The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-06-15
Important to Friends of Deceased Sol
diers.

the benefit of the brave dead, an object which
proves advantageous to claimants. The proper
way is to make application to the Second Audi
tor who has always been DESTROYS of extending
every facility and encouragement to the poor
widow, mothers, and orphans of applying direct
ly to the office, so that they may save the large
percentage which some are daily paying to at
torneys and agents, to whom the Second Auditor
gives no encouragement whatsoever.
The applications must be made to the Hon. E.
B. French, Second Auditor, Washington, d. c.,
and in all cases postpaid, and he WILL on receiv-
ing letter from the claimant, send the neces-
sary blanks and instructions how to fill them up,
&C., and such is his determination to assist those
who give the required evidence of their relation
ship (Which entities his attention. to receive the
claim. But to agents he will not give any blanks.
In order that Mr.. French may decide who il
the proper person, the latter must give the near
est survivor-in-law, and he, she, or they should
make the application; First widow; second.
children, collectively Gfminors, by guardian
third, father (if fit person, but if drunken
otherwise unworthy Of trust, then mother in his
steady; fourth, mother; fifth brother; and sis
ters collectively sixth, next nearest relatives
heirs, by executors or administrators The
TO
dent of the United States, Neither will bounty
be paid on the will of deceased.
auditor will send word d to that effect and at the
same time indicating which of the relatives
named by the applicant is. On the return of
their regular order with those of the same State.
and settlement will be made in order of date OF
death.
complicated routine which person has to go
through in order to accomplish the desired end
Let us examine in detail.
Soldiers are intended to be paid once every two
months. Ii living they are paid promptly, and,
in many instances he is overpaid. The Govern
ment holds the paymaster responsible; and he
looks to the soldier, if living, when he goes to
pay him again; if dead, he orders so much
stopped against his representatives.
This is noted upon the payroll and it has to
be examined into before such applications are
replied to with necessary blanks and instruc-
| tons, which cause necessarily delay. Then very
often death occurs in some military hospital
when it becomes the duty ofthe surgeon to mott
fly the regiment he belongs to. This is put upon
the muster-rol, and if it is delayed it goes over
until the next two months which causes delay.
Then, again, the paymaster has allowed to him
two months to make up his pay roll, a month
| to report to the paymaster generals office, one
| month is allowed in that office, as it takes from
six (6) to eight (8) months before they reach the
Second Auditors office, which is absolutely ne
| cessary. -
But many say that it is from one to two years
| before they are attended to, and reply to that
| in the beginning of the rebellion every depart
ment was inadequate to discharge its natural
functions, which, of course left the accumula-
| ton of work on hand. Room was not sufficient
clerks were not sufficiently skilled and were un-
der many such disadvantages. Mr.. French has
at last met the natural increase of work with
skilful and competent force, and is gradually al
ieviating the trouble which he was compelled
| to meet in state of chaos, and has, at last as
signed each one his duty, and made one of the
best branches under Secretary Chase.
have heard some say that there was consid-
cradle favortism towards some claimants to
the disadvantages of others, and am authorized
| to state that since Mr. French took his place as
| chief of the Second Auditor of the Treasury De-
partment, there has never a single instance of
| the kind transpred in the office. Wait patient
| ly your turn, and am Mr.. French will
avail himself of every benefit subject to his con-