The Brookhaven leader., 1889-08-29
MANDERsoN EXPLAINS.

i
letter to Corporal Tanner, concerning his
rerated pension, to United Press repre-
| sentative:
To Hon. Jamts TdnHrr, Commission,r Of Pen
| tiORs Washington:
MY DEAR SIR: returned TO my home yes
| terday after an absence Of nearly two months,
during which have been beyond mail commu
nication having been during great part Of the
| time in Alaska with the Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs. With my accumulated mail
| I find q blank voucher, transmitted by
the United States pension agent at Des
| Moines, Ia, to be executed and returned
| to him that l may draw pension due me
| under reissued pension certificate No. 53,6f
| correcting the rate from s15 to ESQ per month
| from March is, 1855. Accompanying this blank
| application is the reissued pension certificate
| described and your letter Of inclosure stating
| the facts of its issuance and that a check for
| the amount due me will be forwarded on my re-
| turn OF the voucher properly executed. Before
| my departure for the Alaskan trip it had been
stated to me by parties claiming 10 know, that
| the pension bureau had rerated my pension
| without any application or knowledge on my
| part, and have even read in some newspapers
| one false statement that l had received about
| 400 pension due me under the reratng.
The letter, certificate and vouchers received
| by me to-day are the first formal or official
| notification have received that the Bureau Of
|
certificate granting me a rerating. You will
| bear me out in the assertion that this action on
| the part of the officials Of your bureau has not
only been with slt my application, but has been
! without my agency or suggestion, directly or
| indirectly applied, and without my knowledge
| that II was TO be done or was contemplated.
| Not that such application by me, and such re-
rating by you, would not be just and right under
| the law and in common fairness, but make the
| statement that the exact statement may be
| understood.
have read to-day in papers issued during the
past few weeks so much of untruth maliciously
| written, and so much that is unjust to you and
unfair to me, that feel outraged and indig-
nant For your administration OF the affairs Of
your onice, with proper regard to the law OF the
| country, which does not recognize q soldiers
pension as bounty charity but as his con-
tract right, and looks upon the Republic S
obligation to its defenders, not as q
duty, but as privilege, you are to
be broken down by outrageous misrep-
reservations and personal abuse. So far as my
own case is involved, 1t is immaterial what
may be said or written concerning me. l will
pursue the course that shall give me the ap-
proval OF my own conscience, uninhuenced by
clamor and not fearing abuse, counting fair
criticism and desiring the good opinion OF the
just. 1t is due to you, however, as a comrade
much esteemed that should pursue course
that shall throw full light upon every important
fact
have ever disliked to speak Of my personal
ills and have not been one OF those who ''ex-
hbited their wounds in the market places"
Although for twenty five years have suffered
the Inconvenience and pain incident TO a severe
gunshot wound and an unextracted bullet, l
| have not been in the habit of boring my friends
and intimates with the recital of my woes.
| Perhaps the fact that was "shot In the back"
has had something to do with my retlcence
1t would seem to be proper now that should
give the detail, however unpleasant personally
to myself entered the service In April, 1861,
and resigned because Of physical inability on
March II, 1865. l filled every grade of rank in
| the Nineteenth re giment OF Ohio infantry, and
on my resignation as Colonel was breveted
Brgadier- er-General OF Volunteers, as expressed
in the commission, for gallant, meritorious
| and long continued services during the war OF
the rebellion
| l was in charge OF my regiment in nearly
every battle OF the center, west, and on Sep
tember ,, 1864, at Loveioy's Station, Ga. my
command having taken the enemy's front line
| of rife pits. / was leading it upon the main
| work, when was shot, mimic ball striking
the spine and passing into my right side. 1t is
| not necessary for me to say to you that II my
| back was to the fee my face was toward
| the men Of my own regiment. / was car
| ried into Atlanta, remained there bed
| fast and partially paralyZed until that city was
| DuTHcu- "HtH was luONcu ny easy stdfCS W
| the North, practically recovering the use of my
legs. Carefully nursed until the next spring,
| tried TO return to duty, but was declared by the
surgeons unfit for military duty" and re-
signed In July 1865 believing it to be not
only right, but duty, to get upon what / con-
ceived TO be the roll OF honor l applied for
| pension, was examined by a board of surgeons,
| who rated me at one half disability. With the
test OF total disability, an injury equivalent TO
| the loss of the left hand, 1 have always felt
| that was rated too low, but did not complain
| or make application for higher rating, simply
accepted the situation as it was made for me,
| but there never has been time when l would
not have willingly suffered the amputa
| ton OF either hand arm to be rid
OF the existing injury with the constant
| painful reminders of the limitation of my
powers and its ever present threat Of
| a dreadful result from carelessness or indiscre
| tion the incapacity and danger growing greater
| with the advancing years l doubt II would
ever have made application for such increase,
| but you have seen nit to take up my cause with
out my knowledge, and with the kindness of a
comrade, himself a grievous sufferer from
| wounds have done that which you believe just
and right under the laws you are sworn to ad-
| minister.
For this thank you most sincerely, but un
der this attack upon YOU there must be left no
room for doubt or cavil as to the full proprety
| of your conduct. The medical and legal ex-
perts OF your office have acted upon the record
as made in your ONCE, and upon it. including
| these examinations made since the war (the
| record OF none OF which have ever seem, de-
| clared that was unjustly rated. Before ex-
| ecute the voucher received, or take any other
| steps in this matter. desire that there should
| be rigid and searching examination by med
ical experts as to the extent of the present dis
ability.
Thanks to careful life and an abundant
| vitality have no expectation OF an early death,
and know my remaining days would be greatly
solaced and blessed il competent medical
board could give me the assurance that my
pains and ills are mere fgments OF the i'm
aglnation. and that l am whole in body aud
| sound in mind. For such a result would be
almost willing TO apologize for having fought on
| the right side in the war of the rebellion
| therefore respectfully ask that either you,
or the honorable Secretary of the Interior, dis
ignate a board of medical examiners some
| where in the country, charged with the duty OF
| making physical examination and report the
| facts as to my condition II this request shall
| be complied with please advise me of the time
and place, my only preference being, in view OF
other engagements, that il should be after
| October l. Very respectfully,
CHARLEs F. MANpERsoN.
| p. SIN one OF the newspapers just read by
me, the statement is made that certain ofiicials
| in your ONCE have been dismissed because of
tn ir action in my case do not know who
quainted with any Of those who acted. besides
yourself, WIN you kindly advise me OF the fasts
in this behalft
|
No Bids Accepted.
| WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.-In the Navy
Department yesterday bids were opened
for five new cruisers. The Bath iror