The National tribune., 1885-09-10
THE GRAND ARMY,
News From the DepartmentS---New
Posts, etc.
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN
HEADQUARTERS
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,

=. ~ j
While the ommander-in-Chief and his
assistants have beeen hard at work during the
past week attending 30 the voluminouS cores
pondence that pours in on them from every
quarter nothing Of special interest has occurred
at Headquarters.
The following General Order was issued at
Headquarters on the lst inst:
HEADQRs GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,
WASHINGTON ID. e., Sept l, 1888.
General Orders No. 5.
The National Encampmcnt at Portland adopted
the following resolution:
We recognize the great usefulness of the Army
and Navy Survivors Division of the Pension Office
As recently organized Ivy the Hon Commissioner OF
Pensions and that its future value largely depends
upon the continual operation OF the Grand Army
of the Republic; therefore,
a. R1SOlrcd, That the Commander-in-C Chief he re-
QueSted, by General Order, to explain the nature
and value of the work done, and to invite the active
cooperation of Departments, Posts, and comrades
in its further prosecution"
Upon requests of these Headquarters the Hon.
Commissioner of Pensions has kindly furnished
the following statement OF the operations, pur-
poses, and results of the work of that Division:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, J
PENSION OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Aug. 5, 1885.
Hon s. 6. BURDErT, Commander in Chief, GAR,
Washington, ID. &.
SIR: La the analysis of cases pending before this
Office made i'll july 1888. the fact WIS disclosed
that OF The total number, about 24i,to IN round
numbers, 20i.Wn were awaiting the response OF
claimants to calls for necessary evidence, and the
evidence lacking in a large number Is that of otli-
GERS and comrades 10 show the origin OF disability
in service and line of duty.
Ia the majority of these cases there Is nj the Ad-
jutant- Generals Office either no record at all or
ole of constant presence for duty ana, therefore,
without the positive evidence of officers or conn
rades pension cannot he granted under existing
pension laws. The inability TO furnish this evil
dence in otherwise meriorious cases arises princ-
pay from the fact that comrades are widely sep
arated, and have lost all knowledge OF each others
whereabouts, and are unable 10 trace the same.
Early in October. 1883 this office decided 10 es-
"A record soldiers
who had served in the Union army navy during
the late war and n letter was addressed to Gen.
Robert b. Bcath, then CommaTder-in- Chief of the
GAR, setting forth the necessities of the office,
and soliciting his aid in obtaining the record desired.
He gave his hearty Endorsement 10 the undertaking,
and after a personal interview with the Commits
sioner of Pensions he issued General Orders No 4.
About 500c00 service cards have at different times
been issued TO the G.AR., and there are now re-
turns file for about 40 per cent OF the iuli men,
bership.
The interest in some Departments seems to have
abated little during the past year, but the Office
feels assured that if the Commanders OF the differ
ent Posts could be brought TO understand the vast
amount of good that has been accomplished i'll the
past through the medium OF this record there would
be no lack of interest.
Its value and success have been fully eXcmplijed
by the fact that many hundreds of cases have been
acted upon which coald not have been adjudicated
because of the inability of claimant TO furnish the
necessary evidence of comrades as to the origin of
disability in service and line of duty, and thou
sands of that have been rejected owing TO the
absence of such evidence can be reopened, for
now, with the record in its infancy, the addresses
furnished of at least SO per cent. of the names
called for and during the month of June, 1855
1900 names. with addresses, were supplied TO
claimants or their attorneys.
There are now over GiU.O90 names on file and
when it is remembered that there are supposed TO
be about 100000 surviving soldiers and sailors 1t
will he understood how much there yet remains 10
be done.
Regimental Associations have rendered able as
sistance, and many thousands of the file
have been obtained thcrefronl, in fact, wherever
there is soldier, valuable additions promptly
and willingly forwarded
Penalty cards (Which cards which
postage is requiredl were recently ordered, and
S50.000 have just been received from the Govern
ment Printing Office and are now ready for distri-
button to Commanders of Posts and others
Very respectfully, JOHN C. BLACK,
Commissioner.
Department Commanders are earnestly requested
to promptly forward to this Office list of all Posts
in their Departments tha: have in the sery-
fee cards called for by General Orders, No. f. of
1883 such lists will be furnished the Pension Office,
and cards will be sent direct 10 Post Adjutans with
fraRked Label for their return i'll one package.
The ComInander-in-Chef invites the active CO.
operation of every member of the Grand Army of
the Republic in the prosecution of above work,
believing that great good will result TO worthy
applicants for pension.
Attention is invited to the following circular
showing the rules adopted by the Pension Office in
making cases special
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PENSION OFFICE.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. -, 1SS
SIR: The Commissioner of Pensions acilnowl-
edges the receipt Of your written communication
asking 1Or special action IN the case OF -
No. -, Co. -, - regiment -; the recitals
therein contained sufficient, and the action
asked for cannot be taken upon said statement 1t
is manifest to you that the expedition of one claim
must he the of delay to thousands of others
and, therefore, the discretion which is lodged in
the Commissioner must he exercised with reason
and judgment and he has established, as pre-re-
qusite to the favorable consideration of appica-
ton for special action, that said application must
set forth as follows:
Such circumstances as will justify the action of
the Commissioner in the minds of those whose
claims will be put back extreme age, threat
ened dissolution of claimant dependence of the
claimant charity, other like special and urg
ent reasons which may be particular to the case,
and which must be submitted TO the discretion of
the Commissioner for his approval or disapprOval.
These statements must be verified by the oath of
the claimant making them, of some reputable
covering the contents of this circular will entite
the claim to which you refer to favorable consider
alton. Very respectfully,
JOHN c. BLACK, Commissioner.
IT is suggested that when addresses of exsoldiers
sailors required for in proving disability
and when the regiment branch of service TO
which such persons belonged cannot be definitely
stated that all the circumstances and dates f pos
sible) relating 10 the occasion which the disa-
bility was incurred, or dates when in hospital with
comrades whose addresses are required, be given
clearly and briefly possible in order that
when the inquiry is published it will be in the best
possible shape to produce the desired result All
requests for addresses made upon these Headquar-
tiers referred the Pension Office (provided the
regiment or service is clearly stated All cases not
sufficiently explicit to service, etc, will be pub
hshed in circulars from this office.
Chief
JNo CAMERON Adjutant-Gener
ADDRESSES WANTED.
The following addresses are desired at Headquar-
ters:
Any comrade who was with Lucian Scott John
son, VT, a. Libby Prison in 1864 and '65 or who
was taken with him from Mt. jackson TO Staunton
Va, Nov. % to Nov. 26, 1864.
ANY comradc who in the second wagon of
the Forage Train of the Fourteenth Corps First
Brigade First Division who knew John w Doney,
of Neodesha, Kan when the train captured
by Wheelers cavalry at the battle Of Stones River.
Leonard B. Hill, Cedar Rapids Iowa. wants the
addresses Of two members of the New York Engi-
neer Corps who were on tins banks OF the James
River in June, 1864, and carried him 10 City Point
Hospital, Va.
James NJ. Hughes, Sd Ohio Palestine H. wants
the addresses of Capt. VIM. Powell. Lieut.. Maxey
and James Athey, IN order TO establish the fact of
his being injured at the battle Of Benonvile, n c.,
by his horse falling upon him.
Geo. Jessup, 18th y. Y. il. A, Winsted. Conn
wants the address u: VIM. Jessup, who visited him
while sick AT Arlington Nights in the Fall of 1868
THE NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT NEXT YEAR
The General Committee of the Posts of the
GAR. in the Department of California met
Aug. 26 10 make further arrangements for the
Encampment to be held at San Francisco, Cal,
Postmaster Backus occupying the chair.
communication was received from 7. H
Goodman, General Passenger and Ticket Agent
Of the Central Pacific Railroad stating that the
rates of fare for members of the GAR. and
kindred organizations in the East would not be
fixed until Sept. 8, but that the rate coming