The National tribune., 1906-04-26
GENERAL orsFiIcEas.
The EGert Being Made 10 Put Them All
On the Redred List.


On the Retired List.
The following is lie Petition accom-
panying the bill to put all general off,
GERS of volunteers ON the retired list;
Washington. D. c.. ...'Feb. 22, 1906.
Hon. Knute Nelson, United States
Senate.
Dear Sir: Referring to our letter of
the 30th ultimo in respect to Senate
Bill 216e to create q Volunteer Retired
List and also to the list of officers at
tached thereto. we lave the honor to
call your attention to the fact that since
the writing of said letter information
has been received Of {be residence OF
1a and of the death OF 10 Brevet Brig.
adler Generals of Volunteers whose
length of service and rank made them
eligible under the provisions of said
bill. An amended list is forwarded
herewith.
"The number of survivors whose resi-
dences are known is as follows: Major
Generals, B; Brigadier- r-Geuerals, SO;
Colonels of regiments and Brevet Brig
known to be living, 1S7
"The number of Brcvet Brigadier-
Generals whose residences are unknown
who If living would be eligible is SO.
This small number is the remnant of
that large body of volunteer officers
who commanded and led the National
forces in the great struggle for the
preservation of the Union.
But a small proportion Of this gen
Grafton of people, more than 60, ,0a0, 600
or whom have entered upon American
life since the firing upon Fort Sumter,
can form a just conception of that
mighty struggle.
1.-The claim made by the people of
certain States, of the constitutional
ne .,,x,
of law too big to be settled by Congress
or Court. The issue was submitted to
the arbitration of the sword. IL was
a conflict between Americans.
1.-The contention on each side was
maintained with degree of loyalty,
courage and fortitude never excelled.
The mighty struggle continued for four
years.
During that period more than 4,0O0,-
600 men rallied under the standards of
the opposing forces.
'"Ehe actual operations of the war
extended into IS States. The contend
ing armies met and fought in more
than $500 engagements. This conflict,
with its great commanders and its
mighty campaigns and battles, attract
ed the attention of the world. While
skill and courage in war hold a place
in the history of mankind, the civil war
in America will be recognized as one
OF the most tremendous military cpl
sodes since the invention of firearms.
The men whose names appear in
the list of eligibles under your bill rep
resent every great campaign entered
upon. and every great battle fought by
the Union army during the civil war.
The petitioners respectfully ask that the
Congress of the United States will grant
them the recognition for their services
provided for in your bill. They submit
that the justice of this measure should
not be called in question. The Con-
gress has by previous legislation retir-
ing volunteer officers of the civil war
established precedcnts which invited
the Introduction of this bill and justify
its enactment. Ha ,
Are the provisions of your bill too
narrow? II so, the ffiendly hand Of
Congress Will make such amendments
as will be deemed just equitable.
''Wiil objection be made to this meas
ure because of the expense? As an
item of appropriations the amount will
not be large. Nor can-the item con-
timue long. The uaturaliorder of things
settles that question.
Consider the pension roll. During
the period of 10h years. from July l.
1895, to Dec. 81, 1905. of the officers
and soldiers of the civil war who were
OIL the pension roll lz6SSg1 have died.
They were mustered out by the Great
Commander. t'iFsi." $3.50 90 ~ 2-',t- ,.'
'"The heroic men of the civil war now
oil the pension roll are receiving their
fral earthly discharge at the rate of
500 per week. - @ -
"As compared with the previous fiscal
year the number of civil-war pensioners
decreased 6,1S4 during the fiscal year
1905. The annual decrease hereafter
will no doubt be greater.
''It is obvious that creating the vol
unteer Retired List authorized by your
bill. and placing all the eligibles th-re-
on provided for. will not cause an in
crease in the payments heretofore made
TO the officers and soldiers who served
in the civil war.
r"On behalf of the petitioners we have
the honor to earnestly request favor
able action on said bill at the present
session of Congress. We respectfully
call the attention of both Houses of
Congress to the extreme old age of
many of these men who have defended
their countrys flag.
VERY respectfully yours,
Green b. Raum, l.. A. Grant, c. ID.
MacDougall Samuel J. Crawford"