REPORT

OF

THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.

Pension OffICE, November 9, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the transactions of this bureau for the last year:

ARMY PENSIONS.

The total number of army pensioners on the roll at the close of the last fiscal year, June 30, 1861, is 9,752, requiring for their payment the annual sum of $820,167 23. The entire amount paid to army pensioners during the year is $922,292 99.

At the close of the previous fiscal year, June 30, 1860, the whole number of army pensioners was 10,345, and the yearly amount payable to them was, in the aggregate, $866,065 20. Consequently there has been a diminution of 593 in the number of army pensioners, and of $45,897 97 in the amount of army pensions yearly payable.

INVALIDS.

The whole number of original applications for army invalid pensions admitted during the last fiscal year is 175. The whole number of claims for an increase of pensions of the same class, granted during this period, is 54. There were on the army invalid pension roll, at the close of the year, 4,723, requiring an aggregate annual payment of $425,256 02. The amount actually paid to pensioners of this class during the year is $413,382 90.

As compared with the previous year, ending June 30, 1860, there is a dimunition of 15 in the number of original applications admitted, and of 9 in the number of those whose pensions have been increased. The whole number of army invalids on the roll is diminished 129, and the aggregate yearly amount of pensions to this class is decreased $12,800 59.

This statement, of course, does not extend to so late a period as to embrace any of the applications of disabled soldiers of the present war, which have but recently begun to be admitted.

REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.

Of the now small band of surviving revolutionary patriots, whose names are on the pension roll, twenty-eight died during the last fiscal year. The whole number remaining enrolled on the 30th of June, 1861, was but 63, which has been still further diminished. There is not a single remaining representative of these veterans in the States of Rhode Island, New Jersey, Iowa, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, California, Oregon, or South Carolina. The one survivor in New Hampshire, at the date in question, has lately died, having nearly completd his 101st year. Of the sixty-two others, Massachusetts had 3; Maine, 9; Vermont, 3; Connecticut, 2; New York, 13; Pennsylvania, 1; Ohio, 4; Michigan, 3; Illinois, 1; Indiana, 2; Wisconsin, 1; Kentucky, 1; Tennes

sec, 6; North Carolina, 2; Georgia, 5; Missouri, 1; Virginia, 3; District of Columbia, 1; Arkansas, 1.

On the 30th of June, 1859, there were 165 revolutionary soldiers on the pension rolls, 102 of whom, or about 62 per cent., died during the two next years. The aggregate annual payment of the sixty-three revolutionary soldiers on the roll, June 30, 1861, was $3,690 85, and the total payment during the year, $27,691 87.

WIDOWS OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.

There were admitted during the year 42 original applications for pensions in behalf of widows of revolutionary soldiers. The claims for increase of pension allowed to the same class were 15. The total number of these pensioners now on the roll is 2,728, with an aggregate amount of yearly payments of $212,548 36. The whole amount paid to this class during the year was $230,657 32.

As compared with the previous year this shows a decrease of 476 in the number on the rolls; of 24 in the number of original applications admitted; and of $36,288 72 in the amount yearly payable.

WIDOWS AND ORPHANS' HALF PAY.

During the last year there were admitted, under the several acts granting halfpay and renewal of pensions to widows and orphans of deceased officers and soldiers, 464 original applications, and 434 claims for increase of pension. The whole number of these pensioners on the roll on the 30th of June last was 2,236, requiring an aggregate annual payment of $178,672. The whole amount paid to this class during the year was $261,160 90.

Compared with the previous year these statements show an increase of 38 in the number of pensioners, and of $4,668.80 in the annual sum required for their payment. The number of original applications admitted, however, is less by 285 than during the previous year.

NAVY PENSIONS.

The whole number of navy pensioners on the roll, June 30, 1861, was 957, requiring, in the aggregate, an annual payment of $137,604 85. This shows an increase from the previous year of 15 in number of pensions, and of $2,651 10 in the total annual payment.

During the last year there were 35 original applications of invalids of the navy and marine corps admitted, and 35 half-pay claims of widows and orphans for the same service. There were also eight cases of increase of pension in each class. Compared with the business of the previous year in this branch of the office, there is an increase of 13 in the number of original applications, and a net increase of 20 in the whole number on the roll.

GRAND TOTAL.

The entire number of pensioners, of all classes, on the rolls, June 30, 1861, was 10,709, with an annual rate in the aggregate of $957,772 08.

As compared with the previous year this shows a decrease of 575 in the whole number of pensioners of $43,246 87 in the yearly amount of pensions payable, and of $31,100 48 in the sum actually paid out.

The whole amount of the pensions paid by the United States since the forma tion of the government is $89,886,359 65.

Ex. Doc. 1-53