Public Law 57–34

That the Quartermaster-General

Property of Confederate soldiers.

Investigation of claims.

is directed, under such rules and regulations as may he approved by the Secretary of War, to investigate, or cause to he investigated, the claims of artillery and cavalry officers and private soldiers of the Con-federate army for horses, side arms, and baggage alleged to have been taken from them by Federal troops, at and after the surrender at Appomattox, acting under orders, in violation of the terms of surrender of the Confederate armies, and he shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, issue his voucher to such persons as shall

Issue and payment of vouchers.

be shown by such investigation to be entitled thereto, which voucher shall be paid out of any money in the United States Treasury not otherwise appropriated: Provided, That the expenditures under this Act shall

Proviso.

Limit of expenditures.

Proof required.

not exceed fifty thousand dollars.

Sec. 2.

That no claimant shall be entitled to or receive any voucher as herein provided unless he shall establish to the satisfaction of the Quartermaster-General that he, or the person through or from whom he asserts said claim, was paroled at the time of said surrender; that he had kept his parole in good faith; that be was the actual owner of the horses, side arms, and baggage for which he claims compensation; that such property was taken from him by troops of the United States acting under orders and in violation of the terms of the surrender under which he was paroled. And if the soldier has died since his parole was

Payment to heirs.

received, the sum he may be entitled to shall be paid to his wife; if she be dead, then to his children; if he has no wife or child or children living, then to his parents, or either of them if one of them lie dead; and no other shall be entitled to receive the same. If he has minor children, the same may be paid to their guardians.