The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-29
OUR coRREsPoNDENTs.
Replies TO Questions on Variety of Interesting
SuAjeefg.

ton will be paid to communications that are not |
accompanied with full name and address Of writer.
Our readers are requested to inclose q stamp for
reply to their inquiries.
L. W., Marietta, Pa, asks: Who were the mem
bers of the first and second court naras that tried
General Fitz-John Porter? What was the ofieuse
and the results? and why the second result was
different from the frst2 4aslUer. There was but
eouTt-martial OF Fitz-John Porter, and that
was by virtue of general orders, Headquarters of
the Army, November % 1852. The court was COM
posed of Major Generals ID. Hunter and Z. ~
Hitchcock, Brigadier- Generals Rufus King b. NJ
Preniiss James Il. Ricketts,, Silas Casey, James A.
Garfield, n. Buford, j. 7. Slough and Colonel J.
Holt, Judge Advocate General, U. s A. Judge adj
vocate and recorder of the court Porter was tried
for willful and shameful disobedienee of orders
and neglect of duty. He was convicted and SEN
fenced to be cashiered and dismissed from the
service of the United States as a Encouragement Of
volunteers and as colonel and brevet brigadier-
general in the Regular army, and to be forever
disqualified from holding any Office oftrust or profit
under the Governments OF the United States" By
virtue of general orders, No. IS Headquarters of
the Army jutant-C Generals Office April u 1873
a board of officers, consisting of Nfaor-Generssl
Jno. NJ. Sehofield, Brigadier- General Alfred III.
Terry and Colonel Geo. III. Getty with Judge
Advocate Asa y. Gardner, U. S. A.. as recorder
and counsel for the Government was convened to
review the proceedings, sc, of the eourt-martial
and to consider certain alleged netg testimony not
before introduced. and they reported and recon-
mended that the findings and sentence of the court
martial held in 1852 be set aside and that Porter
be restored to his position in the army date from
date of dismissal.
B. propounds the following: 1. If a soldier en-
listed for three years during the war had the
Government any right to keep him any longer
than the close OF the WARP 2. IL not is there not
some way to make them pay those soldiers extra
that We're kept over their time? AnSsCsr. I. Yes;
the Government could hold the soldier for the
three years for which he enlisted 2. 1.-THE soldier
did not serve three years he rendered no extra
service and he is entitled to pay other than that
he received.
c. " s., Ne,DarE, ~ J., wants to know the num-
per OF lives lost IN the riots IN New York city in
1858. AnstgeT. The number of persons killed dur
ing these terrible riots Is not known The NOR
tally statistics for the week at the city inspectors
Office show an increase of 40 over the average
weekly nnortaity OF the year. About ninety deaths
from gun-shot wounds were reported at his Office
1t was said-but this is, doubtless ineoFrect-that
the remains of many of the rioters were secretly
taken into the country and buried there. A large
| number of wounded persons probably died during
| the following week. Governor Seymour, in his
annual message states that the number Of killed
and wounded Is estimated by the police to be at
| least one thousand The police and the regular
and local military forces suffered but little in
parison with the mob. With regard to the militia
of the LIST division General Sanford gives the e-
act figures Of their losses in portion of the riots
He says that one private soldier was killed and
twenty-five men dangerously and fifty officers and
soldiers slightly wounded at the defeat of the mob
In 42d street the stoming of the barricade erected
by the rioters in 18th street and In the other
ficts which followed"
| j. B. IT, Adrian, Mo-A record of desertion In q
service bars any payment of bounty for that serv-
Ice; all pay due at time OF desertion IS likewise
l
orable discharge does not in any way mitigate the
/ otfense committed in the prior service.
/ @. ". H., Brookfeld, No., inquiries II there il a
difference for loss Of arm the shoulder that
an artificial arm can not be worn with any benefit,
and an amputation at the shoulder joint2 AaStrer.
| No; $50 per month Is all that Is allowed for ann
ornputoOrl ADORE tss el5otr, unless the pensoner
condition Is such as to require the regular aid
and attendance OF another person, in which event
he Is entitled to $50.
Several CorTespondenss-We are daily in receipt
OF inquiries relative to headstones for soldiers
| graves. We have repeatedly published the neces-
sary information relative the subject in this col
unn. but for the benefit of recent subscribers
will state that the Government furnishes head
stones for soldiers graves and all applications
| therefor should state the names Of the deceased
soldiers, company and regiment date Of death, and
| location OF grave, and should be addressed 20
| Quartermaster General, U. 5 A., Washington,
ID. c. from whom you can also obtain any in
formation desired on the subject.
W. H.. g., Illinois City IU.-soIdiers of the Black
Hawk war, or of any since 1872 are not emit
tied TO pension except for disability incurred
therein under the same rules as apply to appli-
cants for pension in the late II the Mexican
war pension bill passes, we have doubt that
soldiers Of prior viii be provided for if not
by this Congress, by some future Congress. This
point was one of the objections raised by some
members of the House of Representatives when
the Mexican war pension bill under discus
sion. 1t was urged by some OF the members that
the proposed bill did not provide for soldiers OF the
Black Hawk and other wars: that they were as
much entitled to service pension were those OF
1 ",
on that ground
E. D. c., We5ster Mass.-The mother viii draw
pension, if at all from date of the death OF soldier
0ny. Her right to pension did not originate until
the soldier died Up to the day OF his death he was
the only person entitled TO pension for the period
prior TO that date.
j. Z. F., Soldiers Home, Ohio says: What is the
highest pension allowed by law for heart disease
and what IS the amount allowed oy one,foirth one
half, three-fourths, &c. Ansacer. The highest pen
sion for heart disease any other disease, except
total blindness, where claim has been allowed since
June 16 1880 is SO per month. To entitie to this
rate the disability for which pensoned must have
resulted in a condition requiring the regular aid
and attendance of another person. BY one-fourth
one half &C. IS meant that proportion of total .
disability. For an enlisted man. one-fourth would
be s. one-haH would be 81, three-fourths would be
| IS, &c.
Cumberland Cambridge ~ Your claim is not
susceptible of proof In all cases where there Is
hospital other record showing that the disability
existed during service it Is requisite that proof
origin of the disease claimed, from officer or two
comrades, be furnished; also, medical testimony
showing treatment in service Immediately dfsl
discharge. III this cannot be furnished las in you
easel, the claim viii be rejected. Evidence tina
the disability existed a year after discharge an,
since, in the absence of proof prior 10 that time Ca
mentioned above), would have no weight whateve
way indicate that the disability due to tn
service and in line of duty. The Pension Oflie
does not presume anything in favor of a elaiman
in such case. and rarely IN any other case.
, JRs, Haek5en,an, hld-A drafted man VIII,
did not go to the war, but hired substitute is NJ
more eligible to membership in the c. A. r. THAI
any other citizen. None but those who actual,
serred as soldiers sailors during the late war ar
eligible, sc. In the case mentioned the substitul
, would be eligible to membership.
J. W. H., Snohomish w. IA soldier or saiIo
can take up public land under the soldiers home
stead act, and by residing upon it the length o
= time which added to his honorable service in tn
army navy will make five years Requir
title thereto, providing that in will NOR
than four years service in the army be deducte
: from the period of occupancy. He is not entities
to a free entry of land and he must have serve
four years in the army orlnavy to entitle him {
the land after years residence thereoR.
j. W. B., Fort Keogh, Hoat-The papers file
in claim in the Pension Office remain there an
2 are not destroyed. Any additional claim made
| consolidated with the old claim, and if there b
any evidence in the latter that pertains to the
claim or can be used therein, it will be considers
: in connection with the other testinsony.
! g. L. r., Deer Creek, HIM, inquiries If wher
application two wounds is fled, and claim 70
one is allowed what becomes of the other claim
Ansocer. Iii pending, and probably requires some
ed the claimant should have been informed of tn
4 fact Call up the case, giving the certificate mum
| ber and the party IN interest will be notified b.
. the Pension Office Of the status OF the remaining
, claim
FM H. Pittston, Pain our reply to your ques
ton in our last issue, should have said that III
! relationship was that of cousins, one degree re
? moved; that IS Mary's father and Elizabeth wer