Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-01-05
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
THElR WARFARE OVER.


Y 4clc sam 5 DlUG. Is the SOAUlcE nome.
Here in handsome and commodious
structures. surrounded by ample
grounds. consisting OF the most beauti-
ful parks in the country. dwell the vet
Grams vino have, by long service. earned
the right TO ease, or by injuries or dis
ease contracted in the line of duty, have
become incapacitated for the active life
Of soldier IN the field
The home was originally called Mil
itary asylum, and the idea of estab-
fishing ii was concocted by Gen. Scott
shortly after the close Of the Mexican
war in 1876. 1t was intended as a home
for the soldiers, both volunteer and
regular, of that war, who should be-
come disabled or INDECENT. But its hui
manities soon became SO apparent that
II was decided to enlarge its scope and
place il upon a permanent basis And
it is now devoted to the care of enlisted
men of the regular army of all wars in
which the country has participated who
have served honestly and faithfully for
twenty years, or who have been
wounded in the service, or who have
been disa bled by disease contracted in
the line of their duty so as to unfit them
for rendering further military service
or for earning a competence by their
own labor, and to extend charitable
help to such as are entitled to the ben
efts of the home but can not reside at
the home itself
Sailors and marines are denied the
benefits of the home, as they do not
contribute to its support, but they are
entitled to the benefits of the volunteer
homea
! This home was the first institution of
the kind ever founded. There are sew
eral homes in the land for the disabled
and INDECENT volunteers of the late war,
but this is the only one devoted to the
wants of the regulars. The general
supervision and financial administra-
ton of the home are placed by congress
in the board of commissioners, COM
posed of the following officers of the
army, ''Cx-officio:" The general-in-chief
commanding the army, the surgeon
general, the commissary general the
adjutant general, the quartermaster
general, the Judge advocate general,
and the governor of the home-seven
in all Both Gems. Sherman and Sher-
idan have acted as president of the
board.
The officers and inmates of the home
are subject to the rules and articles of
war;" designed to protect the good and
restrain the bad. Il code of regulations
for the government of the inmates is
now in force, which was prepared by
the governor of the home and approved
by the secretary of war. In order to
preserve proper discipline in the home
the inmates are organized into squads
and companies, with due proportion of
sergeants and corporals assigned to
each These non-commissioned officers
are paid a small compensation for their
services.
There are three roll-calls each dav
corresponding with reveille and tattoo.
Inmates of the home are not permit
ted to introduce any kind of liquor
within its Enclosures, and violation of
this regulation is deemed sufficient
cause for dismissal from the institution.
The inmates are required to perform
such duties in and about the buildings
and grounds as in the judgment of the
governor, their age, physical condition
and abilities will allow.
ing of the home.
In addition to good food, each inmate
is supplied with good bed and such
recreation as the home can afford, and
in consideration of good conduct the
governor may allow him 81 a month for
spending money, and may pay him at
the rate of % cents a day for such labor
as he may be able or willing to per-
form. Inmates permitted to reside out
aide the limits of the home may receive
80 allowance not to exceed 50 a month.
The average cost of maintaining an in
mate of the home is Sizes.
The income of the home is derived
from these sources: First, from tax
of 1881 cents Originally IS cents)
month on each enlisted man of the
army. Second, from monsy due desert
ers Third, from fines imposed. Fourth,
from the proceeds of sales of unclaimed
effects of deceased soldiers The amount
realized annually approximates to $780,,
600, while the annual expenses are in
the neigh borhood of 5000, 0O0 The
permanent surplus fund.- which draws
interest from the United States at the
rate Of 3 per cent a year, now amounts
to the handsome sum Of 81 Az, $50, 81
Thus it will be seen that the home is on
solid financial basis
The first man admitted as an inmate
Of the home was William Daily Com
pany A, Third infantry May 1851
The total number received to date viii
aggregate about { 600 There are now
about $50 on the rolls Of the home,
about p of hem being colored. The
number steadily increases from year to
wear OF these 751 receive benefits as
resident inmates, 492 being absent on
outdoor relief OF the resident inmates
4s5 participated in the late war. The
inmates are Of all ages from twenty
four to ninety odd years Eight hun
dred and forty of the inmates are pen
sioners, and the law allows their pen
sions or parts thereof to be paid to
their relatives. Otherwise the pension
money is drawn by the treasurer Of the
home, the pensioners receiving only
part, the balance being paid to them