The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-03-25
GEN. BLACKS DISABILITY.

for some time past a disposition to belittle
the character of the present Commissioner
of Pensions and to place him in a false light
before the country.
A few newspapers, in their zeal to serve
their party, have gone so far as to charge
that Gen. Black used false representations to
secure the passage of special act Of Con-
gress by which he was given pension of
! 500 per month.
In the New York Tribune of Thursday last
appears the following, copied from the Re
publican of this city:
The following joint resolution has been suggested
for introduction and appropriate action by Con-
/ gress:
/ ReSolUed by the Senate and House of Representa-
tiyes of the United States of America in Congress
assembled. That whereas John c. Black is the
cipient by special act of Congress of the unusual
pension of Si00 per month, said pension having
been granted on the representation that the said
Black was a mental and physical wreck y; and
whereas the said Black is also drawing from the
Treasury of the United States the additional sum of
5000 per year Commissioner of Pensions, and,
. such Commissioner is constanty neutrality-suspicious.
granted TO disabled Union soldiers on the ground
that the disability under which their said pensions
were granted has ceased to exist; and whereas it is
conclusive that if the said Black is still the mental
and physical wreck upon which his said pension
was granted he obviously is untitled for the duties
OF Commissioner of Pensions; therefore be it
Ordered, That commission. consisting of the
Surgeon-General of the Army and the Surgeon
General OF the Navy with the Surgeon in charge of
the Government Insane Asylum, be ordered 10 duly
examine the said Black in the mode and manner
prescribed by the Pension Office for the medical
examination of pensioners, TO the END that it may
be ascertaincd if he still be the mental and ply
steal wreck as alleged, and upon which aega-
ton his pension was granted by Congress, so that
his unflness 10 act and draw pay as Commissioner
of Pensions be made more apparent, or if found
that he be in mental and physical condition 10
adequately perform the duties OF said Commits
sioner of Pensions then that the said act granting
him the unusual pension of 500 per month may
be repealed, the same having been granted on the
statement that he, the said Black, mental
and physical wreck"
In consequence of these newspaper arti-
cles, We are in receipt of a number Of in
quiries as to the means employed in obtain
ing Gen. Blacks pension, and we now gladly
publish, in the interests of justice and as an
answer to all such communications, the facts
as shown by careful examination of the
case.
Gen. Black fled an application for pen
sicn on the 18th of March, 1868, alleging a
gunshot wound of the left arm received at
the battle OF Prairie Grove, Ark, Dec Z,
1862. The ball shattered the left humerus
and necessitated the operation Of resection.
The records OF his regiment, on file at the
War Department, reports him
Wounded in battle at Pea Ridge, Ark, May Z,
1862
Wounded at the battle of Prairie Grove, Dec. :,
1862.
On the 25th of April Gen. Black was sub
jected TO careful examination by Dr. Som
ers, of Champaign, III. The Doctor reported
the disability as total
muslset ball having passed through above the
elbow joint, severely shattcring the humerus for
some distance. There is but lite bone in the
arm at this point for several inches its place being
supplied by cartilage. This arm is greatly disabled
for any kind Of manual labor it being of little use
to him.
In addition to the record which proved
the incuTence of the disability in service,
there is also On file the affidavit of Gen.
Blacks regimental Surgeon and one of his
fellow Officers On the 18th of July, 1868,
the claim was allowed at the rate of $50 per
month, commencing from the 18th of March,
1868 (the date Of filing the application, I'M
der the laws then in force. After the pas
sage by Congress Of The arrears act of July
q, 1868, reissue was made on the 18th of
November, 1868, and an allowance of $50
month was given from Aug. Is, 1865, the
date of Gen. Blacks resignation, deducting
the former payments.
On the 18th of July, 1877, the General
filed an application for an increase Of pen
sion, alleging in addition to the gunshot
wound Of the left arm, an additional disa-
bility from a gunshot wound in the right
arm, received Oh the 18th of March, 1862, at
the battle of Pea Ridge. This wound was
established, as before stated, by the records
On file at the War Department.
On the 10Th of October 1877, the pension
was increased TO $50 per month, commencing
July II, 1877.
Turning to the report of Examining Sur
geOn Gratzmer, of Champaign, ILL.,, Aug 2, |
1877 we find it stated:
Wounded left arm above elbow hunerus. three
quarters of an inch, and shorter than natural |
Elbow anchylosed at right angle. Hand pronated !
hangs down pOwerless Supinatcd the wrist is !
powcriess. Arm atropbed. Disability total |
Wounded right forearm four inches below injur- |
ing una, upper portion. Necrosis of bones rem |
dercd necessary the excison of elbow joint on Feb
PC. 1877. The arm and hand useless. The dis !
ability is equivalent to the loss Of both arms for
the purposes of manual labor and requires the con-
slant aid and attendance of another person. and in
all probability is permanently helpless
On the 10Th OF October, 1877, Gen. Black, |
being then in Washington, was examined |
by the Pension Board, consisting of Drs |
Graham, Baxter, and Grinsted. To show
the Generals condition at that time we deem |
it proper to quote from their report:
We find in this case two gunshot wounds Had
Reaction Of riyl,f I'll Tho