Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-03
THE DISTRICT VOLUNTEERS.
Efforts in Behalf Of Men Who Were Dis.
charged Before Their Ninety Days Expired.

Efforts in Behalf OF Men Who Were Dis
charged Before Their Ninety Days Expired.
Application has been made on behalf Of Mr..
Daniel Genau, one Of the survivors OF the
Union militia organized in this city before the
commencement Of the war, for allowance of pay
for the period between the nominal muster out
OF his organization, the eighth battalion. d. c.
volunteers. and the actual date of the paying of
and disarmament Of the same, involving pc
Rod OF some ten or eleven days There is also
q bill before Congress, which has been intro
duced for the benefit of the District volunteers,
extending the benefits of the act Of June 81.
1880. to those whose term Of service, by reason
OF some governmental action or other. fell short
OF the present requirement OF ninety days. 1t
provides that where honorable discharge
was granted by the government within fifteen
days OF the completion of such term Of service
the benefits of the act cited shall accrue to
the volunteer or his heirs The prin-
ciple commended for by the friends Of the
bill is that the government. in accepting
the services OF the three months men, did not
mean to shirk its solemn obligations toward
these men by awaiting itself Of the advantage
offered under the clause, unless sooner dis
charged" by turning them out Of the service
few days before the actual end Of their term
OF service, but accepted the services rendered
so FAR as completion Of the whole term of en-
listment as shown by the wording Of the dis
charges given these men. The BILL which is in
charge Of Senator Davis of Minnesota on the
Senate side of the Capitol, ia of special interest
to many District people because it was right here
in the District that the government raised the
first volunteer force long before Q shot was
fired on either side, detailed regular army Of
hcers to drill and command these men and
finally made them part of the volunteer force
of the United States when troops were called
for under the Presidents proclamation. The
circumstances attending the formation Of these
bodies oSvolunteers were of such peculiar ma
ture that they probably find no parallel in the
entire history OF the country. Raised upon
territory under the exclusive jurisdiction OF the
United States Offered and commanded BY
regulars detailed for that purpose by the gem
eral of the army, at the direction Of the Presi-
dent. they were employed in guard duty upon
United States buildings and property like reg
ulars, held responsible and court-mar tailed like
regulars, yet the government never recognized
or paid them for any service rendered prior to
the muster-in, which was gone over again a. .
mere matter Of form after the proclamation Of
President Lincoln. In one particular instance,
that Of the eighth battalion, the men, although
mustered out from the 18th day Of July, 1861,
were held under orders and not paid of until
the 22d of that month, thus virtually adding
eleven days to their term of service. 1t is with
view Of obtaining recognition Of this serv-
ice that Mr.. Genau has now applied to the
proper authorities for the allowance Of pay for
that period, which, if allowed. would neces-
sarily carry with it the acknowledgment Of the
true length Of service.