The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-27
OUR CORRESPONDENTS
Replies to Questions on a VARIETY or Interesting
Subjects.


Replies to Questions on a VARIETY or Interesting
Subjects.
Ito CorrsspOndenis-Writ questions on a sep
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and marx 1t Correspondents Column" No atten-
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Our readers are requested to inclOse n stamp for
reply to their inquiries. Postal cards viii be
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narlly be made within q week and IL in this coli
umn within three weeks.l
@, w. L., GraysOa, Ky.-Please give the number
OF Union soldiers who died in Southern prisons
during the late war, and the number Of rebel sol
dieTs who died in United States prisons The
death rate. What book can / get giving all these
particulars? AHstosr. The War Department gives
the number of Union soldiers who died while priS-
oners as 1918; but these figures grossly inn
perfect there are 10000 graves at the prisons OF
Salisbury, Audersonville and Florence alone, with
out taking into account the dead IN 10 other prOmi
nent prisons Tie War Department admits hav-
ing evidence 70 show that about IS OOO died in rebel
prisons, but having exact figures, declines to
give this report. The number OF rebels who died
while prisoners was 26T1i, and these figures are
probably accurate. as we kept reliable account
OF all who died The entire number Of Union sol-
diers captured was 22 Cos OF whom over q per cent
died IN rebel prisons. The entire number of rebel
soldiers captured was 476. l69 of whom less than
per cent. died in Union prisons.
@. +. w., Eagidnd's Point, " C-SOldier enlisted
IN 1863 and In 1854 discharged for disease con-
tracted IN line OF duty in the service Of which he
utctl III 1000 leaving NiuONt c0AGfel.
1872 widow applied for pension. and in 1874 remaT-
ried. Pension has just been allowed from date of
soldiers death to date Of remsTriage Of widow Is
not the widow entitled to pension that soldier
would have been entitled 10 from date of his dis
charge TO date of his deathS AaslCer. Yes, pro-
vtded the soldier ied claim for pension during his
lifetime, and 1t was pending at his death, and the
widow completed IL; bat If he died without fling
claim, pension be paid for the period prior
TO his death, for the reason that he was the only
person entitled to pension and he failed TO apply.
The widow cannot file q claim for him.
o. s. B., Darid City, Ee5.-I. When was the Office
OF General created in the u. g Army? 3 Who first
held that office? 8. How many have held the
Office, and does any one hold it at present? in
st0eT. /. July %, 1866 ?. If you mean during the
late war, Gen. U. 5. Grant. 3. Gen. VIM. Z. Sher-
man succeeded Gen. Grant TO the Office and he
was succeeded by Gen. Sheridan. They are the
only three officers who have held the office of Gen
eral since Washington. The Office does not now
exist except the retired list with Gen. Sherman,
j. d. C., Dubuque I0lUa.-I was discharged in
August, 1864, before having completed my term Of
enlistment) Surgeons certificate Of disability;
but subsequently served tenn Of five years in
the Regular Army. Will my service with the Regu-
lars debar me from pension for disability con-
tTacted ia line OF duty during the war? AnstCsT.
No, providing you can prove the continuance a
your disability since the date Of your first dis
charge.
d. J. Dr., Kansas City, KGn.-A soldier was taken
prisoner and confined in Andersonville. With the
intention OF escaping he enlisted in the rebel army
but deserted before doing duty a soldier, and
escaped to the Union lines returning to his regi
ment and receiving honorabe discharge when
II was mustered out Can he now apply for pen
sion for disability contracted while in prison IN
sI0eT. No Section 47l6 Revised Statutes of the
United States, provides that no money on account
of pension shall be paid to any person. or 70 any
widow children or heirs of any deceased person
who in any manner voluntarily engaged in aided
or abeited the late rebellion against the authority
of the United States.
S. d., WepgerIaten. o.. What has become Of
Senate Bill 3d. introduced by Mr. Sherman Dec
49, 1887 giving arrears Of pensions in certain cases.
2 Is the . Manned Soldiers League an organiza-
oil hi
If So what the address ofits officers? AnStcer The
bill was referred TO the Committee on Pensions
but action has been taken on IT, 2. Write to the
Secretary. J. ii. r. Story Philadelphia Pa.
X. d., AdG, OIL. Has Fort Sumter been rebuilt
and put in defensive condition again? 2. How
large was Island No 10 when besieaed in 1862 and
is t true that now no trace Of It exists having all
been washed away? 3. Did the Government per
mEnently confseate any rebel lands especially the
Lee or Arlington estate, were they all restored
to their former owners or else paid for. T. Was
Fort Darling taken by siega or otherwise pre-
viOus to the general surrender? 5. Were the ne
gFoeS ever enlisted as soldiers by the ConfedeTates
9. What amount were rebel soldiers paid 1915?
AHSiOeT l. In 1870 the rebuilding Of Fort Sumter
was commenced with view to putting il in mod
defensive condition. and considerable progress
has been made. although for a number of years
nothing has been done toward Ompleting IT, owing
to the lack of appropriation of money by Congress
TO continue the work. 2. In April, 1862. when
Island No. 10 was besieged, il was about three
miles long and three quarters Of mile wide Since
then the bed of the Mississippi has entirely changed
and there is now no naviSsbe channel except in
high water between the Island and the Missouri
shore, and it IS now only about mile long and
one-eighth of a mile in width. There are no re-
mains Of any Notifications on the Island. g. Land
was acquired by the United States Government in
some States under the provisions of the direct tax
law, when the property would not bring, upon
sale, the amount of the assessed tax. In some
States this title Of the Government has been
decided valid by the Supreme CoBTs Of the States;
in other States the title was Hos good and the
owners generally recovered their land. Liberal
provisions have been made from time to time look
ing to the restoration OF such lapds upon the pay
ment of the taxes, costs, etc, ana it be stated
that the United States does not retain any land
under thisaet. Some property thus acquired which
was appropriated for the uss OF National Gene
terieS or other public purposes has been purchased
The Lee property, better known as Arlington u
was acquired by the Governments under this act
but upon appeal 10 the United States Supreme
Court it decided that the title WAS defective
After this adverse decision, the United States hay
ing converted the property into a National Gene
terry, purchased from the heirs their respective in
terests T. Fort Darling was not taken by siege or
otherwise previous TO the general surrender. 5.
Negroes were at no time enlisted in the Confeder-
ate army, although the question was discussed
and even recommended by Gen Lee himself, Just
prior to the collapse of the soealled Confederacy
s. We think that at the beginning of the war the
idea OF the rebel Government was TO pay theiE
soldiers the Same amount IN Confederate currency
that the Federal soldiers were receiving which was
sll per month; but although their currency de-
preciated from time to time such depreciation was
not recognized by the rebel Government and
private soldiers were paid SIS per month. During
the last year of the war the payment of rebel
troops was farce.
Sererai Subseri5ers.-The cadets at West Point
Military Academy are appointed by the President
one year in advance, the number being one from
each Congressional district, one from each Terri
tory and the District of Columbia and 10 from the
United States at large. All but the last named
must be actual residents of the districts from which
they are appointed. The nomination of those ap-
pointed from Congressional districts and Terrific
res is left to the Representatives OF such districts
in the House. As one class graduates every year,
there will be annual appointment and not
oftener, except in of q vacancy through DEATH
resignation expulsion. The appointee must be
between II and % years of age. physically perfect
and well Versed in reading, writing and aTithrne-
tic, have a knowledge of the rudiments of English
grammar descriptive geography, and of the history
of the United States. The Naval Academy has the
same number OF cadets, appointed in the same way
from persons between the age of IA aud Is years
The examination prescribed is about the same as
specified above.
Ayers Ague Cure is warranted to cure all