The proper officials to whom all applications should be made, by letter or petition, in Washington, are, by a soldier having his discharge, to the Paymaster General; when the discharge paper is lost, to the Second Auditor of the Treasury; when by those who represent a deceased person, to the second Auditor of the Treasury; when for commutation of rations, to the same officer; when for pensions, or any matter connected with pensions, to the Commissioner of Pensions.
Instructions have been prepared for all applicants, by the Commissioner of Pensions for the purpose of preventing fraud or misunderstanding. They are, in substance:
INSTRUCTIONS.
By the act of Congress approved July 14th, 1862, and amendatory acts, pensions are granted as follows:
1. Invalids, disabled in the military or naval service of the United States, in the line of duty.
2. Widows of persons who have been killed or have died in the military or naval service of the United States.
3. Children under sixteen, of the classes of persons on account of whose death widows are entitled; provided said widows have died, or have remarried.
4. Mothers of all classes of persons on account of whose death widows are entitled, provided said mothers were dependent on the deceased for support and no minor child survived.
5. Fathers, the same as mothers, in case of the death of the latter.
6. Brothers and sisters, under sixteen, provided they were dependent for support upon the person on account of whose decease they claim.