SOLDIERS' PAY AND BOUNTY. 117

CLAIMS FOR SOLDIERS' PAY AND BOUNTY.

LAW.

An Act making appropriations for the payment of the bounty authorized by the sixth section of an act entitled "An act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property," approved July twenty-second, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be and the same are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the objects hereinafter expressed, viz:

For payment of the bounty to widows, children, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters of such volunteers as may have died or been killed, or may die or be killed, in service, authorized by the sixth section of an act entitled "An act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property," approved July twentysecond, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, five millions of dollars, or so much thereof as may be found necessary: Provided, That said bounty shall be paid to the following persons, and in the order following, and to no other person, to wit: First, to the widow of such deceased soldier, if there be one. Second, if there be no widow, then to the children of such deceased soldier, share and share alike. Third, if such soldier left neither a widow or child or children, then, and in that case, such bounty shall be paid to the following persons, provided they be residents of the United States, to wit: First, to his father, or if he

shall not be living, or has abandoned the support of his family, then to the mother of such soldier; and if there be neither father nor mother as aforesaid, then such bounty shall be paid to the brothers and sisters of the deceased soldier, resident as aforesaid.

For compensation of twenty additional clerks, hereby authorized to be employed in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions, to wit: For fifteen clerks of the first class, eighteen thousand dollars; for five clerks of the second class, seven thousand dollars.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sum of three thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be found necessary, be and the same is hereby appropriated for the expenses of the committee on disloyal employees of the Government, appointed by resolution of the House of Representatives, July eight, eighteen hundred and sixty-one.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That that part of the sixth section of the act "to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property," approved July twenty-second, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, which secured to the widow, if there be one, and if not, the legal heirs of such volunteers as die or may be killed in service, in addition to all arrears of pay and allowances, a bounty of one hundred dollars, shall be held to apply to those persons who have enlisted in the regular forces since the first day of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, or shall enlist in the regular forces during the year eighteen hundred and sixtytwo, and be paid to the heirs named in this act, and that the bounties herein provided for shall be paid out of any money appropriated for bounty to volunteers.

INSTRUCTIONS.

To enable those who may have claims upon the United States, for moneys due deceased officers and soldiers, on account of military services rendered, whether in the regular or volunteer service, to obtain the same, the following information is furnished:

ORDER OF PAYMENT OF ARREARS OF PAY.

Order First.-If the deceased was married, payment will be made-1st, to the widow; 2d, if no widow, to his child or children; (if minors, to a guardian.)

Order Second.-If he died unmarried-1st, to the father; 2d, if the father is dead, to the mother; 3d, if both parents are dead, to the brothers and sisters, collectively; lastly, to the heirs general-(to be distributed in accordance with the laws of the State in which the deceased had his domicil.)

OF BOUNTY.

The act approved July 11, 1862, provides, "that said bounty shall be paid to the following persons, and in the order following, and to no other person, to wit: First, to the widow of such deceased soldier, if there be one. Second, if there be no widow, then to the children of such deceased soldier, share and share alike. Third, if such soldier left neither widow, nor child, nor children, then, and in that case, such bounty shall be paid to the following persons, provided they be residents of the United States, to wit: First, to his father, or if he shall not be living, or has abandoned the support of his family, then to the mother of

such soldier; and if there be neither father nor mother as aforesaid, then such bounty shall be paid to the brothers and sisters of the deceased soldier, resident as aforesaid."

By the same act, the bounty of one hundred dollars to widows, &c., of volunteers is also given to the widows, &c., of those persons who have enlisted in the regular forces since the first day of July, 1861, or shall enlist in the regular forces during 1862, to be paid to the heirs named in this act. Widows of commissioned officers, and of soldiers dying after being discharged, are not entitled to bounty, nor are the widows of deceased three months' volunteers.

DISLOYALTY.In section 4 of "An act to grant pensions," approved July 14, 1862, it is provided, "that no moneys shall be paid to the widow, or children, or any heirs of any deceased soldier, on account of bounty, back pay, or pension, who have in any way been engaged in, or who have aided or abetted the existing rebellion in the United States; but the right of such disloyal widow or children, heir or heirs, of such soldier shall be vested in the loyal heir or heirs of the deceased, if any there be."

Information in regard to such cases will receive the attention of the accounting officers.

APPLICATION, PROOF, AND AUTHENTICATION. APPLICATION.-The claimant or claimants must make a written application, under oath, and over his, her, or their own signature, stating his, her, or their name, age, residence, connexion to the deceased, with the letter or name of the captain of the company and regiment to which he belonged; time of his death and

the nature of the pay claimed-whether "arrears of pay," &c.; and the "$100 bounty," under act of July 22, 1861.

An application by a guardian should give the name and age of the ward or wards, and should be accompanied by letters of guardianship, or an authenticated copy thereof. In the application of a mother, claiming bounty, her husband being alive, the facts upon which the claim is made should be clearly stated and proved. If the soldier died unmarried, leaving no child, it must be stated by the applicant and also by the disinterested witnesses.

PROOF. To satisfy the accounting officers that the person or persons thus claiming is or are entitled to the money in the character he, she, or they claim, the depositions of two credible witnesses will be required, stating that they are acquainted with the claimant or claimants, the connexion held to the deceased, and that they (the deponents) are disinterested. Proof of marriage (record evidence, if possible) must always accompany the applications of those claiming to be the widows.

AUTHENTICATION.-The application and depositions, above required, to be subscribed and sworn to before a judge, commissioner, notary public, or justice of the peace, duly authorized to administer oaths, accompanied by the certificate and seal of a court of record as to the fact of the said judge, &c., being duly commissioned and acting in his official capacity at the time of the execution of the foregoing papers.

Administration.-As the taking out of "letters of administration" is attended with considerable expense, (seldom necessary,) it is suggested that it be