Armonk N.Y.

Feby 26^th 1884

 

Capt. N.S. Wheeler.

 

            Dear Capt.

                                    I was surprised and pleased to receive so prompt & cordial a response to my letter to you. Old comrads are generally willing and glad to aid each other in these matters, but I know a few who act otherwise; could name one or two whom both you & I know. Such conduct I cannot imagine what its motive can be. Any comrad whom I believe to be honerable and truthful who states to me that he / was mustered-in in good health and since muster-out has been out of health or enfebled in a less or greater degree, will receive from me all the aid I can in any way render, to obtain a pension, which can in any case only poorly compensate him for his loss. I feel this keenly as I compare myself, housed up here week after week and denied participation in almost every social gathering that takes place especially in damp or chilly weather, with those who staid at home during the war and now brag of the money they then made and have health to enjoy it now. However I had a good time in the army and the mem- / ory of it is dear. I always kept a diary in those days and to read them over is to read a romance with self as the hero, and memory fills in the scenery. I do not regret that I served in the army even at so severe a personal loss.

 

            I have not employed a claim agent to do my business as I thought it would make me much more trouble and I at present see no difficulty in carrying it on myself. As you have had to make affidavits and had others make them for you in your own case you will know in what form it will be best to put one so I will make a statement of facts & dates and you can put your affidavit in form to correspond with it as your / memory and sense of right may permit. Please state that we first served together at the time of my appointment as Capt. in the 125^th Regt. Aug. 17^th 1865, at which time you was Regimental Adjt. I never was detached, more than temporarily from the command, so that we substantially served to-gether continuously until our muster out Oct. 31^st 1867. That you was promoted Capt. at the same time that I was to Maj. to date from Apr. 25 1866, and that you succeeded me on promotion as Capt. of Co. "G", 125^th U.S.C.T. and that you was almost continuously in the detachment of which I had command after promotion until muster out at the same time & place. That I enjoyed / almost uninterrupted good health, until, after the beginning of our march from Leavenworth, Ks. to Fort Union N.M. and Ft. Bliss Tex. when I began to have occasional attacks of malarial fever accompanied with neuralgia, at first light but they increased in frequency and severity until muster-out. (My diary shows that I had attacks of fever & neuralgia about once a fortnight, thus, May 21^st, June 2^nd, June 18^th, June 29^th, July 1^st all 1866 as we rode into Ft. Union & so on but they let up in frequency after I got to Bliss but came on again in the spring.) The last attack I had was on Sept 27^th when I kept the ambulance for two days, and from that time on I was / continually subject to neuralgia & rheumatism. That when I came to the Regt. I was a person seeming to be of more than usual vigor and endurance (you'll recollect I was never sick at Louisville when almost every one else was nor at Cairo although I believe I carried the fever from there which developed afterward) and that when I left the regt. I seemed broken down in health. That on the march home we had no surgeon with the detachment and that you have no interest of any kind in the claim.

 

            I do not suppose you can make affidavit to any definite dates at this late date. Am sure I could not without my diary to aid me. Perhaps you might recollect that I had an / especial set-to with the neuralgia July 5^th to 9^th 1867 the day after we took the gun from the fort up to Franklin to celebrate July 4^th 1867. My brother who is a mining engineer was down in Mexico last Fall and stopped at Franklin. He says it is a good sized lively city now, gas horsecars that run across the river to El Paso &c. three railroads centering there.

 

            If you should need my affidavit to any circumstance occurring after I came to the 125^th you would be apt to get it as I have a pretty full diary of events that occurred during 1866 & 1867. At any rate I will give you any help in the shape of an affidavit that I can. Of whom, of the officers of the Regt. did you get affidavits? Would like to know as I may / require that of others beside yourself. I have a long list of affidavits to get as I have no less than six discharges and am required to get a separate set of affidavits from all. I was discharged once in July 1862 from the 10^th Conn Vols for disability, but have that fixed, now am getting evidence from other organizations that I was not sick. The hardest to get evidence is while I was in the regular army from Nov. 30 1863 to Mch 8^th 1865. I can't get on track of anyone who is able to recollect me at all.

 

            Am glad of Capt. Days success in securing a pension. Would like to see Tom Penick & Logan. They had almost faded from memory. If I can't return the favor I ask of you, I'll reimburse you otherwise if you will let me know what your expenses are.

 

Fraternally yours            O. M. Knapp. /

 

The testimony required by the Pension Office is explained by the Commissioner in the following words.

 

            "You are required to file the testimony of at least one commissioned officer of the 125^th U.S.C.T. showing the dates of all attacks of the above named diseases (Malarial Fever accompanied with neuralgia.) from which you suffered after being mustered in as Maj. of said regt. describing all symptoms of permanent disabilities which you exhibited after said attacks sand explaining the affiants means of knowing the facts to which they testify."

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