B-155591, DEC. 24, 1964
Highlights
WILLIAM ECHOLS: FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 1. YOU DID NOT STATE WHETHER YOUR UNCLES WERE VOLUNTEERS OR DRAFTED MEN. WHO IS THE OFFICIAL CUSTODIAN OF SUCH RECORDS. IF IT WAS FOUND THAT JACK RINGER AND CHARLES RINGER SERVED IN THE UNION ARMY AS ALLEGED BY YOU. WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE A REPORT DATED DECEMBER 2. WHICH READS AS FOLLOWS: "THE NAMES OF JACK RINGER AND CHARLES RINGER HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND ON THE INDEX TO THE COMPILED MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS OF THE UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS WHO SERVED DURING THE CIVIL WAR. NOR HAVE THOSE NAMES BEEN FOUND ON THE RECORD OF ENLISTMENTS IN THE REGULAR ARMY BEFORE JULY 1. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE A FURTHER SEARCH OF THE RECORDS.'.
B-155591, DEC. 24, 1964
TO MR. WILLIAM ECHOLS:
FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 1, 1964, CONCERNING THE "BONUS" OF YOUR UNCLES, JACK RINGER AND CHARLES RINGER, INCIDENT TO THEIR SERVICE AS SOLDIERS IN THE UNION ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR. YOU DID NOT STATE WHETHER YOUR UNCLES WERE VOLUNTEERS OR DRAFTED MEN, NOR DID YOU STATE IN WHAT ORGANIZATION OR FROM WHAT STATE THEY SERVED.
SINCE WE DO NOT MAINTAIN SERVICE RECORDS OF MEN WHO SERVED IN THE UNION ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR, WE FORWARDED A COPY OF YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 1, 1964, TO THE ARCHIVIST OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE, WHO IS THE OFFICIAL CUSTODIAN OF SUCH RECORDS, AND WE REQUESTED THAT, IF IT WAS FOUND THAT JACK RINGER AND CHARLES RINGER SERVED IN THE UNION ARMY AS ALLEGED BY YOU, WE BE FURNISHED A STATEMENT FOR EACH OF THEM SHOWING DATE OF ENLISTMENT (OR INDUCTION), MUSTER-IN-DATE, NAME OF ORGANIZATION, AND DATE AND CHARACTER OF DISCHARGE.
WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE A REPORT DATED DECEMBER 2, 1964, WHICH READS AS FOLLOWS:
"THE NAMES OF JACK RINGER AND CHARLES RINGER HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND ON THE INDEX TO THE COMPILED MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS OF THE UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS WHO SERVED DURING THE CIVIL WAR, NOR HAVE THOSE NAMES BEEN FOUND ON THE RECORD OF ENLISTMENTS IN THE REGULAR ARMY BEFORE JULY 1, 1894.
"IF MR. WILLIAM ECHOLS CAN FURNISH ANY ADDITIONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE ENCLOSED COPIES OF OUR FORM NAR-288, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE A FURTHER SEARCH OF THE RECORDS.'
YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THERE WERE VARIOUS LAWS RELATING TO THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITIES, DESIGNATED AS "THE BOUNTY," INCIDENT TO MILITARY SERVICE IN THE UNION ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND THAT THE AMOUNTS PAYABLE AND THE PERSONS ENTITLED THERETO DEPENDED ON VARIOUS CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. ALL CLAIMS FOR SUCH BOUNTY ARE NOW BARRED BY STATUTE. HOWEVER, SINCE DEFINITE INFORMATION AS TO THE MILITARY SERVICE OF YOUR UNCLES IS LACKING, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WAS ANY ENTITLEMENT TO THE BOUNTY BECAUSE OF SUCH SERVICE.
THE COPIES OF FORM NAR-288 WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE REPORT OF DECEMBER 2, 1964, ARE ENCLOSED.