Mr. Watson to Mr.
Seward.
War Department, Washington City, D. C., September 27, 1862.
Sir: The Secretary of War directs me
respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the
17th instant, requesting, at the instance of the consul of the United
States at Paris, to be furnished with full particulars relative to the
bounty and pay of volunteers.
In reply, the Secretary instructs me to transmit to you the enclosed copy
of the report of the Paymaster General, to whom the subject was
referred, and to state that on a like reference to the Adjutant General,
he reports that, “in addition to the information furnished by the
Paymaster General, this office can but
[Page 1352]
add copies of orders Nos. 74, 91, and 108, of the
department; these prescribe the rules under which the bounties of the
government are disbursed.”
Copies of these orders, together with the regulations of the pay
department accompanying the report of the Paymaster General, are
herewith transmitted.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of
War.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
Paymaster General’s Office,
Washington City,
September 20, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to return herewith
the letter of the honorable Secretary of State, of September 17,
relative to bounties and pay of volunteers, and to report that the
disbursements and regulations relating to the advance bounty to be
paid to new recruits are under the charge of the Adjutant General,
who can furnish all necessary information on the subject. Under the
act of 22d July, 1862, entitled “An act to authorize the employment
of volunteers, &c,” a bounty of $100 is granted to soldiers,
serving either for two years or till the termination of the war. The
same bounty will be paid to the widow or heirs of all soldiers dying
in service, without reference to the period of time they may have
served. The advance bounty paid on enlistment is a portion of this
$100 bounty. Under the act of 17th of July, 1862, entitled “An act
to amend the act calling forth the militia, &c.,” an advance
bounty of $25 is authorized to nine-months volunteers, and a bounty
of $50, one-half payable in advance, to twelve-months
volunteers.
The pay of enlisted men in the volunteer service is as follows:
For Infantry and Heavy
Artillery,
| First sergeants |
$20 |
| Sergeants |
17 |
| Corporals |
13 |
| Privates |
13 |
| Musicians |
12 |
For Cavalry and Light
Artillery.
| First sergeants |
$20 |
| Sergeants |
17 |
| Corporals |
14 |
| Privates |
13 |
| Musicians |
13 |
Any further information with regard to the pay, &c., of the army
and volunteers, may be found, if desired, in the enclosed copy of
the regulations of the pay department, respectfully forwarded
herewith.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CARY H. FRY, Acting Paymaster General
United States Army.
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
