Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-08-24
Henderson 5 ? enSion.
The Nebraska Senator Makes a
Long Statement.
TANNER ENDORSED AND THANKED.

Pension-The Re-rating Nothing but
Fair. but Not Asked for and Done With
out His knowledge-A Request for q
Thorough Medical Examination.
OMAHA, Neb., Aug. Ex-senator Charles
+. Henderson yesterday handed the follow
ing letter to Corporal Tanner, concerning
his re rated pension, to the United Press
representative. The letter is dated Omaha,
Aug. %"
My DEAR SIR: 1 returned to my home
yesterday after an absence of nearly two
months, during which have been beyond
mail communication, having been, during a
great part of the me, in Alaska with the
senate committee on Indian affairs. With
my accumulated mail find blank voucher
transmitted by the United States pension
agent at Des Mones, la, to be executed and
returned to him that L may draw pension
due me under reissued pension certificate
No. b3,64I, correcting the rate from SIS to $50
per month from March Is, 1885. Accompanying
this blank application is the reissued pension
certificate. described, and your letter of en-
closure stating the fact of its issuance and
that check for the amount due me will be
forwarded on my return of the voucher
properly executed Before my departure for
the Alaskan trip 1t had been stated to me by
parties claiming to know that the pension
bureau had re-rated my pension without any
application or knowledge on my part and /
had even read in some newspapers the false
statement that had received about 5000
due me under the re-rating. The letter, certi-
ncate and voucher received by me to-day are
the first formal or official notification have
received that the bureau of pensions on its
own motion had issued new certificate
granting me re-rating.
Neither Applied for Nor Expected.
Ion will bear me out in the assertion that
this action on the part OF the officials of your
bureau has not only been without my appli-
cation, but has been without my agency or
sugges ton, directly or indirectly applied and
without my knowledge that il was to be done
or was contemplated-not that such applica-
ton by me and such re-rating by you would
not be just and right under the law and in
common fairness, but L make the statement
that the exact truth may be understood / have
read to-day in papers issued during the past
Tour weeks so much of untruth maliciously
written, and so much that is unjust to YOU and
unfair TO me, feel outraged and indignant
For your administration of the affairs of Your
once with proper regard to the law of the
country which does not recognize a soldiers
pension as bounty or charity but as his con-
tract right, and looks upon the republics obli-
CATION 10 Its defenders not as a duty but as a
privilege-you ara to be broken down by out
rageous Interpretations and personal
abuse 30 far as my own case is involved il
is immaterisl what may be said or written
shall give me the approval of my own con-
science, uninfuenced by clamor and not fear
ing abuse; counting fair criticism and desiring
the good opinion of the just
The senator States His Case
1t is due to you. however as a comrade much
esteemed that should pursue a course that
shall throw full light upon every important
fact have ever disliked TO sprak of my Der
sonal ills, and have not been of those who
exhibited their wounds in the market
places Although for twenty-five years /
have suffered the Inconvenience and pain in
cident TO a most severe gunshot wound and an
unextracted bullet, have not been in the
habit of boring my friends aud intimates with
the recital OF my woes. Perhaps the fact that
was shot in the back as had something to
do with my retioencs. 1T would seem to be
proper now that l should give the details,
however unpleasant personally to myself |
entered the service IN April, 1891. and resigned
because OF a physical stability on March II,
1850. hlled every grade of rank in the Nine
teenth regiment of Ohio infantry and on NV
resignation as colonel was breveted hsigadier
general of volunteers as expressed in the com
mission, for gallant, meritorious and long
continued services during the of rebel
lion" l was in charge of my regiment in
nearly every battle Of the contre west and on
Sept. :, 1854, at Lovejoy's Station, Ga. nv
command, having taken the enemy's front
line OF rine-pts, l was leading it upon the
X
Ing the spine and passing into my right side
Ii Is not necessary for me to say to YOU that
II my back was TO the foe. ia face was toward
the men of my own regiment. l was carried
into Atlanta, remained there bed-fast and
partially paralyZed until that city was burned
when was moved by easy stages to the north,
gradually recovering the use of my legs.
Applies for a Pension.
Carefully nursed until the next spring / tried
TO return TO duty, but wa. declared by the sur
geons unfit for military duty and resigned.
In July, 1865 believing 1t to be not only nv
right but my duty to get upon what con-
ceived to be the roll of honor / applied for a
pension, was examined by board of sur
geons, who rated me at one. half disability
with the test of total disability. an injury
equivalent 10 the loss of left hand have al
ways feit that | was rateI too low, but did
not complain or make application for higher
rating. | simply accepted the situation as II
was made for me. But there never has been
a time when would not have willingly suf-
fered the amputation of either hand or arm TO
be rid OF the existing injury, with the con-
slant painful reminder of the limitation of
my powers and its ever present threat of a
dreadful result from csrelessness or indiscre-
ton, the incapacity and danger growing
greater with the advancing years. / doubt if
would have made application for such in
crease, but you have seen hit 10 take up my
case without my knowledge and with the
k <. a, OF eomrade, himself grievous
SUFFERER from woui DIS, have done that which
you believe just and right under the law you
are sworn to administer.
Demands n Medical Examin alton.
thank you most sincerely, but under this
attack upon you there must be left no room
for douot or cavil as to the ffil propriety of
your conduct. The medical and legal eyperts
of your Office have acted upon the records as
made in your office and includina the six ex-
aminations made since the war tire record of
none of which have ever seem have declared
that was unJustly rated. Before can execute
the voucher received or take any other steps
in this matter ! desire that there should be a
rigid and searching examination by medical
experts as 10 the extent Of the present disa-
bility Thanks TO careful life and abundant
utility l have no expectation of an early
death, and know my remaining days would
be greatly solaced and blessed if a competent
medical board could give me the assurance
that my pains and ills are mere Pigments of
the imagination, and that | am whole in body
and sound in mind-for such a result | would
almost be willing TO apologize for having
fought on the right side in war of the rebell-
ion.
Therefore respectfully ask that YOU or the
honorable secretary of the interior designate
q board of medical examiners somewhere in
the country. charged with the duty of making
physical examination. and report the facts as
to my condition. II this request shall be com
piled with, please advise me of the time and
place, my only preference being. in view of
other engagements, that IL should be after
Oct. l. Very respectfully yours,
lSigned.l CHARLES +. HENDERSON.
PosrsCIPT.-In one OF the newspapers lust
read by me the statement il made that certain
OH Gals in your Office have been dismissed be-
cause of their action in my case I do not
know who they are, and do not think | am
personally acquainted with one of those who
acted besides Yourself. VIII you kindly ad-
wise me of the facts in this behslf2
The Flat Gap Disaster.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Aug. "a Another VIC