Post by Matthew S. Schweitzer on Jan 28, 2008 10:13:48 GMT -5
Just recently obtained this interesting item...
A letter from an old New Jersey soldier who served with General Arthur St. Clair's army and was wounded at the Battle of St. Clair's Defeat on November 4, 1791. The letter is from the old injured veteran asking for an increase in his military pension from the state of NJ. Very interesting little piece of history connected with the worst military defeat in US history.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
The Capt. Z.M. Pike refered to here is the father of the explorer who would discover Pike's Peak in Colorado. The elder Pike servered with St. Clair and Wayne in their expeditions against the Ohio Indians.
A letter from an old New Jersey soldier who served with General Arthur St. Clair's army and was wounded at the Battle of St. Clair's Defeat on November 4, 1791. The letter is from the old injured veteran asking for an increase in his military pension from the state of NJ. Very interesting little piece of history connected with the worst military defeat in US history.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
"I am an Invalid Pensioner of the U. Sates, disabled by a Gun shot wound in the right hip, at the defeat of General St. Clair by the Indians in 1791, on the 4th November.
My present pension is four dollars per month, which is quite inadequate to my support, as my disability increases with my years.
I find myself constrained to ask of my Country, an enlargement of my pension; & being informed that my application for this purpose must be to your Honor; it is my humble request, that you will please to commission two surgeons to examine into the merits of my application & report thereon to the Secretary of War, or to the proper officer of the Government.
If it be not improper, I would nominate for your consideration, as professional gentlemen of some experience & respectable standing, doctors John S. Darcy of Newark & Lewis Condid of Morri Town.
Your compliance with the request of an old soldier, will greatly oblige.
Your obt. Servant. "Isaac (his X mark) Genung formerly a private in the Company commanded by Capt. Z.M. Pike
Witness present: N.W. Conthingy"
My present pension is four dollars per month, which is quite inadequate to my support, as my disability increases with my years.
I find myself constrained to ask of my Country, an enlargement of my pension; & being informed that my application for this purpose must be to your Honor; it is my humble request, that you will please to commission two surgeons to examine into the merits of my application & report thereon to the Secretary of War, or to the proper officer of the Government.
If it be not improper, I would nominate for your consideration, as professional gentlemen of some experience & respectable standing, doctors John S. Darcy of Newark & Lewis Condid of Morri Town.
Your compliance with the request of an old soldier, will greatly oblige.
Your obt. Servant. "Isaac (his X mark) Genung formerly a private in the Company commanded by Capt. Z.M. Pike
Witness present: N.W. Conthingy"
The Capt. Z.M. Pike refered to here is the father of the explorer who would discover Pike's Peak in Colorado. The elder Pike servered with St. Clair and Wayne in their expeditions against the Ohio Indians.