Sir—Replying to yours of the 9th ultimo to the governor, I have the honor to report as follows, in reply to your queries:
1. Number of troops furnished to the
Confederates States army from
Florida about fifteen thousand.
2. Number of killed?
I have no record showing and no means of estimating.
3. Number of wounded?
I have no record showing and no means of estimating.
4. Number of deaths from wounds and disease?
No record, etc. 5.
Number of survivors?
No means of estimating.
6. Amount appropriated for survivors to the present time?
$120,934
7. Name, etc., of hospitals and other institutions for the care of the survivors?
None.
8. Detailed statement of moneys expended for the relief of the survivors, maimed and disabled?
[
143]
During the year 1885 there was expended in pensions, $1,777.50.
During the year 1886 there was expended in pensions, $7,653.80.
During the year 1887 there was expended in pensions, $9,368.83.
During the year 1888 there was expended in pensions, $32,647.76.
During the year 1889 there was expended in pensions, $34,486.38.
For the year 1890 there has been appropriated $35,000.
In the year 1885 there were fifty-eight pensioners, receiving pensions at the rate of $5.00 per month.
In the year 1886 there were one hundred pensioners at the same rate.
In the year 1887 the rate was increased to $8.00 per month, and the restriction that the pension must be necessary to support and maintenance was removed.
Under this law the number of pensions for the year 1887 increased to one hundred and sixty-seven, and by December, 1888, to three hundred and eighteen, which number had increased July I, 1889, when the law was again changed, to three hundred and eighty-four.
The present law grades the pensions according to the disability and restricts it to those who are in need and unable to earn a livelihood.
Under this law the pension roll has been reduced to two hundred and eighteen.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Sir—Replying to yours of the 17th inst., to the governor, 1 can only make a repetition of my former letter of May 19, 1890, to you on the same subject, to-wit:
1. The number of troops furnished the
Confederate States, from
Florida, was about fifteen thousand, comprising eleven regiments, and several independent corps of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and six batteries of artillery.
There are no records of these organizations extant, except an abstract of the muster-rolls of the first eight regiments of infantry, and the two cavalry regiments, with the several independent companies, subsequently forming the other three regiments of infantry.
[
144]
2. There is absolutely nothing to show the number of killed, wounded, or died of disease.
3. There is no roster of the medical staff, but from personal recollection the writer can give the following names:
Dr. Thomas M. Palmer,
Surgeon Second Florida regiment, from May—, 1861, till August,—, 1862, when Florida hospital was organized, and he made chief surgeon at
Richmond, Virginia.
Present address,
Monticello, Florida.
Dr. Carey Gamble, surgeon of the First regiment, from April 3, 1861, and afterwards, of the
Florida brigade, in the Army of Tennessee; now resides in
Baltimore.
Dr. J. D. Godfrey,
surgeon Fifth regiment, April, 1862; now resides in
Jasper, Florida.
Dr. Thomas P. Gary,
surgeon Seventh Florida regiment. Died at
Ocala, Florida, 1891.
Dr. Richard P. Daniel, surgeon Eight regiment, May, 1862, till April 9, 1865; now resides in
Jacksonville, Florida.
Dr.——Hooper,
assistant-surgeon Eight regiment; killed at
Fredericksburg, Virginia, in line of duty, December 12, 1863.
Dr. Theophilus West,
assistant-surgeon Eight regiment, from December 12, 1863, till April 9, 1865; address,
Marianna, Florida.
Dr. R. W. B. Hargis,
surgeon First regiment; address,
Pensacola, Florida.
Dr. J. H. Randolph,
surgeon department of Florida; present address,
Tallahassee, Florida.
Dr. G. E. Hawes,
surgeon Second regiment; present address,
Palatka, Florida.
4. Acts passed by Florida Legislature, for aid of Confederate soldiers, see inclosed copies of same.
5. There are no soldiers' homes, hospitals, or other places of refuge for old soldiers in
Florida.
6. Have not complete records, and can not furnish copies of such as there are, not being in print.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(chapter 3681, no. 15）
An Act to provide an Annuity for Disabled soldiers and Sailors of the
State of Florida.
[
145]
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
section 1.
That any person who enlisted in the military or naval service of the
Confederate States, or of this State, during the civil war between the States of the
United States, who was a citizen of this State, at the time of enlistment, or who was a
bona fide citizen of this State on January 1, 1875, who lost a limb or limbs while engaged in said military or naval service, occasioned by reason of such military or naval service, or who may thus have received wounds or injuries which afterward caused the loss of a limb or limbs, or who may have been permanently injured by wounds or disease contracted while in said service, and who may be a
bona fide citizen of this State at the time of making application for the benefits herein provided for, shall be entitled to receive, per annum, in quarterly payments, the following allowance, or pay, to-wit: For total loss of sight, one hundred and fifty dollars; for total loss of one eye, thirty dollars; for total loss of hearing, thirty dollars; for loss of a foot or loss of a leg, one hundred dollars; for loss of all of a hand or loss of (an) arm, one hundred dollars; for loss of both hands or both arms, one hundred and fifty dollars; for loss of both feet or both legs, one hundred and fifty dollars; for loss of one hand or foot, and one arm or leg by same person, one hundred and fifty dollars; for permanent injuries from wounds whereby a leg is rendered substantially and essentially useless, ninety dollars; for permanent injuries from wounds whereby an arm is rendered substantially and essentially useless, ninety dollars; for other permanent injuries from wounds or diseases contracted during the service and while in line of duty as a soldier (or sailor) whereby the person injured or diseased has been rendered practically incompetent to perform ordinary manual avocations of life, ninety-six dollars. The benefits of this section shall inure to the widow of any soldier or sailor who was receiving a pension under the provisions of this act at the time of his death, which pension shall continue during such widowhood.
Sec. 2. That before any person shall be entitled to any of the benefits of this act, he shall make oath before some person authorized to administer oaths, stating in what company, regiment and brigade he was serving when the loss was sustained or injury received, and when it was lost or received, or when and where he contracted the disease which caused the amputation or loss of his limb or limbs, or produced the permanent disability claimed to exist.
[
146]
Sec. 4. The widow of any soldier or sailor killed, or who shall have since died of wounds received while in the line of duty during the civil war between the States, who has since remained unmarried, shall receive a pension of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum during such widowhood.
Proof of such death and continued widowhood shall be made as in other cases herein provided.
Sec. 5. That the benefits of this act shall accrue to the
Florida State troops who may be disabled in line of duty when called into service by the authorities of this State.
Sec. 7. This act shall be in force from and after its passage and approval by the governor.
Approved June 8, 1889.
