Surgeon's Certificate of June 2, 1891

This Surgeon's Certificate is found in the Civil War Pension File of my paternal third great-grandfather.  This examination was completed on June 2, 1891 and was part of his original pension claim.  He qualified for the pension by serving as a Union private for a short time at the end of the Civil War.  He had enlisted in Company I of the 215 Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

At the time of this exam, he was 60 years old and living at 1416 South 15th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He stood five feet eight and one quarter inches tall and weighed 198 pounds.

As part of his pension, my third great-grandfather was claiming that he incurred a rupture of his right side (hernia) and disease of his eyes during his service in the Union Army.  He stated, "I received a rupture while hauling powder during 1865 just previous to my discharge.  I caught cold in my eyes while at Alexandria during same year."

He appeared to be a healthy man at this exam.  It was noted that he had an inguinal hernia of his right side, which allowed a hen's egg sized tumor to protrude.  He had worn a truss for 25 years, which would have given the hernia support and relieved some of the discomfort.

His eyes were congested, with his left having conjunctivitis.  He wore glasses and was able to read relatively well with his right eye, but not his left.

Military Service

This War Department document, filed on May 22, 1891, is found in the Civil War Pension File of my paternal third great-grandfather.  He enlisted as a private in Company I of the 215 Regiment of the Pennsylvania Infantry at the end of the Civil War on April 8, 1865.  He was discharged at Fort Delaware, a Union prison camp during the war, on July 31, 1865.

Index Sheet #2

This is the second index sheet that I have found in the Civil War Pension File of my paternal third great-grandfather.  He qualified for a monthly pension from the United States Government because he served in Company I of the 215 Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for a short time during the end of the Civil War.  My third great-grandmother is also listed on this form, as she qualified for his pension after his death.

The first date listed is May 16, 1893, when he first applied for the Pension.  It ends with a Certificate of Medical Examination on May 21, 1901.

Rejection Note

This short note is found in the Civil War Pension File of my paternal third great-grandfather.  The number on the top is his file number.  The note states that his claim that he acquired his rupture (hernia) while he was serving in the Union Army at the end of the war has been rejected.  There was no record and no evidence provided that the injury occurred while he served as a Union soldier, nor in the line of duty.

He also alleged that his varicose veins were incurred at the same time of his rupture, so this was also rejected.  He was approved for a cataract and rheumatism because this was not alleged to have occurred at the time he served in the Union Army.