The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-09-30
The Veterans Column and
National Military Home
Notes.

! lishment of such an institution, and
suggested plan for providing for
| one. Thfis letter was made the basis
of report dated Jan. T. 1841, by the
Military Committee of the House of
Representatives submitting bill
embracing the measures suggested
therein, and advising the necessary
legislation for an object which com
mended itself by every attribute and
motive of patriotism, beneyolence,
nation gratitude and economy" In
1874, Gen. Scott gave the subject spe-
cial prominence in his annual report.
Reports were also made March 5th,
1916, and Jan. 10, 1S48, the former
upon the memorial of the officers of
the Army stationed at Fort Moultrie
and the petition of the officers of the
Army then in Mexico; and in each
case the committee approved the bill
reported Jan. Z, 1871. In February,
1S48, Gen. Scott transmitted to the
Secretary of War draft for 100000
as part of the tribute levied by him
on the City of Mexico for the benefit
of the Army, and he expressed the
hope that it might be allowed to go
to the credit of an army Home. Again
in November 1S49, in another letter,
he says, referring to the same mat
ter: THE draft was made payable
to me, and in order to place the de-
post beyond the control of any indi-
vidual functionary whatever, / en-
dorsed it: "The Bank of America
will place the within amount to the
credit of the army asylum, subject
to the order of Congress" The funds
were at first turned in to the public
treasury and subsequently, in the
act to found the Home, March 3,
1851, were, with a balance of $751;
1919 remaining from the same levy
appropriated for the support of the
institution. An unexpended balance
was appropriated of previous ap-
preparation ($54,319.23) made "for
the benefit of discharged soldiers dis
abled by wounds" and provided for a
perpetual revenue, j. e., "stoppage
and fines adiudged against soldiers
by sentence of court martial" for
FIXTURES on account of desertion," a
certain portion of the hospital and
post fund of each station, moneys be-
longing to estates of deceased sol
diers and unclaimed for three years
(the latter to be paid to legal heirs
on demand) and also for the deduc-
tion of 25 cents per month from the
pay of each unlisted man. By act of
Congress, approved March 3, 1859, the
of the original act were
changed to reduce the number of
commissioners to three: the Com
missary- General of Subsistence, the
SUPERINTENDENT, and the Adjutant-
General of the Army; to substitute !
the name Soldiers Home" for mil |
itary Asylum" to reduce the soldiers
to 1914 cents per month, |
and to extend the benefits of the |
Home" to the soldiers of the War of
1872 and of all subsequent wars. By
the act of May II, 1908, the law re-
quiring deductions of 1914 cents to be
made from the soldiers pay was re-
pealed. No direct appropriation for
the Home has ever been made by
Congress, except the provisions above
cited.
OUR PENSION COMMISSIONERS.
Comrade Gaylord M. Saltzgaber,
Commissioner of Pensions, was APP
pointed to that responsible position
May l, 1918, and it does not seem
that better man could have been
chosen for the office. Comrade Saltz
gaber was born at Shelby, O., March
Ia, 1916, and is, therefore, one of the
of the veterans. He had
earned the trade of blacksmith, and
was working at it when the call came
o arms. The roster of Ohio volun
,eers has this record under the head
If Co. l. Third Ohio cavalry: Gay
ord M. Saltzgaber, private, 16 years
anized; mustered out with company,
August 4, 1865" A better record
han this no man need have. The
Third Ohio cavalry was organized in
September, 1861, at Monroeville, with
lewis Zahm as Colonel. 1t had it's
irst introduction to battle few days
'efore Shiloh in driving out detach-
nent of Confederates from Lawrence
'urs. 1t was actively engaged in the
ADVANCE upon Corinth, and scored
everal successes. 1t was attached
o Gen. I. ]. Woods Division and be- {
anne part of the Army of the Cum S
'erland, with which it's history was ]
Identified through the Perryyille, s
'tone Rover and Chickamauga cam |
'aigns. All the time the regiment {
vas conspicuous and mentioned with
concentration by superior officers. 1t t
eteranized in January. 1864, when q
here were but 400 of the original l. e
90 on the rolls. Among the veterans /
fas Comrade saltzgaber. It's last I
ervice was in the Wilson expedition G