Documentation of Winfield Scott's Pension for Helen Louise Scott
Collection: Winfield Scott
Title
Documentation of Winfield Scott's Pension for Helen Louise Scott
Subject
Scott, Winfield
Civil War
New York
Scott, Helen Louise
Library of Congress
Description
Helen Louise Scott received a pension for Winfield Scott in 1912. Library of Congress details this in a session of the 62nd Senate. Winfield Scott's original pension is documented in a session of the 58th Congress in 1904.
Source
Winfield Public Library
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas, USA
Date
1904, 1912
Rights
Format
text/plain
Language
English
Type
Miscellaneous Documents
Citation
“Documentation of Winfield Scott's Pension for Helen Louise Scott,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed June 23, 2026, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/211.
Text
5542 Romaine Street
Hollywood, California,90038 September 22, 1968
Mr Thomas M Durbin
American Law Division
The Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Dear sir -
Last month I asked Senator Murphy to find an Act of Congress for a person who is the subject of a thesis that I am pre-paring for my Bachelor of Arts degree.
I am attaching herewith your reply to that query and also a Declaration for Widows Pension executed by the wife of the subject of my thesis and respectfully ask thta yu review these documents.
I wouls say that Mrs Scott was not only a minister’s widow but also a lay preacher in her own right and thus it would seem unlikely that she would invent this story - but - I have wondered if she may have been confused as to the time - maybe it was slightly more than the two years previous that she states - - in other words, maybe it was prior to 1908 by about two or three years. Also, and I think this may be im-portant - could this honorary titlt of Major which she says he received with two others - could this have been bestowed on him in recognition of his later service as a chaplain - he served as chaplain from 1882 to 1898 and this was, of course, after his Civil War military service.
I am sorry to put you to this inconvenience but I do want to be as accur-ate as possible on this thesis.
Thank you so very much,
Yours very truly,
Sister Helen Mary Wright, l.H.M.
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
WASHINGTON. D. C. 20540
Legislative Reference Service
August 19, 1969
To: Honorable George Murphy
From American Law Division
Subject: Captain Winfield Scott
This refers to your inquiry of August 14, 1969 on behalf of
Sister Helen Mary Wright, I.H.M. who requests an act of Congress that made Captain Winfield Scott a major in 1908. We have researched this matter in the Congressional Record for the 60th Congress first and second sessions (Dec. 2, 1907 - Mar. 4, 1909), and the Statutes at Large for this period and we regret that we are unable to find such an act bestowing upon a Captain Winfield Scott the rank of major. Returned herewith is the letter from Sister Helen Mary Wright.
Thomas M. Durbin
American Law Division
Ext. 8162
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
WASHINGTON. D. C. 20540
Legislative Reference Service
October 3, 1969
To: Honorable George Murphy
From: American Law Division
Captain Winfield Scott
This refers to your inquiry of August 14, 1969 on behalf of Sister Helen Mary Wright and her letter of September 22, 1969 seat directly to this office with additional information.
The additional information has enabled this office to ascer-tain the following facts relating to the promotion of Winfield Scott to the rank of Major.
Private Law 9, 62nd Congress approved May 9, 1912 (37 Statutes at Large 1047) increased the pension of Helen Louise Scott, widow of the late Winfield Scott. This act was the result of the enactment of S. 4314, 62nd Congress. This enactment contained provisions of S. 3173, 62nd Congress in which provisions of Mrs. Scott’s increase was originally
■
contained. S. Report 16-1, 62nd Congress which accompanied 3. 3173 when reported to the Senate contained a brief history of the service record of Winfield Scott at page 49. This report specifically states that Chaplain Winfield Scott was advanced to the rank of major on the retired list by act of Congress approved April 23, 1904.
LRS-2
No act was approved on April 23, 1904 specifically related to Chaplain Winfield Scott by name. However, there are provisions in Public Law 149, 56th Congress (33 Stat. 259) which provides appropria-tions for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1905, which provides generally for on increese of one grade in rank for retired officers for civil war services. Apparently Chaplain Winfield Scott was promated to the rank of Major pursuant to these provisions.
We are enclosing copies of pages 1, 2, 49, S. Rept. 164, 62nd Congress and pages 259, 264, 33 Statutes-at-Large (Pub. L. 149, 56th Congress).
Returned herewith is the letter from Sister Helen Mary, IHM and enclosures sent directly to this office.
Thomas Durbin
Robert A. Lincoln American Law Division Ext. 8174
TD/RAL:gg
Calendar No. 141.
62D Congress, SENATE. Report
2d Session. No. 164.
GRANTING PENSIONS AND INCREASE OF PENSIONS TO CERTAIN SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE CIVIL WAR, ETC.
..... ■ •
January 11, 1912.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. McCumber, from the Committee on Pensions, submitted the following
REPORT.
[To accompany S. 4314.]
This bill is a substitute for the following Senate bills referred to said committee:
2 PENSIONS AND INCREASE OF PENSIONS.
S. 1696. Lizzie I. Russ. S. 2615. Sarah A. Stephenson.
1702. William Bessinger. 2664. William A. Coddington.
1775. Sol P. Merrill. 2668. Isaac T. Atterberry.
1822. Albert L. T. Bush. 2738. Thomas Penwarden.
1877. James O’Neill. 2773. Elijah P. Creech.
1888. Richard Simpson. 2824. Edward M. Crabbs.
1889. William H. McKay. 2920. Thomas R. H. Simmons.
1930. Jacob Waymire. 2963. John A. White.
1953. James N. Bascue. 2966. Lucy E. Culp.
1965. John M. Herman. 3017. Fayette W. Barlow.
2009. Franck L. Prouty. 3065. Robert McIntosh.
2119. Horace P. Lester. 3100. John W. Forester.
2120. Elizebeth W. Everett. 3154. Edward R. Hutchins.
2176. Amos E. Morgan. 3173. Helen Louise Scott.
2203. Jonathan Huntley. 3177 Felix Deflin.
2237. Edward L. Allen. 3199. Edward P. Thorn.
2241. Honora A. Williams. 3280. John Stone.
2252. Alonzo Moe. 3310. James T. Berry.
2254. Simon V. Seeley. 3326. Fannie F. De Witt.
2255. Heber Angel. 3335. Frank A. Wardwell.
2263. Lester A. Corp. 3336. William H. Blake.
2265. Mary A. Bacon. 3401. George B. Hazen.
2301. Mandred O. Savage. 3402. Nicholas Fifer.
2314. John Feeney. 3403. Henry C. Lamphier.
2318. Walter E. Truax. 3422. Edna Stevens.
2430. Robert Smith. 3437. Charles H. Grant.
2491. Henry H. Warner. 3438. John B. Catlin.
2496. David H. Robinson. 3588. William H. Brooks.
2499. W. H. T. Wakefield. 3590. David Johnson.
2543. Joseph Annis. 3696. John Tredo.
2579. John W. Ayer (alias Charles W. 3714. Taranndoety Owens.
Dennison). 3722. Jacob S. Young.
2602. Barnet W. Sawyer. 3838. John F. Arnold.
2603. Georgianna L. Green. 3839. William H. Coleman.
The following are the facts ascertained by the committee concern-ing the case of each beneficiary in said bills and the conclusions of the committee as to the proper amount of pension or increase which should be granted :
S: 34. Truman Hall, the claimant, is a resident of Glens Falls, N. Y., and has a highly honorable and creditable military record.
He first enlisted June 6, 1861, early in the war, as a private in Com-pany F, Twenty-second New York Infantry; and served two years, being honorably discharged June 19, 1863. He again enlisted July 7, 1863, in Company F, Second New York Veteran Cavalry, and was finally and honorably discharged November 8, 1865, making his total
PENSIONS AND INCREASE OF TENSIONS. 49
surgeon, United States Navy, December 26, 1862, and served in that capacity for nearly three years, being honorably discharged December, 1865. During the War with Spain he served as captain and commis-sary of subsistence, United States Volunteers, from June 3, 1898, to April 22, 1900, doing duty both in this country and in the Philippine Islands.
He is pensioned under the general law at $14 per month for chronic diarrhea and resulting piles, result of typhoid fever, admitted to have been of service origin. He was first pensioned at $4 from September 8, 1880; increased to $10 from July 1, 1889, to $12 from April 12, 189l, and finally to $14 from April 5, 1905.
Soldier is now past the age of 70 years. In addition to pensioned disabilities he suffers from organic disease of heart and the infirmities incident to old age, and is wholly incapacitated for earning a support; by manual labor. The board of surgeons before whom he was last examined, April 5, 1905, rated him $8 for chronic diarrhea, $10 for piles, and $12 for disease of heart, and evidence of physicians and others filed with this committee shows that he is incapable of doing manual labor for the support of himself and family. It also appears that he is poor and almost entirely dependent upon his pension for support. In view of the facts that this man served long and faithfully in two wars, is old and poor, and is totally disabled for earning a sup-port, your committee are of opinion that he ought to have increase of pension to the general-law rating of $30 per month.
S. 3173. Helen Louise Scott is the widow of Winfield Scott, late captain Company C, One hundred and twenty-sixth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, and post chaplain United States Army.
Winfield Scott was born at Novi, Mich., February 26, 1837. He entered the Army as captain with Company C, One hundred and twenty-sixth New York Infantry, August 22, 1862, and was stationed at Harpers Ferry, Va., where he was wounded and captured. After being exchanged December 22, 1862, he rejoined his regiment in the Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, June 28, 1863. He was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg and later took part in the battles at Bristow Station, Mine Run, Mortons Ford, Wilderness, Todds Tavern, Po River, and Spotsylvania. He commanded two regiments, the One hundred and twenty-fifth and the One hundred and twenty-sixth Now York Infantry, from May 6 to May 18, 1864, and was wounded in the left breast in Hancock’s charge May 12, and was severely wounded by a piece of shell in charge of May 18 at Spotsylvania; from this wound he was a sufferer until his death.
For his gallant services at Spotsylvania he was recommended by his brigade and division commanders for promotion to colonel, but his numerous wounds compelled him to leave the service before his commission reached him, and he was honorably mustered out for disability September 23, 1864. He was appointed post chaplain in the Regular Army July 27, 1882, and accepted the appointment August 14, 1882. He was in service continuously until March 26, 1898. when he was retired for disability occasioned by wounds received during the Civil War. He was advanced to the rank of major on the retired list by act of Congress approved April 23, 1904
Maj. Scott applied for pension under the general law for gunshot wounds of right thigh and right knee and was pensioned at $20 per
S. Rept. 164, 62--4
50 PENSIONS AND INCREA8E OF PENSIONS.
month, which he drew to the time of his appointment in the Regular Army. He died October 19, 1910, the cause of his death being shown by the public records as operation for blind strangulated hernia.
Claimant established a claim under the act of April 19, 1908, and is in receipt of a pension at the rate of $12 per month. She has never made application for pension under the general law, as she is unable to prove to the satisfaction of the Pension Bureau that her husband’s fatal disability was chargeable to the military service. She married the soldier July 11, 1861, and was his wife during the entire period of his service in the Army.
Mrs. Scott is now 73 years of age, in delicate health, and in very straitened circumstances. It is conceded that she has some little property, but it is heavily encumbered and yields nothing above interest, taxes, etc., and she is dependent upon her small pension and the aid given her by her married daughters. During the war she, herself, rendered service as a volunteer nurse without commission.
In consideration of the soldier’s long-continued and honorable service and the widow’s necessitous circumstances, and in view of the fact that she is a war widow, the committee are of opinion she should have increase of pension to $30 per month as proposed in the bill.
S. 3177. Felix Deflin, of Elkhorn, Wyo., served four years in the Civil War, from Juno 25, 1861, to Juno 24, 1865, as a private in the United States Marine Corps. He also served as private in Marine Corps from January 4, 1871, to March 31, 1875. He was honorably discharged from both services. He is now in receipt of a pension under the service act of February 6, 1907, at the rate of $15 per month. Ho was formerly pensioned at $12 under the act of June 27, 1890, for total inability to earn a support by manual labor. His original allowance of pension was under the general law, at $2 per month from discharge and $4 per month from October 17, 1888, for malarial poisoning and resulting lumbago, admitted to have been of service origin.
Claimant is nearly 72 years of age and, as the evidence shows, totally disabled and in very needy circumstances. He suffers from loss of loft eye, impaired sight of right eye, rupture of left side, chronic rheumatism, varicose veins of both legs, severe deafness of both ears, and senile debility; and his total disability is proved by the reports of medical examinations taken July 23, 1903, and July 27, 1908, and by medical evidence filed with this committee. The fact that he was allowed the maximum rate under the act of Juno 27, 1890, show’s that he is wholly unable to earn a support by manual labor. It also appears that he is very poor and dependent upon his pension for support. In view of claimant’s advanced age, His long-continued and honorable service, his total disability and extreme poverty, the committee are of opinion he should have increase of pension to $30 per month.
S. 3199. Edward P. Thorn, of Westfield, N. J., was a private and corporal in Company C, Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He was a good soldier and has a good record, having enlisted August 20, 1862, and being honorably discharged June 18, 1865. He is a pensioner under the service act of February 6, 1907, at the rate of $20 per month. He never filed a claim under the
FIFTY-E1GHTH CONGRESS. Sess. 11. Ch. 1485. 1904. 259
CHAP. I485.—An Act Making appropriation for the support of the Army for the
fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and five, and for other purposes.
[Public, No. 149.]
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, (Army appropriations.) and they are hereby, appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the support of the Army for the year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and five:
Contingencies of the Army: For all contingent expenses of the (Contingencies.)
Army not otherwise provided for, and embracing all branches of the military service, including the office of the Chief of Staff, to be expended under the immediate orders of the Secretary of War, twenty thousand dollars.
Army War College: For expenses of the Army War College, (Army War College.) being for the temporary hire of office rooms, purchase of the necessary stationery, office, toilet, and desk furniture, text-books, books of ref-erence, scientific and professional papers and periodicals, binding, maps, police utensils, and for all other absolutely, necessary expenses, fifteen thousand dollars.
UNDER THE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY. (Under Chief of Artillery.)
School of Submarine Defense, Fort Totten, New York: For ( Submarine Defense School.) incidental expenses of school and depot, including chemicals, station- ery, hardware, extra-duty pay to soldiers necessarily employed for periods not less than ten days as artificers on work in addition to and not strictly in line with their military duties, such as carpenters, blacksmiths, draftsmen, printers, lithographers, photographers, engine drivers, telegraph operators, teamsters, wheelwrights, masons, machin- .
ists, painters, overseers, laborers, office furniture and fixtures, machin-
ery, and unforeseen expenses, ten thousand dollars. ( Incidental Expenses.)
For purchase of material for use in instruction of artillery troops ( Material for instruction.) in their special duties in connection with the loading and planting of submarine mines, one thousand dollars.
For purchase of special apparatus and for experimental purposes of (Apparatus.) the department of electricity, mines, and mechanism, Fort Totten, New York, two thousand dollars.
For purchase of special apparatus and for experimental purposes of the department of chemistry and explosives, Fort Totten, New York, one thousand five hundred dollars.
For purchase of Special apparatus for electrician sergeants division, School of Submarine Defense, Fort Totten, New York, three thousand dollars.
For purchase and binding of professional books of recent date treat-
ing of military and scientific subjects for library of School of Subma-rine Defense, and for use of school, two thousand five hundred dollars. (Books.)
United States service schools: To provide means for the theo-
retical and practical instruction at the Artillery School, at Fort Monroe, Virginia; the School of Submarine Defense, at Fort Totten, New York; the General Service and Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the School of Application for Cavalry and Field Artillery, at Fort Riley, Kansas, by the purchase of text-books, books of reference, sci-entitic and professional papers, the purchase of modern instruments and material for theoretical and practical instruction, and for all other absolutely necessary expenses, to be allotted in such proportions as may, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, be for the best interest of the military service, twenty-five thousand dollars. (Service schools. Fort Monroe, Va. Fort Totten, N.Y. Fort Leavenworth, Kans. Fort Riley, Kans.)
For contingent expenses at the headquarters of the several military (Contingent expenses at headquarters.) divisions and departments, including the staff corps serving thereat, being for the purchase of the necessary articles of office, toilet, and desk furniture, binding, maps, technical books of reference, profes-
264 FIFTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 1485. 1904.
(Pay Department.) Pay Department: For pay of officers in the Pay Department, one hundred and twenty-eight thousand dollars.
(Longevity.) For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid
with their current monthly pay, thirty-eight thousand four hundred dollars.
In all, one hundred and sixty-six thousand four hundred dollars.
(Judge-Advocate-General's Department.) Judge-Advocate-General's Department: For pay of officers in the, Judge-Advocate-General's Department, forty thousand dollars.
(Longevity.) For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid
with their current monthly pay, twelve thousand dollars.
In all, fifty-two thousand dollars.
(Signal Corp.) Signal Corps: For pay of the officers of the Signal Corps, ninety-
four thousand eight hundred dollars.
(Longevity.) For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid
with their current monthly pay, twenty-five thousand dollars.
In all, one hundred and nineteen thousand eight hundred dollars. (Record and Pension Office.) Record and Pension Office: For pay of officers of the Record and Pension Office, eight thousand dollars.
(Longevity. Ante, p.262.) For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid
with their current monthly pay, two hundred and fifty dollars.
In all, eight thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.
(Retired list.) RETIRED OFFICERS.
(Officers.) For pay of officers on the retired list and for officers who may be
placed thereon during the current year, one million nine hundred and forty-four thousand nine hundred dollars and ninety-five cents. (Promotion for civil war service.)
That any officer of the Army below the grade of brigadier general who served with credit as an officer or as an enlisted man in the regular or volunteer forces during the civil war prior to April ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty five, otherwise than as a cadet, and whose name is borne on the official register of the Army, and who has heretofore been, or may hereafter be, retired on account of wounds or disability incident to the service, or on account of age or after forty years' Service, may, in the discretion of the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, be placed on the retired list of the Army with the rank and retired pay of one grade above the actually help by him at the time of retirement: Provided, that this Act shall not apply to any office who received an advance of grade since the date of his retirement or who has been restored to the Army and placed on the retired list by virtue of the provisions of a special Act of Congress; and the Secretary of War may assign retired offices of the Army, with their consent, to active duty in recruiting, for service in connec-tion with the organized militia in the several States and Territories upon the request of the governor thereof, as military attaches, upon courts-martial, courts of inquiry and boards, and to staff duties not involving service with troops; and such officers while so assigned shall receive the full pay and allowances of their respective grades.
(Provis. Exceptions.)
(Assignments to active duty.)
(Ante, p.831.)
(Pay, etc., when assigned.)
(Longevity.)
For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid with their current monthly pay, four hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
In all, two million three hundred and sixty-nine thousand nine hun-dred dollars and ninety-five cents.
RETIRED ENLISTED MEN.
(Enlisted men.) For pay of enlisted men of the Army on the retired list, eight
hundred and two thousand four hundred and ninety-eight dollars: (Allowance for Service in China, etc.) Provided, That hereafter in computing the length of service for retire-
ment, credit shall be given soldiers for double the time of their actual
. service in China, Cuba, the Philippine Islands, the Island of Guam,
Original Format
Paper
Title
Documentation of Winfield Scott's Pension for Helen Louise Scott
Subject
Scott, Winfield
Civil War
New York
Scott, Helen Louise
Library of Congress
Description
Helen Louise Scott received a pension for Winfield Scott in 1912. Library of Congress details this in a session of the 62nd Senate. Winfield Scott's original pension is documented in a session of the 58th Congress in 1904.
Source
Winfield Public Library
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas, USA
Date
1904, 1912
Rights
Format
text/plain
Language
English
Type
Miscellaneous Documents
Citation
“Documentation of Winfield Scott's Pension for Helen Louise Scott,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed June 23, 2026, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/211.Text
5542 Romaine Street
Hollywood, California,90038 September 22, 1968
Mr Thomas M Durbin
American Law Division
The Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Dear sir -
Last month I asked Senator Murphy to find an Act of Congress for a person who is the subject of a thesis that I am pre-paring for my Bachelor of Arts degree.
I am attaching herewith your reply to that query and also a Declaration for Widows Pension executed by the wife of the subject of my thesis and respectfully ask thta yu review these documents.
I wouls say that Mrs Scott was not only a minister’s widow but also a lay preacher in her own right and thus it would seem unlikely that she would invent this story - but - I have wondered if she may have been confused as to the time - maybe it was slightly more than the two years previous that she states - - in other words, maybe it was prior to 1908 by about two or three years. Also, and I think this may be im-portant - could this honorary titlt of Major which she says he received with two others - could this have been bestowed on him in recognition of his later service as a chaplain - he served as chaplain from 1882 to 1898 and this was, of course, after his Civil War military service.
I am sorry to put you to this inconvenience but I do want to be as accur-ate as possible on this thesis.
Thank you so very much,
Yours very truly,
Sister Helen Mary Wright, l.H.M.
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
WASHINGTON. D. C. 20540
Legislative Reference Service
August 19, 1969
To: Honorable George Murphy
From American Law Division
Subject: Captain Winfield Scott
This refers to your inquiry of August 14, 1969 on behalf of
Sister Helen Mary Wright, I.H.M. who requests an act of Congress that made Captain Winfield Scott a major in 1908. We have researched this matter in the Congressional Record for the 60th Congress first and second sessions (Dec. 2, 1907 - Mar. 4, 1909), and the Statutes at Large for this period and we regret that we are unable to find such an act bestowing upon a Captain Winfield Scott the rank of major. Returned herewith is the letter from Sister Helen Mary Wright.
Thomas M. Durbin
American Law Division
Ext. 8162
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
WASHINGTON. D. C. 20540
Legislative Reference Service
October 3, 1969
To: Honorable George Murphy
From: American Law Division
Captain Winfield Scott
This refers to your inquiry of August 14, 1969 on behalf of Sister Helen Mary Wright and her letter of September 22, 1969 seat directly to this office with additional information.
The additional information has enabled this office to ascer-tain the following facts relating to the promotion of Winfield Scott to the rank of Major.
Private Law 9, 62nd Congress approved May 9, 1912 (37 Statutes at Large 1047) increased the pension of Helen Louise Scott, widow of the late Winfield Scott. This act was the result of the enactment of S. 4314, 62nd Congress. This enactment contained provisions of S. 3173, 62nd Congress in which provisions of Mrs. Scott’s increase was originally
■
contained. S. Report 16-1, 62nd Congress which accompanied 3. 3173 when reported to the Senate contained a brief history of the service record of Winfield Scott at page 49. This report specifically states that Chaplain Winfield Scott was advanced to the rank of major on the retired list by act of Congress approved April 23, 1904.
LRS-2
No act was approved on April 23, 1904 specifically related to Chaplain Winfield Scott by name. However, there are provisions in Public Law 149, 56th Congress (33 Stat. 259) which provides appropria-tions for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1905, which provides generally for on increese of one grade in rank for retired officers for civil war services. Apparently Chaplain Winfield Scott was promated to the rank of Major pursuant to these provisions.
We are enclosing copies of pages 1, 2, 49, S. Rept. 164, 62nd Congress and pages 259, 264, 33 Statutes-at-Large (Pub. L. 149, 56th Congress).
Returned herewith is the letter from Sister Helen Mary, IHM and enclosures sent directly to this office.
Thomas Durbin
Robert A. Lincoln American Law Division Ext. 8174
TD/RAL:gg
Calendar No. 141.
62D Congress, SENATE. Report
2d Session. No. 164.
GRANTING PENSIONS AND INCREASE OF PENSIONS TO CERTAIN SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE CIVIL WAR, ETC.
..... ■ •
January 11, 1912.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. McCumber, from the Committee on Pensions, submitted the following
REPORT.
[To accompany S. 4314.]
This bill is a substitute for the following Senate bills referred to said committee:
2 PENSIONS AND INCREASE OF PENSIONS.
S. 1696. Lizzie I. Russ. S. 2615. Sarah A. Stephenson.
1702. William Bessinger. 2664. William A. Coddington.
1775. Sol P. Merrill. 2668. Isaac T. Atterberry.
1822. Albert L. T. Bush. 2738. Thomas Penwarden.
1877. James O’Neill. 2773. Elijah P. Creech.
1888. Richard Simpson. 2824. Edward M. Crabbs.
1889. William H. McKay. 2920. Thomas R. H. Simmons.
1930. Jacob Waymire. 2963. John A. White.
1953. James N. Bascue. 2966. Lucy E. Culp.
1965. John M. Herman. 3017. Fayette W. Barlow.
2009. Franck L. Prouty. 3065. Robert McIntosh.
2119. Horace P. Lester. 3100. John W. Forester.
2120. Elizebeth W. Everett. 3154. Edward R. Hutchins.
2176. Amos E. Morgan. 3173. Helen Louise Scott.
2203. Jonathan Huntley. 3177 Felix Deflin.
2237. Edward L. Allen. 3199. Edward P. Thorn.
2241. Honora A. Williams. 3280. John Stone.
2252. Alonzo Moe. 3310. James T. Berry.
2254. Simon V. Seeley. 3326. Fannie F. De Witt.
2255. Heber Angel. 3335. Frank A. Wardwell.
2263. Lester A. Corp. 3336. William H. Blake.
2265. Mary A. Bacon. 3401. George B. Hazen.
2301. Mandred O. Savage. 3402. Nicholas Fifer.
2314. John Feeney. 3403. Henry C. Lamphier.
2318. Walter E. Truax. 3422. Edna Stevens.
2430. Robert Smith. 3437. Charles H. Grant.
2491. Henry H. Warner. 3438. John B. Catlin.
2496. David H. Robinson. 3588. William H. Brooks.
2499. W. H. T. Wakefield. 3590. David Johnson.
2543. Joseph Annis. 3696. John Tredo.
2579. John W. Ayer (alias Charles W. 3714. Taranndoety Owens.
Dennison). 3722. Jacob S. Young.
2602. Barnet W. Sawyer. 3838. John F. Arnold.
2603. Georgianna L. Green. 3839. William H. Coleman.
The following are the facts ascertained by the committee concern-ing the case of each beneficiary in said bills and the conclusions of the committee as to the proper amount of pension or increase which should be granted :
S: 34. Truman Hall, the claimant, is a resident of Glens Falls, N. Y., and has a highly honorable and creditable military record.
He first enlisted June 6, 1861, early in the war, as a private in Com-pany F, Twenty-second New York Infantry; and served two years, being honorably discharged June 19, 1863. He again enlisted July 7, 1863, in Company F, Second New York Veteran Cavalry, and was finally and honorably discharged November 8, 1865, making his total
PENSIONS AND INCREASE OF TENSIONS. 49
surgeon, United States Navy, December 26, 1862, and served in that capacity for nearly three years, being honorably discharged December, 1865. During the War with Spain he served as captain and commis-sary of subsistence, United States Volunteers, from June 3, 1898, to April 22, 1900, doing duty both in this country and in the Philippine Islands.
He is pensioned under the general law at $14 per month for chronic diarrhea and resulting piles, result of typhoid fever, admitted to have been of service origin. He was first pensioned at $4 from September 8, 1880; increased to $10 from July 1, 1889, to $12 from April 12, 189l, and finally to $14 from April 5, 1905.
Soldier is now past the age of 70 years. In addition to pensioned disabilities he suffers from organic disease of heart and the infirmities incident to old age, and is wholly incapacitated for earning a support; by manual labor. The board of surgeons before whom he was last examined, April 5, 1905, rated him $8 for chronic diarrhea, $10 for piles, and $12 for disease of heart, and evidence of physicians and others filed with this committee shows that he is incapable of doing manual labor for the support of himself and family. It also appears that he is poor and almost entirely dependent upon his pension for support. In view of the facts that this man served long and faithfully in two wars, is old and poor, and is totally disabled for earning a sup-port, your committee are of opinion that he ought to have increase of pension to the general-law rating of $30 per month.
S. 3173. Helen Louise Scott is the widow of Winfield Scott, late captain Company C, One hundred and twenty-sixth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, and post chaplain United States Army.
Winfield Scott was born at Novi, Mich., February 26, 1837. He entered the Army as captain with Company C, One hundred and twenty-sixth New York Infantry, August 22, 1862, and was stationed at Harpers Ferry, Va., where he was wounded and captured. After being exchanged December 22, 1862, he rejoined his regiment in the Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, June 28, 1863. He was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg and later took part in the battles at Bristow Station, Mine Run, Mortons Ford, Wilderness, Todds Tavern, Po River, and Spotsylvania. He commanded two regiments, the One hundred and twenty-fifth and the One hundred and twenty-sixth Now York Infantry, from May 6 to May 18, 1864, and was wounded in the left breast in Hancock’s charge May 12, and was severely wounded by a piece of shell in charge of May 18 at Spotsylvania; from this wound he was a sufferer until his death.
For his gallant services at Spotsylvania he was recommended by his brigade and division commanders for promotion to colonel, but his numerous wounds compelled him to leave the service before his commission reached him, and he was honorably mustered out for disability September 23, 1864. He was appointed post chaplain in the Regular Army July 27, 1882, and accepted the appointment August 14, 1882. He was in service continuously until March 26, 1898. when he was retired for disability occasioned by wounds received during the Civil War. He was advanced to the rank of major on the retired list by act of Congress approved April 23, 1904
Maj. Scott applied for pension under the general law for gunshot wounds of right thigh and right knee and was pensioned at $20 per
S. Rept. 164, 62--4
50 PENSIONS AND INCREA8E OF PENSIONS.
month, which he drew to the time of his appointment in the Regular Army. He died October 19, 1910, the cause of his death being shown by the public records as operation for blind strangulated hernia.
Claimant established a claim under the act of April 19, 1908, and is in receipt of a pension at the rate of $12 per month. She has never made application for pension under the general law, as she is unable to prove to the satisfaction of the Pension Bureau that her husband’s fatal disability was chargeable to the military service. She married the soldier July 11, 1861, and was his wife during the entire period of his service in the Army.
Mrs. Scott is now 73 years of age, in delicate health, and in very straitened circumstances. It is conceded that she has some little property, but it is heavily encumbered and yields nothing above interest, taxes, etc., and she is dependent upon her small pension and the aid given her by her married daughters. During the war she, herself, rendered service as a volunteer nurse without commission.
In consideration of the soldier’s long-continued and honorable service and the widow’s necessitous circumstances, and in view of the fact that she is a war widow, the committee are of opinion she should have increase of pension to $30 per month as proposed in the bill.
S. 3177. Felix Deflin, of Elkhorn, Wyo., served four years in the Civil War, from Juno 25, 1861, to Juno 24, 1865, as a private in the United States Marine Corps. He also served as private in Marine Corps from January 4, 1871, to March 31, 1875. He was honorably discharged from both services. He is now in receipt of a pension under the service act of February 6, 1907, at the rate of $15 per month. Ho was formerly pensioned at $12 under the act of June 27, 1890, for total inability to earn a support by manual labor. His original allowance of pension was under the general law, at $2 per month from discharge and $4 per month from October 17, 1888, for malarial poisoning and resulting lumbago, admitted to have been of service origin.
Claimant is nearly 72 years of age and, as the evidence shows, totally disabled and in very needy circumstances. He suffers from loss of loft eye, impaired sight of right eye, rupture of left side, chronic rheumatism, varicose veins of both legs, severe deafness of both ears, and senile debility; and his total disability is proved by the reports of medical examinations taken July 23, 1903, and July 27, 1908, and by medical evidence filed with this committee. The fact that he was allowed the maximum rate under the act of Juno 27, 1890, show’s that he is wholly unable to earn a support by manual labor. It also appears that he is very poor and dependent upon his pension for support. In view of claimant’s advanced age, His long-continued and honorable service, his total disability and extreme poverty, the committee are of opinion he should have increase of pension to $30 per month.
S. 3199. Edward P. Thorn, of Westfield, N. J., was a private and corporal in Company C, Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He was a good soldier and has a good record, having enlisted August 20, 1862, and being honorably discharged June 18, 1865. He is a pensioner under the service act of February 6, 1907, at the rate of $20 per month. He never filed a claim under the
FIFTY-E1GHTH CONGRESS. Sess. 11. Ch. 1485. 1904. 259
CHAP. I485.—An Act Making appropriation for the support of the Army for the
fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and five, and for other purposes.
[Public, No. 149.]
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, (Army appropriations.) and they are hereby, appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the support of the Army for the year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and five:
Contingencies of the Army: For all contingent expenses of the (Contingencies.)
Army not otherwise provided for, and embracing all branches of the military service, including the office of the Chief of Staff, to be expended under the immediate orders of the Secretary of War, twenty thousand dollars.
Army War College: For expenses of the Army War College, (Army War College.) being for the temporary hire of office rooms, purchase of the necessary stationery, office, toilet, and desk furniture, text-books, books of ref-erence, scientific and professional papers and periodicals, binding, maps, police utensils, and for all other absolutely, necessary expenses, fifteen thousand dollars.
UNDER THE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY. (Under Chief of Artillery.)
School of Submarine Defense, Fort Totten, New York: For ( Submarine Defense School.) incidental expenses of school and depot, including chemicals, station- ery, hardware, extra-duty pay to soldiers necessarily employed for periods not less than ten days as artificers on work in addition to and not strictly in line with their military duties, such as carpenters, blacksmiths, draftsmen, printers, lithographers, photographers, engine drivers, telegraph operators, teamsters, wheelwrights, masons, machin- .
ists, painters, overseers, laborers, office furniture and fixtures, machin-
ery, and unforeseen expenses, ten thousand dollars. ( Incidental Expenses.)
For purchase of material for use in instruction of artillery troops ( Material for instruction.) in their special duties in connection with the loading and planting of submarine mines, one thousand dollars.
For purchase of special apparatus and for experimental purposes of (Apparatus.) the department of electricity, mines, and mechanism, Fort Totten, New York, two thousand dollars.
For purchase of special apparatus and for experimental purposes of the department of chemistry and explosives, Fort Totten, New York, one thousand five hundred dollars.
For purchase of Special apparatus for electrician sergeants division, School of Submarine Defense, Fort Totten, New York, three thousand dollars.
For purchase and binding of professional books of recent date treat-
ing of military and scientific subjects for library of School of Subma-rine Defense, and for use of school, two thousand five hundred dollars. (Books.)
United States service schools: To provide means for the theo-
retical and practical instruction at the Artillery School, at Fort Monroe, Virginia; the School of Submarine Defense, at Fort Totten, New York; the General Service and Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the School of Application for Cavalry and Field Artillery, at Fort Riley, Kansas, by the purchase of text-books, books of reference, sci-entitic and professional papers, the purchase of modern instruments and material for theoretical and practical instruction, and for all other absolutely necessary expenses, to be allotted in such proportions as may, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, be for the best interest of the military service, twenty-five thousand dollars. (Service schools. Fort Monroe, Va. Fort Totten, N.Y. Fort Leavenworth, Kans. Fort Riley, Kans.)
For contingent expenses at the headquarters of the several military (Contingent expenses at headquarters.) divisions and departments, including the staff corps serving thereat, being for the purchase of the necessary articles of office, toilet, and desk furniture, binding, maps, technical books of reference, profes-
264 FIFTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 1485. 1904.
(Pay Department.) Pay Department: For pay of officers in the Pay Department, one hundred and twenty-eight thousand dollars.
(Longevity.) For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid
with their current monthly pay, thirty-eight thousand four hundred dollars.
In all, one hundred and sixty-six thousand four hundred dollars.
(Judge-Advocate-General's Department.) Judge-Advocate-General's Department: For pay of officers in the, Judge-Advocate-General's Department, forty thousand dollars.
(Longevity.) For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid
with their current monthly pay, twelve thousand dollars.
In all, fifty-two thousand dollars.
(Signal Corp.) Signal Corps: For pay of the officers of the Signal Corps, ninety-
four thousand eight hundred dollars.
(Longevity.) For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid
with their current monthly pay, twenty-five thousand dollars.
In all, one hundred and nineteen thousand eight hundred dollars. (Record and Pension Office.) Record and Pension Office: For pay of officers of the Record and Pension Office, eight thousand dollars.
(Longevity. Ante, p.262.) For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid
with their current monthly pay, two hundred and fifty dollars.
In all, eight thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.
(Retired list.) RETIRED OFFICERS.
(Officers.) For pay of officers on the retired list and for officers who may be
placed thereon during the current year, one million nine hundred and forty-four thousand nine hundred dollars and ninety-five cents. (Promotion for civil war service.)
That any officer of the Army below the grade of brigadier general who served with credit as an officer or as an enlisted man in the regular or volunteer forces during the civil war prior to April ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty five, otherwise than as a cadet, and whose name is borne on the official register of the Army, and who has heretofore been, or may hereafter be, retired on account of wounds or disability incident to the service, or on account of age or after forty years' Service, may, in the discretion of the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, be placed on the retired list of the Army with the rank and retired pay of one grade above the actually help by him at the time of retirement: Provided, that this Act shall not apply to any office who received an advance of grade since the date of his retirement or who has been restored to the Army and placed on the retired list by virtue of the provisions of a special Act of Congress; and the Secretary of War may assign retired offices of the Army, with their consent, to active duty in recruiting, for service in connec-tion with the organized militia in the several States and Territories upon the request of the governor thereof, as military attaches, upon courts-martial, courts of inquiry and boards, and to staff duties not involving service with troops; and such officers while so assigned shall receive the full pay and allowances of their respective grades.
(Provis. Exceptions.)
(Assignments to active duty.)
(Ante, p.831.)
(Pay, etc., when assigned.)
(Longevity.)
For additional pay to such officers for length of service, to be paid with their current monthly pay, four hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
In all, two million three hundred and sixty-nine thousand nine hun-dred dollars and ninety-five cents.
RETIRED ENLISTED MEN.
(Enlisted men.) For pay of enlisted men of the Army on the retired list, eight
hundred and two thousand four hundred and ninety-eight dollars: (Allowance for Service in China, etc.) Provided, That hereafter in computing the length of service for retire-
ment, credit shall be given soldiers for double the time of their actual
. service in China, Cuba, the Philippine Islands, the Island of Guam,
Original Format
Paper