National Republican., 1886-12-02

OF once as commissioner Of pensions. Upon
examining the case find that Lqdd's pension
was granted for chronic rheumatism, rs set
forth In his original declaration, and said TO
have been Contracted while serving as private
IN company d, GIth New York Volunteers. His
light TO pension remained uuqucstioned un.
til November, 1888, when two letters were ad.
dressed to Col. W. W. Dudley, then commits.
sioner Of pcnsons-one by Mordecai Ladd,
brother Of the pensioner, the second by Albert
Preston, u brotherin-law Very soon afler the
receipt Of these letters, which remained un.
noticed, c. s. Miller, senior vice commander of
Post l2l, q. A. r., at Albany, n Y, in behalf
Of "oyer twenty comrades" wrote to Col. Dud-
Icy, making certain statements as to pea
sionei's general dishonesty and earnestly re.
quCsting him to take action in regard to
the same; and finally upon the receipt of
still another letter written by Faid Miller,
and iudorsed by tho commander and several
comrades Of above named post, the case was
sent TO the special examination division for
investigation rs to tho truth of the charges
made. The special examiner, notwithstand-
ing Mr.. Cohcn's ltatement to the contrary,
served the customary two days notice upoa
the pensioner who waived the right to be
represented by an attorney and his request,
over his signature, "that the examination
might begin at once" Is now on file in the
case.
The letters from the Comrades OF the G.. A.
Il. stated that IcnsiOner had served In organi.
2utions other than the one in which he alleged
TO have contracted the disability for which he
is pcnsioned, ana, following upt this clue, the
records Of tho War Department were searched
and the following facts disclosed: John X
Lndd, enlisted Mar. g. lSi7, in battery B, ih
U. 3. artillery war with Mexieo). The rolls
for September and october, 1877, report him
present in confinement (Gt Bucua Vista, Next
COZ; for November and December, 1917, present
sick; from January 10 June, 1918, present in
confinement (Bucna Vista, Mcxlco). aud for
September and October, 1913, deserted at Fort
Brown, Tcxas-a priYate-no record Of appre.
hcnsou."
so much for ervice in the Mexican war.
Jan. lS, 1862, he enlisted in company C,
osth New York volunteers, and was discharged
April Is, 1862, on surgeons certificate OF dis
ability" in which II Is set forthby J. ID. Knight
surgeon of the DIST Pennsylvania volunteers;
A. f. Marsh, surgeon 18th Pennsylvania cavalry,
and W. d. Stewart, brigade surgeon, and presi-
dent Of examining board 'that they have
carefully examined the said John X, Ladd and
find him incapable OF performing the duties of
9
existed for two years" During the three
months that he was in the above service he
was "unnt for duty for sixty (6O) days" and
when the regiment left for the front he was
left in the hospital at Washington, ID. G..
Aug. "a, 1862, he enlisted In Company D..
9ld New York volunteers. The rolls of the
company for September and october, 1862, to
Dec 81, 1862 report him present" Prisoncrof
war records at the ndjutant generals ofice
"show him captured at Swift Creek, ~ c., Feb
II, 1858, or Nowbern, ~ c., Feb -, 1868. Con.
fined at Richmond, Va, Feb. 2j, 1865 paroed
At City Point, Va, March Is, 1885, reported at
Camp Parole, Nd, March 81, 1868. No further
Information on said records Rolls for March
ana April, May and June, 1868, report him
absent sick at lIermon N. y, since April H.
1903. lie was discharged Rt Albany, ~
V, Aug 90 1868, on surgeons Ger.
tiicatc Of disability, in which 1t is set forth by
Mason i, Cogswell, depot surgeon, that he has
carefully examined said John X. Ladd and
found him incapable of performing the duties
of q soldier, because Of the result of chrome
rheumatism and dysentery-facultlesim simpaired
aims rendered almost useless from effects OF
rheumatism, and legs much weakened; health,
strength, and constitution much impaired;
completely broken down; in my opinion will
never be able to perform the duties OF u SOL
der; not fit for duty In the Invalid Corps; not
entitled to pension" Ladd again attempts to
enlist at Duane, franklin county. N. ", on
"the 10Th OF December, 1865" The medical
records Of the examining board OF surgeons
Of the seventeenth congressional district
Of New York show that "he was
rejected on account Of chronic phrangtis."
lie then enlisted Dec. 90, 1863 In company c.
l4th New York heavy artillery, and was dis.
charged April co. 1864, on certificate of dis
ability. Lieut., Faass, first lieutenant COM
mandiDg company G, sets forth "that during
the last two months said soldier has been unfit
for duty forty-three days by reason of chronic
rheumatism" and l.. Phillips, the assistant sur.
geon Of said regiment, sets forth that he has
carefully examined "the said John X. Ladd and
finds him incapable of performing the duties of
q soldier because of chronic rheumatism. This
man was discharged from service in August,
1863 on account of this disease, and re.enlistod
knowing that he was not able TO perform the
duties Of a soldier. He is in an anaemic con.
dition, with, think, organic disease of the
heart"
lie again enlisted Aug. 10, 1861, In company
D, 6ith New York volunteers, as a substitute
under the name of King Ladd. Rolls OF COM
pany d for September and October, 1861 and
February 2s, 1865, report him present; March
and April absent at United States general hos.
pital March 25, 1865, mustered out a private
on detachment muster out roll June 27, 1865,
at Emory U. S. A.. general hospital, Washing
ton, d. c. in compliance with telegram A. G..
o., May 3, 1s65-also borne on rolls as John X.
Ladd.
In examination held before Special Exami-
ner Bostick, Ladd admits having suffered from
20.
war of the rebellion, and that during his var
ious terms OF service he was in hospital for
treatment of same. These statements are made
in the face Of the fact that in his original dec
lGration he claims pension for rheumatism
contracted while in company d, New York
yolunteeTs-his fourth enlistment. In view OF
these facts, which are matters Of Official record
in the Office of the adJntant general and In tho
pension Office, further comment is unnecessary.
On the 18th of November, 1886, all the papers
in the case were again sent to the Interior De-
pOrtment by order of the assistant secretary,
and after another thorough investigation the
former decision OF the Secretary, dated March
20, 1856, was adhered to.
Before closing permit me to add few words
in regard to the special examiner, COmrade J..
H. BoStiCk, to whom the case was referred for
investigation. lie is said TO have behaved in
crude and ungentlemanly manner" Com
rade Bosliok was private in the service, lost
an arm Rt VicksburG, and has never kuown
day free from suffering since that time. In
manner and character he is rs directly oppo-
site the description given as the north pole is
TO the south; he Is generous, noble-hearted
man; member Of Kit Carson Post, q Depart
ment OF Potomac and held in highest esteem
by all who know him,
FRANK A. BUTTS,
Chief Of Army and Navy Survivors Division.
In this connection we print the following
protest from a gentleman Of the highest
reSpectability connected with the press OF
a metropolitan city, which speaks for ITSELF
10 ,,.,, te ,,rcpar 60 a11 thot A. ,,,a,1. .