an amendment
to the original bill. inserting or when he shall
have been dismounted and made to do duty as
an infantry soldier by the order of his immedi-
ate or sny commanding officer
! Mr.. Read Of Kentucky offered a substitute
/ for the substitute Of Mr. Bossler. The substi-
tute specifies special cases in which payment
/ shall be made.
Mr.. CroclJett, of Ksntucly, offered promise,
to come in at the end of tho bill, that evidence
shall be full, fled under rules to bs prescribed
1 by the Secretary Of War.
! Mr. Swan, of Tennessee, called attention to
! the fact that this matter was brought time and
time again to tha attention Of the military com
mittee, and had fnally been refsrred TO the com
mitiee on qusrtermssters and conmisssry de-
psrtmen.s. Il ha7 been considered lorg and
carefully. He could not ses why there was
such opposition TO msking provision for cases
of horses c2pture1 IN battle. They were GER
tainly IS mertorious as the cases Of those killed
At the battle of Fishing creek, the cavalry were
ordered by General CTittenden to swim their
horses over the river if possible, snd if they
could not DO so, to sbsDd3n them. They were
unable 70 get thsir horses in the retreat, and
consequently, they were abandoned In such 8
case the soldier was not at sll at fsult, but was
completely powerless to aid himself Hence il
would be but an act of right that the property
lost should be paid for.
Mr.. Ksnan, of Georgia, was opposed TO in
sertng the words uDavoida5ls loss" The
forty cents per Gay which cavalrymaa received
for bis horse was intended to pay for all risk
which the owner might incur And why not
remuneTate the family of the infantry soldier for
his loss as well as the cavalrymsn for the loss
of bis horse.
Mr. Chsmbliss, of Virginia, favored the meas
ure, but was opposed to giving the bill too large
q scope.
Mr. Sexton, of Tennessee, addressed the
house in favor of his amendment. He certainly
thought the house would do the justice to pro-
vide payment not only for horses killed, but for
horses csptnred or lost under order of the com.
msnding officer
General Van Dom had dismounted several
regiments of cavalry and sent their horses homo.
These horses were, very many of them, lost,
either died or ran away on their wsy home and
were never heard from, and the men sftsr the
order Of the Secretary of War, declaring the
order illegal was received had not been mount
ed because their horses wars not to be found,
and they could not obtain others
TIE principle of tho forty cents dsy, re-
ceived for risk of the horse, might do very
we'll, so long as the horse remained 10 the Gus
tody of the owner, but when the horse was ia
ken from the soldier by commsUd of his superior
officer, be could not be responsible for the loss.
or risk which might occur. Hence the prinei-
pie could not at eli apply to this case.
mr Clarke, of Georgia, said that The forty
cents a day was introduced to cover all risks
and damages except that Of death. These
claims were no more msTitorious than many
Others which have been presented to this house
But sside from that those men referred to by
the gentleman from Tsxss, (Mr, Graham were