The National tribune., 1886-05-06
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety OF Interesting
Suhia

Replies to Questions on Variety OF Interesting
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J. T., GrtsVoid Iowa.-1. enlisted in 1861, and
served seven months; was discharged on account
OF disability caused while on duty. Can get credit
for the full term l enlisted for in proving up on a
homestead claim? q / enlisted and served two
years more. Can get credit for last service also
8. Can get deed for quarter section OF land by
living on and cultivating same for one year? T. II
Il soldier files 160 acres OF land within railroad
limits, and does not go forward and take out his
homestead papers on same, does he forfeit MS
homestead right? 5. Can a soldier hold a claim by
living on it the required time, and make final proof
and get deed if his family is in another State?
Ans,ger l. Yes. q To the extent of four years for
both services 3. Yes. 4. Yes. 5. Yes, if he can
give sufficient reasons why he does not have his
family with him. In ordinary cases his family
should be with him the land Such Is the present
ruling.
T. T., lansing Mich.-Do you think that there Is
any prospect of Congress making law for the re-
lief of soldiers who have become disabled since
their discharge, and who are depending almost en-
treiy upon the charity of friends for their support
1RStoer. 1t Is impossible for to form an opinion
at this time but think that the chances are
against the passage of such a bill.
III. NJ, HerideIt, M.-1 Can a privates wages due
and unpaid in 1862 be legally collected now?
If so. how must one proceed? 3. How many U. )
Soldiers Homes are there, and where located? 4
How may one obtain a roster of the inmates? D
Are the army muster-rolls, Surgeons reports, and
Paymasters reports open for the inspection OF clti
Zens? g. If not, how can one obtain Information
from them? Answer. l. Yes; if it can be shown
that 1t not paid and there exists reason why
1t should not be paid 2. Apply to the Second Au
ditor of the Treasury. 3. Near Togus, Me-; neal
Dayton. o. near Hampton, Va; near Milwaukee
NIG arad Ian h q ri a n
Governor of the Home. s. No. 6. One cannot OBJ
tain information from such records :,
+. NJ c., Vergennes, IH.-Are soldiers OF the Black
Hawk war now entitled to pensions? If so, al
what rate and from what date? 4nsWer. Only the
same soldiers of the late war; that is, for disa
bity contracted in the service and in line OF duty
There are no pensions for service only since the
war of 1872. The Mexican war pension bill which
has passed the House and is pending in the Senate
does not (as it passed the Housed include the sur
vvors or their widows of any of the various Indian
wars which preceded the Mexican war 1t Will
probably be amended by the Senate, but in what
way we cannot tell. 1t may not be recognized as
the original bill when the Senate gets through with
it. In such an event it will no doubt go to con-
ference committee, and no man can foreteu the
result.
j. c., EIgin, I'LL Is there provision for the
women who were matrons of hospitals during the
war. i was one during the war employed by Gov
ernment; signed the payroll. My name must be
registered at Washington. Got sick; went nome;
did not recover for one year. Then the war closed
and don't know as am yet discharged. My health
Is broken on account oil disease contracted WHlIe
III service. Can get a pension, and how shall
proceed? 2. Also, give me DIR. McGabrons adj
dress, formerly of Camp Douglas, Chicago An
s,Oer. /. No. There is no provision of law under
which you can be pensioned. 3 We have not his
address. Write to the Surgeon General, U. D. A.,
this city.
J. c. H., OSceold, Iova.-1 Is the whole time OF
service in the army taken out in perecting title to
homestead? 2. Discharge from first regiment lost.
Will certificate of service answer for homestead
3. Re-enlisted veteran. How much bounty did
4 down. the
ins,allments paid? 4nS,0er. /. Yes, providing IT
does not exceed four years. 2. Yes. g. $50 ad-
vance, and $40 after two six, II, "a and 3b months
If discharged before three years for wounds or be-
cause of end of war, the remaining installments
due We're paid at discharge.
o. W. b., Otdnlon Me.-Is there q law existing
which gives extra $50 to soldier who lost leg
an arm? If SO, how often is it due, and what
course should be pursued to obtain IT? Ans,eer
es, If said leg arm lost while In line oil duty
in the service, and he elects to receive commuta-
ton instead of an artificial limb. Said commuta-
ticn Is also paid where the officer soldier, sailor
seaman or marine has lost the use OF limb through
disease contracted or injury or wound received In
the line of duty in the service The said commuta-
ton is paid every five years, commencing from date
OF first application therefor Applications should
be made to the Surgeon General, u. ). A.
J. C., Pike Cuy.-The last bill which passed the
House OF Representatives during the 4Sth Congress
In time to receive the signature OF President Arthur
and thus become q law, was the Senate bill author
izing an additional appointment on the Retired
List of the Army, with the grade OF General, and
Grant was appointed under the provisions OF the
act. The first act signed by President Cleveland
was one of several in December last. The order in
which they were signed is not known Geo
Mcclellan held no military rank in the Q. s. Army
at the time of his death. His connection with the
Army ceased Nov. s, 1864, when he resigned as
Major General, U. s. A.
A. b. C., Troy, " Y-Wiu the wife of q soldier
who is now drawing pension continue to draw sl2
per month after the death of the soldier? Answer.
That depends entirely upon the cause of his death.
If death is proved to be due to his service and line
of duty, yes otherwise she has no title to pension
J. H. Sargent CAL. Is n man who is drawing a
pension for chronic diarrhea entitled to increase
for diseases arising from long continuance OF
diarrhea, which disables him to i greater degree
than he is now pensioned for? 2. To whom must
a soldier make his application for special act for
an increase of pension? Insurer. L. Yes. 2 lie
should write to his Member of Congress, See re-
ply to w. r., this column.
Peteran No 303, ,796.-I enlisted Sept Is, 1861 and
OH Oct. 2S, 1862 was dropped as deserter. vol
unfairly returned to my company and was subse-
quently restored to duty by order of Department
Commander, with loss of pay and allowances FOR
time absent In January, 1864, re-enlisted in same
company, and hence was honorably discharged.
served faithfully veteran until Aug. II, 1865,
when was finally discharged from the service, re-
ceiving another honorable discharge. While serv-
ing a veteran was captured in line of duty and
imprisoned at Andersonville. l escaped from
prison and arrived in our lines perfect wreck,
sick with scurvy and chronic diarrhea | applied
for pension it granted on chronic diarrhea
and bronchitis The claim for scurvy was contn-
ued at my request. Some two years ago OBJ
tanned the necessary proof on scurvy and filed it.
Last September the Commissioner of Pensions in
formed me that further action could be taken in
my claim for increase until the charge of desertion
was removed from the records in the War Depart
mcnt. Why should the charge of desertion my
first enlistment bar me from pension on account of
disability contracted under veteran enlistment :?
Ans,cer. 1t will not Return the letter to the PEN
sion Office and state the facts in the case. The
action of September will not be adhered to. The
rulings in vogue at that time have since been modi
fed, especially in cases like yours.
W. r., Hamilton, Ind. If Congress grants a
pension which has been file II years will it
draw arrears? 2. How must the soldier proceed to
get his claim before Congress? 3. When will Con-
grcss adjourn? 4ns,ger. l. No. 2. Get the Member
of Congress to introduce bill to that effect The
claim must, however. have been rejected by the
Pension Office before it will be considered by Con-
gress. 3. Some time next Summer. Probably in
July.
s. S. f., Ptiladsl slphiG.-When claim for change
of date of muster of officer under the act of June
s. 1884 has been favorably acted upon by the Adju-
tant General, the Second Auditor should be imnle-
diGtefy notified of the fact that he call upon
the Adjutant-Gen mt once for official report
showing such change of record. This the attor-
ney should attend to. The Second Auditor can
not act upon the claim until he is notified that
the officers muster has been amended. When
the report from the Adjutant- General has been re-
ceved by the Auditor the claim is then taken up in
its order, examined, and any balance found due the
officer is certified to Congress- and in the ordinary
course of events an appropriation is made to
the settlement and the officer is paid The Auditor
is from Is months to two years behind on such