The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-03-02
Soldiers Correspondence.
Bounties to Veterans.
RENDEZVOUS OF, DISTRIBUTIONS,
r. ALExANDRIA, VA, Feb. 21st, 1864

proceedings of few weeks since, report by
Senator Wilson, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, which has given rise to some refectlons
that somewhat tardily perhaps commit to pa
ner Tt ia to the effect that 800 bounty is to be
given to soldiers enlisted prior to May Sd, 1861
Does this include those also who enlisted for the
three months service subsequent to that date? 1t
it does it is all right but if not, injustice Will be
done to many who enlisted after the 3d OF May
and served their three months, received honora-
BILE discharges and re-enlisted for three years,
thus receiving for t,Oo terms of service only a
bounty of 500, These men evidently did not
enlist for money, but is that reason why servi-
ces SO promptly rendered should not receive
some Acknowledgement beyond $11 per month?
| do not know what disposition has been made
of the proposition but if the SUBJECTS still open,
n mere pointing out of it's injustice will no doubt
insure it's correction.
Another phase of the subject occurs to me, in
briefly discussing which wish, in the most pos
tive manner to disclaim the character of a COM
painant.
In the Summer of 1861, Government awaking
to the importance of the crisis, and rising to a
level with the emergency, called for 100000 vol
unteers offering at their discharge 800 bounty.
The response was prompt and patriotic. Prin-
ciple, not pelf, was the motive. The ranks were
filled with men, many of them leaving families
dependent upon their labor for support, not one
in ten of whom but could have earned more
money at his ordinary avocations. The history
of the battles, marches, atgues, exposures, hard
ships, defeats and victorSes of these men is writ
ten in the hearts of the people. None worthy of
the name of man among them has a complaint
to make or a murmur to utter. They enlisted
with their eyes open, knowing what they did,
and would even more readily with their present
experience do the same again. The probable
result of their labors will be that six months will
see the war closed.
In the autumn of 63 the President, justly ap-
preciating national necessities, called for adj
ditional 300, 600 men, and in January, 1864 in
creased the number to $780, 900, offering a compa-
ratiyely large Government bounty. Large State
bounties were also rendered, we'll as State
monthly pay. In many localities there will be
no draft. Without doubt, large numbers of these
new levies, perhaps more than halt, will be COM
posed of men whose circumstances of family,
health, business, youth, did not previously
permit them to come to their country help but
it is no less true that the remainder will be COM
posed of the lukewarm, fearful of draft; the
misery, induced by large bounties, and proba-
bly, short service; "bounty jumpers" whose
trade it is to enlist desert re-enlist and desert
again professional substitutes who sell them
selves to the highest bidder over and over; and
finally, malingerers discharged from the old
service through fraud or others from actual dis
ability, who knowingly assume new obligations
which they cannot fulfil.
Now how stands the case7 The fact is, these
recruits, good and bad, receive for SIX or eight
months service a sum in many cases ta0tce G'
large as the old soldiers for the Whole three gears