The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-11
COMMISSIONER BLACKS PENSION.
Some Strange EeVeIations-The Testimony
of Senator Voorhees,.

Washin eton Special.
A further examination Of the methods en-
ployed by Commissioner Black to secure an in
crease of pension to 500 month--a sum larger
than that paid to any other man on the pension
rolls-roveals some strange things There is on
tile now among the records of the Senate, his
petition upon which ne based his claim for an
increase OF pension. It sets forth that as a
result of the wound in the left arm, received on
December Z, 1862 at the battle of Prairie Grove,
Ark, 'the left arm was shortened and shrunk,
so as to be permanently disabled for
manual or other labor of any kind"
Exactly nine months before, on March
2, 1862, at the battle of Pea Ridge,
Ark, "the memorialist was wounded by bullet
wound in the right fore arm, and as result of
this wound and two operations which 1T necessl-
tated, there is now permanent total disability of
the right there was before and still is of the
left arm" These are Mr. Blacks own words.
Throughout it is made to appear that the wound
in the right arm is the severer of the two. 1t
was received nine months before that in the left
arm, but did not give any trouble, according to
General Black, until he was wounded the second
time This may seem strange to most people;
but may possibly be explained by General Black.
At any rate the menoralist says in his peti-
tion 1T will be Of necessity n long time
before he the memorialistl can possibly resume
business and even if his health should ever be SO
far restored as to enable him to engage again in
the practice Of his profession, his ability to
pursue his life vocation is permanently inn
paired by reason OF the disability of
both arms, particularly of his right
hand and arm, incapactating him from writing,
and rendering the employment of an amanuensis
absolutely necessary" This is the statement
made upon honor by soldier and gentleman,
who at the present time signs hundreds Of let
ters and warrants with his right hand L said
that Mr. Black laid great stress
upon the fact that the wound in his right arm
was the more serious one of the two, yet in
the same memorial to Congress, and almost in
the same breath, he declares that he did not get
an increase Of his original pension at the time
it was granted, III August 1868, because ''of his
failure to mention the disability Of his right arm.
That had such injury been referred to in his
original application for pension the increase
would have dated back to August 1865 Ac
cording to this he forgot 10 mention the wound
in his right arm. How could that have been if
it was really so serious! The Commissioner can
explain it, perhaps
But the most amusing part Of the documents
on file in the Senate is the testimony of Senator
Voorhees,, given before the pension committee
l cite from it: Owing to his General
Black'sl high intellectual ability. his most
attractive personal manners, and the high
social influence of his family and friends. there
was not young man who entered the service at
that time anywhere of brighter promise
He was in the seyerest engagements and IN the
hottest places. lie returned Win d
splendid reputation lie was soon after
ward taken up by one of the political parties in
Illinois and placed upon the ticket as candidate
for Acknowledgements AtterWard deter
mined effort was made to elect him TO Congress.
His constitution gave way under it the
poison which pervaded his system as the result
of his woundsl and anybody but him, that ever
knew, would have died. His indomitable viii
alone kept him alive during four or
five years The inquiry among his
vhenf not was ma
he was, but whether he was alive and how long
he might live. . He is simply destroyed.
He cannot practice his profession.
He is helpless in both arms. 1t is only a
question. of how long he will live" This is the
testimony of Senator Voorhees,
Now part OF General Blacks record, as set
forth in the committee report. accompanying
Senate bin 1919, Forty fifth Congress, second
session, shows that in 1864 he re-enlisted: that
from November, 1864 until 1865, he commanded
q brigade; that in March, 1863 he was made
brgadier general. and that he was mustered out
of service in August. 1865 To sum up, he