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

No. Xxxix.--The Bill to facilitate the Discharge of Disabled Soldiers from the Army, and the Inspection of Convalescent Hospitals and Camps.

In the Senate, on the seventeenth of December, 1862, Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to facilitate the discharge of disabled soldiers, and for the inspection of convalescent camps and hospitals, which was read, and passed to a second reading. It proposed to add to the medical corps of the army two medical inspectors-general, and eight medical inspectors, to be appointed by selection from the medical corps of the army, or from the surgeons in the volunteer service, without regard to rank, but with sole regard to qualifications. It provided that the officers of the medical inspector's department should be charged with the duty of making regular and frequent inspections of all military general hospitals and convalescent camps, and upon each inspection to designate to the surgeon in charge of such hospitals or camps, all soldiers who might be fit subjects for discharge from the service on surgeon's certificate of disability, or sufficiently recovered to be returned to their regiments for duty; and the medical inspecting officers were empowered to direct the return to duty, or the discharge from the service, of the soldiers designated.

On motion of Mr. Hale, the provision authorizing the President to select from the medical corps of the army or from the volunteer forces, was stricken out. Mr. Grimes moved to amend, by adding as, a new section, that all “three years or during the war” volunteers, raised or enlisted by the order or under the authority of the Secretary of War, be entitled to the bounty authorized to be paid to volunteers raised or recruited by the States under existing laws. He explained the object of the amendment to be, to place the “gray beard” regiment of his State, made up of enlisted men over forty-five years of age, upon the same footing as other three years volunteers. At the suggestion of Mr. Fessenden, Mr. Grimes withdrew his amendment, with the view of introducing it as a new bill. The bill was further discussed by Mr. Foster, Mr. Clark, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Fessenden, Mr. Trumbull, Mr. Nesmith, and Mr. Hale. On motion of Mr. Fessenden, it was amended, by taking out the words “two medical inspectors-general.” On motion of Mr. Clark, it was made the duty of the medical inspectors to see that soldiers, fit subjects for discharge, were discharged, or if sufficiently recovered, returned to their regiments. The bill, as amended, was then passed without a division.

In the House, on the nineteenth, on motion of Mr. Buffinton, of Massachusetts, the bill was taken from the Speaker's table. Mr. Blake, of Ohio, moved to amend it, so as not to require discharges on surgeon's certificates. Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, and Mr. McPherson, of Pennsylvania, opposed the amendment, and Mr. Blake withdrew it. The bill was then passed without a division, and was approved by the President on the twenty-seventh day of December, 1862.

No. Xl.--The Bill to improve the Organization of the Cavalry Forces.

In the Senate, on the sixteenth of December, 1862, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, introduced a bill to improve the organization of the cavalry forces, which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. On the seventeenth, Mr. Wilson reported it back without amendment. It provided that thereafter each regiment of cavalry might have two assistant-surgeons, and that each company of cavalry should have from sixty to seventy-eight privates. Mr. Wilson explained that the object was to have a minimum number in the cavalry as in the infantry and artillery. The law was construed to require seventy-eight privates in each company before organization. At the suggestion of Mr. Grimes, Mr. Wilson moved to amend, so that “each company hereafter organized” should have from sixty to seventy-eight privates. The amendment was agreed to, and the bill passed. In the House, on the twenty-third, on motion of Mr. Dunn, of Indiana, the bill was taken from the Speaker's table, and passed. It was approved by the President on the sixth day of January, 1863.

No. Xli.--The Bill to increase the Clerical and other Force of the Quartermaster-General's Office, and for other purposes.

In the Senate, on the fourteenth of January, 1863, Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to authorize the appointment of three auditors and a solicitor for the quartermaster's department, and to increase the clerical force of the Quartermaster-General's office. The bill provided that there should be appointed three auditors of the quartermaster's department, who should each receive a compensation of two thousand dollars per annum, and who should perform such duties as might be assigned to them, under the direction of the Quartermaster-General, and in his office, in connection with the examination and settlement of accounts of money and property; and one solicitor, at a compensation of two thousand dollars per annum, who should be a person of legal knowledge and ability, and who should, under the direction of the Quartermaster-General, take charge of, and advise the Quartermaster-General upon all legal questions arising in the service of the quartermaster's department. It also provided that there should be added to the clerical force of the Quartermaster-General's office one hundred and twenty clerks of class one, and thirty copyists, at an annual compensation of six hundred dollars. On the sixteenth, the bill,, on motion of Mr. Wilson, was taken up, and briefly debated by Mr. Wilson, Mr. Lane, Mr. Trumbull, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Pomeroy. On the twenty-third, the Senate resumed its consideration. Mr. Harlan proposed