The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-05
PENSION CLAIMS.


Which We have so borrowed we only keep;
The other Is not ours"
PENSION CLAIMS.
Inquiries Tor addresses TO complete pension
claims have been sent 20 the Hon. Commis-
sioner OF Pensions. In this connection your
attention j. respectfully invited TO the follow
ing communication
DErARTNl.NT or THE INTERIOR. PENSION oFFIcE,l
ARsly AND NAVY SURVIVORS DIVISION,
MAsHINGToK. ID. C.. July Z, 1856.
JoHN CAMERON, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT G.Ah-, wash
SIR: fhis onice desires to extend thanks 10 the
Gommander-in Chief 10 yourself, and the Assist
ami Adiutant General, aud also 10 all Departments
ard Post Commanders for the interest manifested
in the completion OF the record that has been es-
tablished in the Pension Office of all soldiers and
sailors who served IN the Union army and navy
during tiie late That this branch OF the Once
has proved a h unquestionable During
the past ~ months IA $50 names n % BOZ eases have
been supplied. and IN many hundreds OF these the
whole cnrc has hinged upon the evidence OF one
man. aud we frequently find that the missing
link as been waited aud searched for. perhaps, Cor
years Al ieasi 70 per cent. OF such calls are now
While great deal has been accomplished during
tle past yesr much remains Vet 10 be done, as not
more than 70 per cent OF the Posts Of the Ga n.
have been heard from, and in some few Of the De
llartmcnls iut 30 per cent. nevertheless there
al this date n the hies OF the Army and Navy
Survivors Division. the names and post-oiice ad-
dresses Of 100000 eX-sOdeFs and sailors.
Thirty y-eigigi clerks are engaged IN completing the
record and calls The several ACJuol
eating Divisions OF this Office. and OF claimants
their attorneys "a will perhaps. be interesting 90
che comrades of the GAR % know that over 800
addresses were furnished during the year In reply
40 cnils made from National Headquarters Of the
GAR
Thousands OF names and addresses have been re-
ceiyec lron rcglnlental associations and surviving
soldiers Hi8a sailors everywhere appear To take the
deepest iuieTesl in making this record a success.
A. The National EncRmpment which viii be held
Al san Frnmcisco in August next urgently request
that tile G0nimHndeF-in- Chief viii impress upon
tbe Department; Commanders ilie great importance
Of having every Post in the GAR. forward list
OF fis members 10 this Office. Upon request made
10 the Commissioner Of Pensions any number Of
service cria Nill be furnished 90 the Assistant Ad
juianis-t8uneFui Of Departments. II IL IL more
cOnvcuicut the Commanders Of Posts may order
direct from this Office. when the cards will be
promptly forwarded 10 them together with Off
ciA irnnA for tiIe return OF same.
IL tis also suggested that the Adjuiants Of Posts
be requested 10 notify This Office of any changes
chat may occur 10 the Post Roster, such deaths.
lchangcE Of residence. transfer 10 another Post
Department. Is h Of the greatest importance
lAi esefy address and service should be absolutely
correct. an unnecessary delay la the examination
Of claims u thereby saved. ] would further sug-
Res that iH flIe General Orders issued by the De-
paFtrDent Commanders for the ensuing year n re-
quesi shall be made Of MI who were on any
dclacied service 10 forward complete record Of
same, giving accurate dates togcther with therank,
company. and regiment TO which they actually be-
iOnged. The term detached service" here used
will include Mississippi Marine Brigade = Nor
tome Pioneer Brigade" Brigade. Division. Corps
iniso AliliNlHnoe Corps signal Corps. Nurses.
Naftinnste8s aud Clerks IN Hospitals OFderlies.
Biacilsnsifs. lrRmsters Scouts well as nom
commissioned officers who were detailed M ord
nance Comnissary. or Qnartermaster Sergeants.
&C. a D. almost impossible for a claimant who
Feoeiyed D wound or injury while on detached serv-
lcr 40 Furnish the necessary evidence 20 prove his
claim. AZ ill such details were generally made up
from different regiments Il Will readily be seen
~bai . great advantage 10 this class Of claimants
such A record S. iil be-
fesl oonhdcnt that every comTade in the Grand
Amy of ihe Republic viii feel proud Of the work
tiat has been done. and that AL viii return 10 their
iiumeh from tilc National Ln0ampment with "a re.
newed iuterea in the work, aud will make an
effort a. have every Post IN each Department
tlirougbout the United States send in complies
llzts Of its memlers, - that when the NRtiOnH
fsiBoanpn nieets Ia lss7 may say that the
And pos-ofiee address Of every member of ths
Grand Army % tiic Republic is file in the Arm,
ana Navy survivors Division Of the u. :. Pensiol
Very respectfully. joins O. BLACK.
Commissioners.
RECORDS.
The records at Headquarters arc not wha
might be called IN good condition, as forme
AdiutHut- General (COmfade Nandersiice) re
ported 'Ihis IL DO doubt due 10 the constan
change 0f Headquarters and the little oppor
tuDity thus afforded 10 any one 10 acquire b.
experience The knowledge necessary Tor i'm
proyement % this respect or 10 carry out an.
wel-dcyised system"
TO remove the records from year to year
not conducive 10 preservation. A compiet
cory Of tile National Encampment proceeding
wns not On Gle at commencement Of your ad
ministration IA full set has been obtained
The National Orders prior 10 1865 are incOm
pieio. Many bundles Of Department returD
iettcrs and communications ranging back som
years. have from constant removal. becom
roiled, and should either be placed in file case
or partly destroyed. The records have amOi
doubled during your administration.
0RAET MONUMENT FUND.
copy Of the following letter was sent
eacb Department Commander:
II1sADQ' a. GHkEB ARNY o. THE RErUm1c.
MksHiNcroN, u. g, Dec. Q. iss5
Department g., GAR
DEAn sIR AED CoNEADEs The inclosed Gcner
Dfdcrri No. lu citing action 81 the Executive Con
niittee of the National Council 0f Adninist ratio
a. iuaoFriHg tAe several proposals Of Circular, y
ffoni flicse Headquarters, iB the matter Of "a
erceiion - a fnonnnielIi 10 our late Comrade, Ce
T. :. Grant. HfN he scnt from this Office direct
aacil 1'ori Commander together with suitable Foi
luf ru-rrirerr 40 the fund. This n deemed necc
nars tlal IIpfIIt acton lnns snsue, aud 20 f,iie
distributing iiie role.
ln order spui each Post 10 your Department ms
~ feaebed please have seIIt 40 this Offiee the a
dFrsssss of auy nesg fosis organized since irsuc
your Del1affuieut Roster.
IA r. g. aud L., =. >. BcEDETT,
G0mnlRndcr-in-C Chief.
In accordance ihorewith upwards OF so
rolls ior Subscribers 70 the fund were sent Z
Eect % Pests.
The amounts contributed viii appear IN d
Generals Report.
GENERAL RERARKG
The facilities for obtaining information fro
the yarious Departments Of the Goyernme
a. claims. etc. have been duly availed of,
mast ,ssses with satisfactory results 10 inquI
ing comrades.
Tins Office II indebted 10 the Adjutant- -Ge
aral Of the Army for prompt replies 10 maj
communications; 20 ths Honorable Comm
HiDneF ~ Pensions, Gen. John 4. Black IN pc
si0H Gases, and 10 Past Commander Oh
Robert b. l3eath for valuable advice, but D
mere ~ to him in person than 10 his exceile
Blue Book" II Is 20 complete each "a
having UpiatiOns OF decisions aud opinions !
latinR thereto and OF such ready reference III
the correspondence Of this Office has be
greatly expedited
The ext Dsyo experience Of Qnartermast.
Genclal John Taylor i,as been of great soryl
and his counsel cbeerf0liy given az al nee1
times
Business ...-iio with the Commanders
departments, thcir Assistant AdjulAnts-G -Ge