The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-06

ghastliness Of surgical operations and execu-
ti0ns. And / have lived through six such
scenes and now carry an arm which is anchy-
loscd at the left elbow one-half, and which,
on account of the cutting of the nerves. is
paralyzed as to the exterior muscles of the
left hand, and in the other elhowless arm carry
constant, open, suppurating wonnd.
If any man thinks that have made money
out of the Government by pensions he need
only remember that for 20 years a ceaseless
drain of my strength has been going on day
and night to realize something of the balancing
of accounts. would give all have if i could
start armed and barefoot, but strong in the
world at the age Of 46. would gladly assume
all the burdens of poverty if / could only have
health and strengthened my hands, as other
men, to give to labor and friendship. can
only keep one position in my bed, and that is
fiat upon my back, without being aroused by
the pain Or the threatening nervous numbness
which arises on account of my troubles in any
other position. And there is scarcely one night
in ten, and lately no night, when my sleep is
not broken by these causes. ! seem pretty
strong. / don't go around grumbiing. ! have
told but few men the long story as tell you
but / feel them none the less.
/ applied for q pension shortly after left the
service, which was granted me. don't re-
member when; but upon ample testimony for
full disability according to my rank at the
time the injury was inflicted. Subsequently,
under the operation of the law, it was increased
to the sum of $50 and up to this time no man
had been called upon to give me any favor.
l have but a very indistinct recollection of
many of the things which occurred during that
deadly Winter at Danvilie, but do recollect
you and Senator Voorhees, being at my rooms
and taking testimony in the - case l think
Voorhees, then saw my condition. / believe
that be thought would die, and soon, and
believe it was at that time, acting upon his or
the suggestion of some other friend, that made
application for arrears of pension. This appli-
cation was all that / ever made / made it
out in due and formal manner. / filed proof
of my disability under it. / had regularly
employed pension attorneys in Washington
looking to this interest. never was near the
Capital City during all that time. subse-
quently was made aware that bill was pend
ing in my behalf. This bill was put before
Congress in the shape in which it subsequently
passed without my knowledge, it was advanced
without my cooperation substantially, and In
various respects that induced it had no par
ticular knowledge until one Sunday morning
received dispatch at home from Senators
Voorhees, and Davis announcing that the bill
had been passed. Subsequently the bill was
certified to me.
l have never had an hours doubt of the cor
rectness of the action. l have not had any
hesitancy in believing that if pensions were
granted on the grounds of suffering that was
entitled to all that had been given me. As pen
sions are given for physical disability, need
only add that, according to the same standard
set up for others, am physically totally disa-
bled for labor. / am not aware of any manual
labor which l can perform. l have not raised
my hand to my face for eight years. The little
work which / do with the pen causes my arm
to swell, and this you can understand when /
tell you that half of it's muscles are entirely
cut and have never been reunited Others have
t,l nI nl1
receiving, under the name of "retired," very
much larger support for their disabilities and
their honorable wounds First Lieutenants
and Second Lieutenants and all of them vastly
exceed me in the amount which they receive.
am glad that such of them as have been
wrecked or torn in battles are able to receive
the benefcence of the Government.
casually mention this fact, by way Of illus
tration, in regard to the falsity of the charges
that mine is the only instance of the kind.
More than that, l have never received the
arrears of pension given to private soldiers and
commissioned soldiers alike by the general acts.
These sums have reached in many instances to
thousands of dollars 600 being no unusual
sum to be paid out. rejoice in the payment
of every dollar paid to any one of these recipi-
ents. Many private soldier, many nom
commissioned officer and line officer are now in
receipt of S72 per month for disabilities, and
this given to him By the general law. ! am
glad of it! 1 am glad of it! Nothing can ever
compensate them for the loss of the senses in
CURED in the service of the country.
But / go on talking and talking. You have
opened the gates to my "reminiscences and
memory and for half an hour l have dwelt in
the shady past whose sentinels are remem-
bered-pains and steadfast friendships. l
write you as have recollected, and in the full
ness of my heart.
/ remain very truly yours,
JOHN c. BLACK.
Comment falls weakly by the side of the
simple eloquence of this plain story of life
long and heroic graphing with pain and
suffering.