Congressional Serial Set

PALMER G. PERCY.

JANUARY 31, 1901.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. HARRIS, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 7602.]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 7602) to correct the military record of Palmer G. Percy, have examined the same and report:

Your committee recommend the passage of the bill as it passed the House of Representatives, with the following amendment: In lines 8 and 9 strike out the words "the muster out of the said Second New York Volunteer Cavalry" and insert "July 24, 1864."

The report of the Committee on Military Affairs of the House of Representatives fully sets forth the facts in the case, and is herewith adopted by your committee. It is as follows:

[House Report No. 1939, Fifty-sixth Congress, first session.]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 7602) to correct the military record of Palmer G. Percy, report the same back to the House with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendment:

Add after line 9 the following proviso:

"Provided, That no pay, bounty, or other emoluments shall become due or payable by virtue of the passage of this act.”

The records of the War Department show this soldier to have been enrolled October 2, 1863, and mustered into the United States service October 16, 1863, as a private in Company H, Second New York Volunteer Cavalry, to serve three years, and that he served faithfully until July 26, 1864, when he is reported to have deserted. The soldier in an affidavit states that in July, 1864, while his regiment was in camp at some point on the Mississippi River, in the State of Louisiana, a detail of members of the regiment was made to act as escort for officers who desired to attend church outside of the lines.

The soldier was a member of this detail, and he and Corporal George Turner were captured by the enemy and held as prisoners until the latter part of February, 1865, when he escaped and made his way north, but as the war was over he did not rejoin his regiment.

The soldier bears an excellent reputation, as shown by several affidavits filed with your committee, and your committee are of the opinion that the soldier's statement is true and believe the bill should be passed as amended.

The records of the War Department, together with the soldier's affidavit and the evidence of several persons as to his character and standing, are hereto appended and made a part of this report.

RECORD AND PENSION OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, September 11, 1899. SIR: Referring to your letter of the 7th instant, received this morning, in which you request to be furnished with a statement of the military record of Palmer G. Percy, formerly of Company H, Second New York Cavalry Volunteers, I have the honor to inform you that it is shown by the records that Palmer Percy was enrolled October 2, 1863, and mustered into service October 16, 1863, as a private in Company H, Second New York Cavalry Volunteers, to serve three years, and that he served faithfully until July 24, 1864, when he deserted. He did not return to his command, which remained in the service until November 8, 1865, or communicate his whereabouts or the cause of his absence to the military authorities.

Application for removal of the charge of desertion resting against this man and for his honorable discharge stands denied on the ground that it has not been established that he was prevented from returning to his command and completing his enlistment contract by disability incurred in the line of duty, and because the case is not covered by any of the provisions of the act of Congress approved March 2, 1889, which is the only law in force governing the subject of removal of charges of desertion.

Very respectfully,

Hon. J, A. T. HULL, M. C.,

F. C. AINSWORTH, Chief Record and Pension Office.

Des Moines, Iowa.

STATE OF IOWA, County of Guthrie, ss:

I, Palmer G. Percy, a resident of Guthrie County, Iowa, with post-office address at Dexter, Iowa, on oath depose and say that on the 2d day of October, 1863, I was enlisted as a private in Company H, Second New York Volunteer Cavalry; that I served with my regiment until in the month of July, 1864. At that date the regiment was in camp at some point on the Mississippi River, in the State of Louisiana. While in camp at this point a detail of members of the regiment was made to act as escort for officers who desired to attend church services outside the lines. I was a member of the detail. At the church a picket line was thrown out, and Corpl. George Turner, of my company, and myself were detailed for reconnoitering services; that while engaged in said services we were surprised and captured by a squad of the enemy and held as prisoners of war. I was confined in prison at Alexandria, La., about a month, and was then transferred to a prison at Shreveport, La., and was confined at this place until in the month of December, 1864. From Shreveport I was removed to some point in the State of Texas, and remained in that prison until the latter part of February, 1865, at which date I escaped from this prison. Being still within the enemy's lines, I made my way as best I could toward the north and arrived at Cairo, Ill., during the last days of April, 1865.

I had no knowledge of the whereabouts of my command, and the war being just at the close I did not rejoin the regiment or secure a discharge, being informed my military services would not be further needed. I had no knowledge of the fact that the charge of desertion had been entered against me until 1892. Corpl. George Turner, who was captured at the time I was captured, is the only person who could give full corroboration of the facts recited. I made diligent efforts to ascertain his whereabouts and have been informed that he is dead.

PALMER G. PERCY.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of November, 1899. [SEAL.] W. T. SHARP, Notary Public.

STATE OF IOWA, County of Clay, 88:

I, D. M. Green, of Spencer, Clay County, Iowa, on oath depose and say that I was a member of Company G, Second New York Veteran Cavalry; that during the summer of 1864 I was with the regiment in camp at Morganza Bend, in the State of Louisiana; that I remember of the detail of members of the regiment to accompany a number of officers in camp at this point to church outside the lines, and my remembrance is that they desired to attend certain services held at this church. I also remember that two members of the detail were missing when the squad returned to camp. I always supposed that these members of the regiment were

killed, and I think that this was the report made to the regiment. I do not at this time remember the names of the persons who were supposed to have been killed, but I know that they were members of some one of the companies belonging to our regiment. I do not know what report was made on the official records concerning these persons, but I do not believe that it was reported to the members of the regiment that they were reported to have deserted, and I believe I would have known if such a belief was held with respect to them.

D. M. GREEN. Subscribed and sworn to this 17th day of November, 1899, by D. M. Green, who is personally known to me.

[SEAL.]

JNO. A. MILLER, Notary Public.

STATE OF NEW YORK, County of Washington, 88:

I, S. H. Parks, of Sandy Hill, N. Y., on oath depose and say that I was a member of Company A, Second New York Veteran Cavalry, and was in camp with my regiment at Morganza Bend, Louisiana, during the month of July, 1864, and later; that I remember that during the period the regiment was in camp at this place a detail of the regiment went outside the lines to attend church. I find in my diary kept at this time that July 17, 1864, 300 of us went 12 miles down the river to escort General Lawler to church.

SOLOMON H. PARKS.

Subscribed and sworn to this 20th day of November, 1899, by S. H. Parks, who is personally known to me.

[SEAL.]

D. J. SULLIVAN, Notary Public.

STATE OF IOWA, Dallas County, ss:

I, C. C. Pugh, being first duly sworn, do, upon my oath, say that I am well and personally acquainted with Palmer G. Percy; that I have known him intimately for the twelve years last past and know that he is a man of the strictest integrity; that he is a most excellent citizen and one in whom I place the utmost confidence in every way.

And I further state that he is in good standing in the community in which he lives and is a man who has the entire confidence of his neighbors.

C. C. PUGH. Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me by the said C. C. Pugh this 1st day of December, 1899. [SEAL.]

GEORGE W. CLARKE, Notary Public for Dallas County, Iowa.

STATE OF IOWA, County of Dallas, ss:

I, J. S. Downey, of Dexter, Iowa, on oath depose and say that I have known Palmer Percy for twenty years; that I know his reputation in this community, where he has resided for years; that his reputation for truth and veracity is good, and that he is in every respect a man of the best character and a good citizen, that any statement he would make under oath or otherwise would be accepted without question. J. S. DOWNEY.