The Indiana in the Civil War Message Board

Re: civil war disability pensions
In Response To: civil war disability pensions ()

The Col.rank might be his GAR commission post war.GAR is Grand Army of the Republic kind of like the VFW. My GGGrandfather was a 1st.Lt. but, was known as Captain do to his stature in the Elon Farnsworth branch of the GAR.
The 20 dollars is more than a normal pension and relates to a latter act.Might indcate he was severely impaired.Pensions could be obtained soon after service if you were badly disabled.My GGGGrandfather was declared incompetent after a head wound(artillery round)needed care and collected a pension immediately after his discharge.His pension was assigned to the county poor farm where he was cared for. He died in 1869.
For most, the dependent pension bill was inacted June 27,1890.You would need to have an honorable discharge,minimum of ninety days service, a permanate physicle disability not due to vicious habits(it need not of originated in the service),the rates under the act are graded from $6.00-$12.00,proportioned to the degree of inability to earn support,and are not affected by rank held,a pensioner under prior law,earlier,may apply under this one,or a pensioner under this may apply under other laws,but he cannot draw more than one pension for the same period.If the soldier were to die his widow could collect benefits at $8.00/month plus $2.00 per dependent child under 16yrs.There is also a clause for an attorney or other person preparing the affidavit of $10.00.There was a revision under a special act that went into effect April 14,1910 that doubled the benefits to a maximun of $24.00 based on the amount of disability assigned by a doctor.
I have a copy of both acts if you would like farther reading (legalise)but, this is the jist of them.It was common for vets to collect and for many their only source of support in their "twilight years".What regiment was he with?

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civil war disability pensions
Re: civil war disability pensions