Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

No. Xxxiii.--Bill making Appropriations for the Support of the Army.

The House, on the fourteenth of May, 1862, passed the bill making appropriations for the support of the army, for the year ending the thirtieth of June, 1863.

In the Senate, on the twenty-first of June, Mr. Fessenden, from the Finance Committee, to which it had been referred, reported it back with amendments. The Senate proceeded, on the first of July, to consider the bill and amendments. The House appropriated for the pay of volunteers, under the acts of the twenty-second and twenty-fifth of July, 1861, the sum of two hundred and twenty-six million two hundred and eighty-three thousand two hundred and eighty-two dollars. The Committee on Finance proposed to amend it by striking out that amount, and inserting in lieu of it, “one hundred and fifty million dollars: Provided, That the President shall not be authorized to increase the force of volunteers beyond the number of seven hundred and fifty thousand men, rank and file; nor to appoint more than — major-generals, nor more than brigadier-generals. And all acts and parts of acts authorizing a larger force, or a greater number of major and brigadier-generals than are above provided for, are hereby repealed.” Mr. King stated that he was authorized by the Military Committee to oppose the adoption of the amendment. Mr. Hale moved to amend the amendment so that it would read: “That the President shall not be authorized to appoint more than forty major-generals, nor more than two hundred brigadier-generals, and all acts and parts of acts authorizing a greater number of major and brigadier-generals than are above provided for, are hereby repealed.” After debate, in which Mr. Hale, Mr. King, Mr. Fessenden, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Trumbull, and Mr. Foster participated, the amendment was agreed to.

The bill was further amended, on motion of Mr. King, in obedience to the instructions of the Military Committee, by adopting new sections, providing “that there should be added to the clerical force of the Surgeon-General's office one clerk of class one, and one clerk of class two; and there should be added to the clerical force of the Paymaster-General's office three clerks of class four, six clerks of class three, eleven clerks of class two, and twenty clerks of class one; and that there should be added to the clerical and other force of the Adjutant-General's office two clerks of class four, two clerks of class three, six clerks of class one, and ten other clerks at a monthly compensation of sixty dollars each; and the Adjutant-General might detail ten more non-commissioned officers of the army as clerks in his office. That section five of the ‘ Act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property,’ approved July twenty-second, 1861; and section five of the ‘Act to increase the present military establishment of the United States,’ approved July twenty-ninth, 1861, should be so construed as to allow twenty-five dollars of the bounty of one hundred dollars therein provided, to be paid immediately after enlistment to every soldier of the regular army and volunteer forces thereafter enlisted during the continuance of the war; and the sum of seven million five hundred thousand dollars is hereby appropriated for such payments. That the President of the United Stated be authorized, by and with the consent and advice of the Senate, to appoint as many military storekeepers in the quartermaster's department of the army as the exigencies of the service might require: Provided, The whole number of military storekeepers in that department should not exceed twelve. That so much of the seventh section of the ‘ Act to found a military asylum for the relief and support of.invalid and disabled soldiers of the army of the United States,’ as required that ‘ all moneys, not exceeding two thirds of the balance on hand of the hospital fund, and of the post fund of each military station, after deducting the necessary expenses,’ should be set apart to support the Military Asylum, be repealed.” And that two million dollars be appropriated for providing for the comfort of discharged soldiers, who might arrive in the principal cities of the United States, disabled by disease or wounds, and unable to proceed to their homes, and for forwarding destitute soldiers to their homes. The House concurred in the amendments, and the bill passed, and was approved by the President, on the fifth of July, 1862.

No. Xxxiv.--The Joint Resolution providing for the Presentation of “Medals of honor,” to the Enlisted Men of the Army and Volunteer Forces, who have or who may distinguish themselves in Battle during the present Rebellion.

In the Senate, on the thirteenth of May, 1862, Mr. Wilson reported from the Military Committee a joint resolution to provide for the presentation of “medals of honor” to enlisted men distinguished in battle. It provided that the President of the United States should be authorized to cause two thousand “medals of honor” to be prepared, with suitable emblematic devices, and to direct that the same be presented, in the name of Congress, to such non-commissioned officers and privates as should most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection; and that the sum of ten thousand dollars be appropriated for the purpose of carrying the resolution into effect. On the nineteenth, the resolution, on motion of Mr. Wilson, was taken up, ordered to be engrossed, and passed without division. In the House, on the tenth of July, Mr. Olin, from the Military Committee, reported back the joint resolution for the presentation of “medals of honor,” and it was passed without division, and approved by the President, on the twelfth of July, 1862.