The National tribune., 1889-09-05
lie Writes Letter Upon the ReratinE OF His PEN
Efu

lie Writes Letter Upon the Rerating OF His PEN
sion.
Senator Charles F. Mandersou's letter to Com
missioner of Pensions Tanner has been received.
lt refers directly 10 the Feratng of the Senator's
case by the Pension Bureau and the consequent
increase in the amount of his pension. In the
letter Senator Henderson expresses frankly his
standing on the pension question, and asks the
Commissioner 10 direct that he henderson, be
examined by physicians before the rerating
shall be made final and the increase in pen
sion accepted. The full text of the letter is;
OMAHA. Aug. %.
Hon JAMES TANNER,
Commissioner OF Pensions Washington, d. C.
Ny DEAR SIR: | returned To my home yesterday
after an absence OF nearly two months. during
which have been beyond mail communication,
having been during great part q the time in
Alaska with the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs. With nay accumulated mail lind a blank
voucher, transmitted by the United States Pension
Agent at Dcs Moines, Iowa, To be executed and
returned to him. that may draw pension due me
under reis.ued pension certificate No. 53647, cor
recting the rate from SIS TO SO per month from
March Is, 1865. Accompanying this blank hppliea-
ton is the Teissued pension certificate described
and your letter of inclosure 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 il had
been stated TO me by parties claiming to know that
tile Pension Bureau had rernted my pension with
out any application or knowledge ON my part, and
ment that had received about Si,OJO pension due
me under the rcratiug. The letter certificate aud
voucher received by me to-day are the first formal
or official notifications have received that the Bu-
reau of Pensions had on its own motion issued a
certificate granting me "a reFatlng. You Will
bear me out Ia the assertion that this action the
mart of the officials of your bureau has not only
been without my application, but without my
agency suggestion, directly or Indirectly applied
aud without my knowledge that was To be done or
WAS contemplated. Not that such application by
me and such TeTatng 10y you would not be just and
right under the law and in common fairness, but
make the statement that the exact truth may be
have read to-day in papers issued during the
last few weeks SO much untruth malicously writ
ten and so much that IS unjust to you and unfair
To me that feel outraged and indignant. For your
administration Of the affairs OF your office with
proper regard to the law of the country, which does
not recognize soldiers pension as bounty or
charity, but his contract right, and looks upon
the Republics obligation TO It's defenders not ns u
duty but rs privilege you are To be Broken down
by outrageous misrepresentation and personal
abuse So FAR my own case Is involved, IL Is inn
material what may be said or written concerning
me- | will pursue the course that shall give me
the approval Of my own conscience, uninfluenced
by clamor and not fearing abuse counting fair crit
ieism and desiring the good opinion of the just.
IL is due TO YOU however rs u comrade much
esteemed, that should pursue course that shall
throw full light upon every important fact.
have disliked to speak OF my personal ills,
and have not been of those who exhibited their
wounds in the market places" Although for %
years have suffered the Inconvenience and pain
incident TO "A severe guushot wound and unex-
trueted bullet have not been in the habit OF bor-
ing my friends intmates with the recital of my
woes Perhaps the fact that was "shot in the
back has had something to do with my reticence.
IL would seem to be proper now that should give
the detail, however unpleasant personally To my
| self.
entered the service in April 1861, aud resigned
because of physical disability ON March II. 1865.
filed every grade Of rank in the 10Th regiment of
| Ohio infantry, and on my resignation as Colonel
| was brevetted Brigadier-General OF Volunteers, as
expressed in the commissions for gallant, meTito-
! Tious and lOng-eontiuued services during the war
of the rebellion" l was IN charge of my regiment
| in nearly every battle of the center west, and on
| Sept . 1861 ut Lovejoy's Station, Ga, my command
having taken the enemy's front line of rifle pits,
| was leading il upon tho maia work when was
| shot a minieball striking the spine and passing
| into my right side. IL IS not necessary for 10
! say TO YOU that if my back was To the foe my face
! was toward the meu of my own regiment.
was carried into Atlanta remnined there bed
! fast and partially paralyzed until that city was
| burned, when was moved by easy stages 10 the
| North gradually recovering use OF my legs. Care
fully nursed until the next spring, tried TO return
| To duty, hut was declared by the Surgeons unfit
| for military duty" and resigned. In July, 1865
| believing il To be not only right, but my duty to
| get upon what conceived to be the roll of honor
| / applied for pension, aud was examined by a
| Board of Surgeons, who rated me ut one-half dis
ability. With the test OF total disability, an injury