Middletown transcript., 1910-04-02
DupONT,s PENSION BILL

age of her citizens favored the
Southern cause. Yet the Fifth
and Sixth Regiments of Delaware
Infantry have been denied the
pensionable status granted the
soldiers Of other states under the
Act of June 9th, 1890, giving
pensions to all soldiers serving
ninety days.
Senator dupont, who is warm
ly championing the just cause of
these worthy 400 surviving old
Delaware soldiers, seeks in his
Senate Bill No. 6175 to correct
the injustice done them-for
their regiments gave not 80 but
270 days service to the Nation.
Senator duPont's memorial in
support Of his Bill-a resume Of
which we give-is a plea for
justice that is unanswerable.
These two regiments were duly
mustered into service in the
Autumn Of 1862 to serve within
the state limits, and were dis.
charged in August 1853. Under
the conditions existing at that
time, their presence in the State
was a national necessity. First,
Delaware was an exposed border
State; Cd, a large part of her
people strongly favored the
South; Sd, in the State ran the
highly important strategic rail.
road and canal communication
between the North and East and
Washington, the seat of War; 4th,
in it we're the dupont powder
mills, the governments chief
source of supply. These reasons
made the guarding of the State
a task Of the greatest importance
to the whole Union. And when
these two regiments faithfully
protected the railroad, the canal,
the bridges and the powder mills;
and dispersed several Southern
uprisings, and aided in the draft,
they were more usefully EN-.
ployed than they could have been
elsewhere or than any outside
troops could have been, for the
reason in both cases, that they
knew those localities well-s
thing of great value in military
affairs. Had they not done this
necessary work, some other
troops must have been taken
from the field to do so.
They got no pay, save for the
AZ days they served ont of the
State, only arms and accoutre.
ments, and boarded themselves.
Threats were made by the
Southerners to destroy all these
works-railroad, canal, bridges,
mills, etc. This would have
caused delay and loss and might
have entailed grave disaster.
Sept. Both, 1868, Major H. B.
Budd wrote to the Adjutant Gen.
eral of the Army in this compli-
mentary fashion of their loyal
obedience, when the government
felt compelled, in fat breach Of
the agreement under which they
enlisted, to order them to serve
out of the State.
ITO the surprise and qualification of the
Major. General commanding the depart.
ment these men responded to these appeals
SO promptly and in such numbers
= that some 1900 men were placed
along the railroad and 400 at Fort Della.
ware in an Unexpectedly short time.
The Twelfth Regiment OF
Maryland Infantry, did guard
duty only 100 days, and got a
pension under this Act.
We cannot close this review
with more appropriate words
than those, Senator dupont en-
ploys in his memorial
''There are probably about 400 survivors
Of the two Delaware regiments. They are
al+full Of years and many Of them exceed.
ingly infirm and in very destitute ciEcum-
stances. l earnestly hope that Congress
VIA b0s 0S ACuA w uHPCNt6S Alu Will
be moved by a sense Of justice and equity
to enact such legislation as will put them
on pensionabIe status under the Act Of
June 9th, 1890.
This is no cunning appeal in
behalf Of some bullet.dodging
"coffee coolers" who say they
saw somewhere, somehow ''ser.
vice." but a square.toed demand
with proof to match-that simple
justice be granted to a few of our
States worthiest old soldiers.
And every Delawarean, who can
exert the slightest personal or
other proper influence in their
behalf upon any member of Con-
gress in either branch, should
feel it not only a duty but a plea.
'curo IN do On