December 13, 1861 (Thursday): "A Commutation For Transportation"

Wounded at Bull Run (New York State Library)

                                      WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 17, 1861.
Honorable HENRY WILSON, Chairman Committee on Militia Affairs:                                  SIR: In answer to your communication of the 11th instant, inclosing Senate bill Numbers 95, "to provide for the comfort of discharged and disabled persons in the military service of the United States," I have the honor to inclose to you a report of the Surgeon-General, to whom it was referred, from whose views, as expressed therein, you will perceive that no absolute necessity exists for any other provision being made to effect the object view, the present laws covering all the cases which might arise in the premises.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War. 

[Inclosure.] 

SURGEON-GENERAL'S OFFICE, December 13, 1861.

 

Honorable SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War:                                                                      SIR: In reference to the project of a bill for the relief of disabled soldiers returning home which was submitted by you for report, I would remark that by existing laws soldiers discharged are entitled to a commutation for transportation and subsistence to the place of their enlistment, which is paid them by the paymaster. The Quartermaster's Department might be required to furnish transportation in kind to these who are disabled if compelled to travel, but they are not required to leave a hospital till able to travel. I cannot perceive an absolute necessity for any other provision. There is a hospital in Philadelphia engaged by me for soldiers taken sick or disabled while passing through, and I believe the same provision is made in New York City.
Respectfully submitted.
C. A. FINLEY, 



Surgeon-General. 

Official Records, Series III, Vol. 3, Part 1, Page 788. 


Benefits to soldiers were largely post-war.  Most of the relief provided to wounded soldiers was through volunteer associations.  In this instance Congress wanted to provide benefits, but the Secretary of War took a narrow construction of the topic (soldiers being provided transportation home) and did not see the need for aid to returning wounded troops.  It was an attitude borne of the times, where it was assumed the care of disabled soldiers would fall on family and community.