The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-17
A PECULIAR CASE.
A Comrade Punished for Loyalty Undss
Trying Circumstances.

Comrade Punished for Loyalty Under
Trying Circumstances.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The fol-
lowing appeared in the Louisville Courier
Journal:
"Wm. Churchill, of De Pauw, Harrison
County, a small hamlet about 20 miles west
of New Albany, on the Air Line Railroad, 10
having trouble of a peculiar character In
establishing his claim to pension, anc,
although he served four years during the
civil war with distinction. having risen from
a private in the ranks to q Captains COM
mission. he is now registered on the army
rolls as a deserter, through no fault WHAT
ever of his own.
at the beginning of the civil war
Churchill was a soldier in the I'd U. S. Cav,
the Colonel being no less parsonage than the
illustrious Robert Z. Lee, while the Cap
tain of his company was Earl Van Dorm,
afterward one of the most distinguished
officers in the service OF the Coniederacy.
When Gen. Twiggs surrendered his COM
mand in Texas IN 1861 Churchill, who was
| then a private in the regiment mentioned,
turned over his horse, arms, and accouter-
ments to an officer, and, making MS way 20
New Orleans succeeded in getting NORTH
| Shortly after reaching his home he enlisted
| in Co. T, 59th Ind, Capt w. Ill. Welman, Oh
| New Albany, commanding. Alter tne Vi
cissitudes of four years of war Churchill was
mustered ont. and in the settlement with
the Government for back pay was compelled
to paw $50 for the horse and equipments
turned over by him five years before wnlIe
in Texas. He applied for and was granted
| a pension after 10 years of effort, but was
not permitted TO enjoy it but few months,
| when it was cut off on the grounds that ne
appeared on the army rolls as deserter, De-
cause he had not been regularly mustered
ont when Gen. Twiggs surrendered the
command. He now desires to hear from
some of his comrades of the old I'd U. b Cav.
when that corps was commanded by Col
Robert +. Lee. in order that he may estao-
lish the fact that he did not desert the eolors.
At the surrender at Vicksburg Churchlli
met half-dozen of the priyates OF MS oio
command, who were then serving IN the
Confederate army, but he mas since tnas
| time lost sight of all of Them.
This is correct except, perhaps, IN amouns
of stoppage for horse and equipments.
, The case is a most deserving one. NO
more worthy claimant for services rendered
has made application before the Department.
| and is needy az well as deserving. Any as
! sistance in finding comrades of the I'd Troop
would greatly oblige the claimant. L De
} lieve W. w. Dudley Is his agent Salo
: Churchill, as / understand, stands on the
rolls as deserter, which is disgrace to the
!. Government, and should be corrected. bis
claim for pension was before the Department
; for many years before he knew ne would
ever want for comrades evidence, when ne
, may be unable now to procure, yet the lie
, partment certainly has evidence Oh MS serV'
| ices and faithfulness.
, Are there any records of the Twlggs com
mand that he could learn of his comrades IL
! the I'd Troop?
} His application for some Is years was 70
: iected. and he was granted pension for q
short time under the act of 1890, then wa;
cat off because of above circumstances, and
he was cheated out of his Is years pension
during all those years under the Old LAVE
w. III. WELMAN, New Albany, Ind.