The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-01-18
BOUNTIES.

...aa -@ BoUNTIEs. t.
The men who enlisted in the United
States army during the early part of the
war did not receive the same bouuties from
the government which have been paid to
those who entered the service of a late
date - t.8a aat aH# II
r. They were none the less patriotic their
service was not less hazardous and severe
than those who have been better paid, and
they have the right to expect that you will.
30 whatever you can to Influence the Gen
eral Government to do them justice, by Civ
ing them bounties equal to those paid to
others who enlisted at later date.
All who have periled their lives in the de-
tense of our country, deserve to be dealt
with alike, and am sure that you will es-
TEEN it pleasure, as well as your duty, to
give them the influence of your action
In this connection, let me suggest that
bureau be established for the collection of
back pay, bounties and pensions, for soldiers
who have been IN Wisconsin, regiments, and
Tor their families connected with which
there should also be established system of
claim agencies throughout the State, with a
branch agency at Washington, these agents
to report to the chief of the bureau at our
Capitol, which should be under the direction
of some one of the State departments
Bounties and back pay, in many cases, go to
the representatives of deceased soldiers Pen
sions always go to the disabled and Deepen
dent, -. ....... -rr.4.
Those to whom they are paid are. reduc-
ed to this dependence through no fault. of
their own. They would willingly earn. their
own living and dispense with all aid. from
the Government were they able to do so.
The sums they are to receive are small at
best, and it seems just that the State should
bear the expense of collecting them. The
plan that have suggested has been tried
in one of our sister States, and has been
found emipenty successful. ...--rE
e SOLDIERS ORPHANS. ia |
There was issued by the Secretary of
State in September, 1865, circular letter
to the town and city clerks throughout the
State. asking those officers to inform the |
State Department Of the number of children
Of deceased Wisconsin soldiers in their re-
spective towns. 367 clerks only have re-
sponded, reporting 1874 such children; an
average of nearly to each town If the |
average in the towns from which no reports
are rec'd,is the same there are not less than
5000 such children in the whole state, un-
der l 5 years Of age. Of those reported, the
ages Of 791 are not given; 1,546 are between
one and ten years Of age; SIT are betwee n
ten and fourteen years of age; 90 were in
the county poor houses; 81 have neither IA |
ther nor mother living '''li
The fathers of these children have laid |
down their lives while battling for the pres
ervation Of our country. They have died
that we might live to reap the rich harvest
Of national prosperity secused to us as the
., suit of that contest, in which they bore so
honorable part. They are the children of 7
the state, and as such are entitled to its fos-
tering care and protection.
The necessity of providing suitable asy
iun for such of these orphans as require the
protection of the State, has been appreciated
by our people, who have contributed eener
ously for that purpose. | call your attep-
ton to the accompanying communication.
and earnestly recommend that the pronosi
ton of the Executive Committee be accent
ed, and that the Harvey Soldiers Orphans
Home be adopted by the State as one of itsi
benevolent institutions
In the struggle just closed, Wisconsin,
record stands among the brightest. When
the first faint echoes of the distant guns at
Sumpter sounded in our ears, her sons flew
to arms. A young and peaceful State un-
used to war, almost without a militia mr.
ganization, almost without themen fitted to
lead her battalions, she pressed to the
front with her offering of men; and from
the first skirmish in Virginia to the last
struggle in North Carolina, her banners
have been displayed amid the smoke of ,
every battle, her regiments have shared the
.atigues and dangers of every important ex-
petition. When the thunder Of artillery i
rocked like cradle, land and sea- when
he shneks of the wounded and the means of