Attested on Homer's Behalf
Walter Caples, Redwood, Jefferson County, NY, November 11, 1891
George H. Miller, Mohawk, N.Y, November 11, 1891

Charles J. Donnelly & Co. of Washington, D.C., filed a Declaration for Invalid Pension (form 3-010.a) pursuant to the Act of June 27, 1890 on behalf of 47-year old Homer Caples, a resident of Mohawk, Herkimer County, N.Y., who, on November 11, 1891, presented the following to Notary Public E. W. Doolittle in Herkimer County, New York:

• That he is the Homer Caples who was enrolled on the 21^st day of October, 1862 in Co. "F", 152^nd Regt. N.Y. Vols. in the War of the Rebellion
  
• That he is now unable to earn support by reason of "Suffering from Epileptic fits which occur at irregular intervals and without any warning to him when they occur and is also totally deaf in his right ear and cannot hear but little in his left ear."
  
• That he hereby appoints Charles J. Donnelly & Co., Washington, D.C., his true and lawful attorneys to prosecute his claim, and he hereby promises and agrees to pay his said attorneys the sum of ten ($10) dollars for his services herein, which sum he authorizes and requests the Commissioner of Pensions to pay out the pension which may be granted under this application.

On May 27, 1892, Green B. Raum, Commissioner of Pensions, U.S. Pension Office, Eastern Division, filed Military Service form 3-060 a. to the War Department seeking an official statement in this case of Homer Caples, who is alleged to have enlisted Oct. 21, 1862, and served as a ______ in Co. F., 152, Reg't N.Y. Vol, whose Date of discharge not given. In reply on this same form, U.S. Army Major and Surgeon O. C. Ainsworth replied to the Commissioner of Pensions on May 28, 1892, that Homer Caples was enrolled on October 4, 1862 and was reported absent sick October 21, 1862, a private. No record of discharge has been found Application for an honorable discharge has been denied.⁽³⁾

On April 7, 1897, Chas. J. Donnelly & Co. sent the following inquiry to the Commissioner of Pensions on behalf of Homer Caples' claim:

SIR:
We filed this application February 27, '92 and your Office acknowledged it and gave us the [?] A[r. 13/92. What disposition was mad it?

Very Respecfully,

CHAS. J. DONNELLY & CO.⁽⁴⁾

On April 23, 1897, Examiner J. [T or F] Brady, Eastern Division, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C., requested that the War Department Record and Pensions Office examine all records likely to afford any information as to diseases, wounds, or injuries incurred by him while in the service. No other report on file.

Claim No. 1,094,803

Name: Henry [sic] Caples

Co. F 152 Reg't. N.Y. Vols.

On April 24, 1897 and on the same form, Colonel, U.S. Army, Chief of Office F. C. Ainsworth replied to the Commissioner of Pensions:

Homer Caprells [sic], Co. F, 152 Reg't New York Inf. was enrolled October 4, 1862, and Deserted Oct 21, 1862, Application for removal of that charge of desertion has been denied. From Enl, 186--, to Desertion, 186--, he held the rank of private and during that period the rolls show him present except as follows Oct 31, 62 absent sick from Oc 21, still absent, to June 30, 63 absent sick at Warren NY since Oct 21, 62 to Oct 31, 63 absent sick at Warren, NY.

to June 30, 64 absent sick at Warren NY since October 21, 62 to June 30, 65 absent sick at Warren NY since Oct 25, 62

The medical records show him treated as follows: No record found⁽⁵⁾

On April 27, 1897, Examiner Ino [T or F] Brody submitted Homer Caples' request for Invalid Pension for rejection. On April 29, 1897, Legal Reviewer Albert approved the "rejection of epileptic fits on the ground of no title to pension under Act of June 27", 1890, for the reason that claimant has never been honorably discharged from the U.S. Service. The records of the War Department show that claimant deserted from Co. F, 152" N.Y. Vol. Inf. October 21", 1862, and that his application for honorable discharge has been denied." The form provides the following information about his service shown by record: Enlisted October 4, 1862; Deserted October 21, 1862; Declaration filed March 2, 1892, alleging permanent disability due to epileptic fits.⁽⁶⁾

In a hand-written letter from the Commissioner of the Bureau of Pensions (signature indecipherable), Eastern Division,Washington, D.C., to Homer Caples, Mohawk, N.Y., dated May 12, 1897, relative to Claim No. 1,094,803, Homer Caples, Co. F, 152 Reg't N.Y. Vol., he states:

Sir:

Your above entitled claim for pension under the act of June 27, 1890 was rejected April 29, 1897, on the ground that it is shown by the record of the War Department that you deserted from Company F, 152, regiment New York Volunteers, and never a discharge therefrom.⁽⁷⁾

The corresponding envelope shows Homer Caples' name and P.O. crossed out with stamped fingers pointing to the return address. A stamp on the back of the envelope indicates it was received in Washington, D.C. on June 15, 9:00 AM, 1897.

Endnotes

1. Homer Caples, complete Pension Application file, No. 1 094 803 (Washington: National Archives).

2. Homer Caples, complete Pension Application file, No. 1 094 803 (Washington: National Archives), photocopy of Declaration for Invalid Pensions, November 11, 1891, date stamped by U.S. Pension Office March 2, 1892.

3. Homer Caples, complete Pension Application file, No. 1 094 803 (Washington: National Archives), photocopy of document (form 3-060 a.), May 27, 1892.

4. Homer Caples, complete Pension Application file, No. 1 094 803 (Washington: National Archives), photocopy of correspondence from Chas. J. Donnelly & Co. to Commissioner of Pensions, April 7, 1897, date stamped by First Deputy Commissioner April 9, 1897, and another stamp on April 10, 1897.

5. Homer Caples, complete Pension Application file, No. 1 094 803 (Washington: National Archives), photocopy of document (form 3-464 aa.) from Bureau of Pensions to the War Department, April 23, 1897, date stamped by U.S. Pension Office April 26, 1897.

6. Homer Caples, complete Pension Application file, No. 1 094 803 (Washington: National Archives), photocopy of document (form 3-145a.) for Invalid Pension, April 29, 1897.

7. Homer Caples, complete Pension Application file, No. 1 094 803 (Washington: National Archives), photocopy of handwritten letter by Commissioner of Pension to Homer Caples, May 12, 1897. The corresponding envelope, postmarked May 12, '97, 4:30 PM, shows Homer Caples' name and P.O. crossed out with stamped finger pointing to the return address.