Soldiers pay!

[Audrey]

I'm intrigued to know how soldiers were paid. Did they have to have bank accounts? How often were they paid? Could they draw money out during their years of service? Thank you for any info!

 

[Scott1967]

I'm intrigued to know how soldiers were paid. Did they have to have bank accounts? How often were they paid? Could they draw money out during their years of service? Thank you for any info!

They were paid cash by the paymasters , They were meant to be paid monthly or bi-monthly but in reality this never happened most were paid every 4 months or so and the South were paid rarely.

Interesting enough this is the time the first paper notes really appear to replace the metals for coins which was much needed for the war effort.

I'm sure more learned people will tell you more.

 

[Fairfield]

I'm intrigued to know how soldiers were paid. Did they have to have bank accounts? How often were they paid? Could they draw money out during their years of service? Thank you for any info!

Brian Swartz wrote about a private in Maine who--after his term of 9 mos..--demanded his $16/mo pay + bonus from the town. Perhaps the shortness of his tenure transferred the responsibility for payment from the US Govt. to the town OR It may also be that the monthly payments for service were on top of the usual pay because the town was trying to meet its federal quota.

The town tried to renege on part of the bonus and the case went up to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court which found in favor of the soldier.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Officers bearing the title of Paymaster made the rounds periodically among their assigned commands, and soldiers usually griped about not being paid in a timely manner. Soldiers often mailed off a portion of their earnings to their families. Sutlers did well selling their products to soldiers in camp, especially right after payday. During the campaign season, soldiers might purchase bread, pies, etc. from citizens along their march route to supplement their official rations, but a risk was incurred in carrying a large amount of cash into battle because it could wind up in the hands of scavenging enemy soldiers who robbed the dead - a lucrative business. For this reason a chaplain of their unit might be entrusted by soldiers to hold their excess funds until after the conclusion of a battle. I've not read of soldiers being loaned money through official channels; quite the contrary - pay could be deducted to cover government-issued items. However, enterprising comrades could always be found who loaned money in exchange for a consideration. Here are a few relevant sources from the period prior to and during the Gettysburg campaign in mid-1863:

(Private Wesley Boyle, 143rd Pennsylvania) We ought to be paid the first of July, but it always runs two weeks after before the Paymaster comes around. We will have $52, four months pay, up to the first of July.

(Diary of James McCleary, Battery B, Pennsylvania Artillery) April 23 - we feel rather disappointed at the paymaster not making an appearance. Think we will have to wait a couple of months yet. April 27 - Paymaster Major Preston [delivered] four months pay. June 1 – paid for two months, up to May 1, by Major Preston.

(John B. Noyes, 28th Massachusetts) June 3, Paymaster, Major Farnsworth, at the Colonel's tent. Before night greenbacks were plenty enough in camp.

(Almond E. Clark, 27th Connecticut) July 2 [while the battle of Gettysburg was in progress], the paymaster arrived to pay the regiment.

(Surgeon James D. Benton, 111th New York) February 1863, Major Austin, Paymaster. We have received our pay for two months. Took him to Washington and he said he was assured by the Department that we should receive our money regularly hereafter. Carried a trunk of greenbacks.

(Diary of Captain George Lockley, 1st Michigan) January 2, 1863, mustered for six months' pay. February 1, 1863, Major Bull paying the regiment today. June 16, paymaster here paying off, paid me $226.74, should have been $253.26, … to be stopped $27.42.

(Diary of Private John T. McMahon, 136th New York) June 10, our regiment was paid two months pay today – I got $26.

(Diary of John Diltz, 66th Ohio) June 7, paymaster arrived at 3 p.m. and commenced paying the regiment, continued all night. July 17, busy working on pay rolls all day.

(History of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry) July 6, a rebel paymaster with a guard of 15 men was captured, bearing important dispatches from Richmond, and a considerable amount of rebel money.

 

[DorwinBlack]

In this letter home, Lt AW Black mentions the arrival of the paymaster at winter camp to hearty shouts and cheers from the troops, as well as his own responsibility to have the men sign the payroll to receive their pay.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter to Evaline from A.W.Black Series 1 File 51
April 6 1863
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camp on Cripple Creek
Near Murfreesboro, Tennessee April 6th 1863

Dear wife, after so long a time, I set down to write you a few lines. I am well at present, and I hope that these few lines may find you well and the rest of the family. I have been so busy here of late that I have hardly had time to eat, let alone writing to any person. I received your letter that you wrote to me on the 29 of March. I was glad to hear from you, but sorry to hear that Johnny was unwell. You spoke of going to Xenia, but did not want to go until you heard from me. Don't stop on my account. Go and enjoy yourself the best you can. Don't stay at home for fear of me coming home, for God knows when I will come for I am sure I don't.

The paymaster is here and is a-going to pay us four months pay. He was welcomed here with shouts of cheers. Liney, I wrote Gilbert Terrell a letter. You get that and read it after he gets through. You will see in that what I have been doing for the past eight or ten days. I feel today like some old broke down stage horse, and I don't feel like writing so I must close.

You must excuse my short letter, for I have got to go to work and have the boys sign the payrolls so as they can get their money. Give my best wishes to Kate and Marg. Liney, my love to you and my children. So farewell for this time. Write soon. This is from your companion.

A.W. Black

 

[Audrey]

They were paid cash by the paymasters , They were meant to be paid monthly or bi-monthly but in reality this never happened most were paid every 4 months or so and the South were paid rarely.

Interesting enough this is the time the first paper notes really appear to replace the metals for coins which was much needed for the war effort.

I'm sure more learned people will tell you more.

Thank you! I feel sorry for the men having to stash their cash safely for months on end. I wonder what happened to it when they died?

 

[Audrey]

Brian Swartz wrote about a private in Maine who--after his term of 9 mos..--demanded his $16/mo pay + bonus from the town. Perhaps the shortness of his tenure transferred the responsibility for payment from the US Govt. to the town OR It may also be that the monthly payments for service were on top of the usual pay because the town was trying to meet its federal quota.

The town tried to renege on part of the bonus and the case went up to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court which found in favor of the soldier.

Interesting! Glad the soldier got it in the end but what a struggle!

 

[Fairfield]

Interesting! Glad the soldier got it in the end but what a struggle!

But a worthwhile struggle. Towns all over the state were guilty of shortchanging veterans but this case settled the matter. The private's endeavor was beneficial to a large number.

 

[Scott1967]

Thank you! I feel sorry for the men having to stash their cash safely for months on end. I wonder what happened to it when they died?

When you see pictures of soldiers dead on the battlefield their pockets are nearly always turned inside out , Looting was common form simply because most soldiers carried their money with them.

Theft carried a very hefty penalty as it does now in the army nowadays to be disowned by ones own comrades is the worst form of punishment but if you were caught thieving in the ACW you would get the lash or branded with a T on the cheek.

 

[lupaglupa]

Thank you! I feel sorry for the men having to stash their cash safely for months on end. I wonder what happened to it when they died?

Men who died in hospital had their cash counted as part of the list of belongings left behind. You can find these notices among the medical records at Fold3. Belongings and monies were supposed to be sent to the deceased soldier's next of kin.

Men sometimes sent money home with a friend who was on furlough. I've seen a copy of a letter online telling a wife that she had money coming to her with my great-great-grandfather. He was sent home to Mississippi after becoming too ill to serve in Virginia.

 

[Audrey]

Officers bearing the title of Paymaster made the rounds periodically among their assigned commands, and soldiers usually griped about not being paid in a timely manner. Soldiers often mailed off a portion of their earnings to their families. Sutlers did well selling their products to soldiers in camp, especially right after payday. During the campaign season, soldiers might purchase bread, pies, etc. from citizens along their march route to supplement their official rations, but a risk was incurred in carrying a large amount of cash into battle because it could wind up in the hands of scavenging enemy soldiers who robbed the dead - a lucrative business. For this reason a chaplain of their unit might be entrusted by soldiers to hold their excess funds until after the conclusion of a battle. I've not read of soldiers being loaned money through official channels; quite the contrary - pay could be deducted to cover government-issued items. However, enterprising comrades could always be found who loaned money in exchange for a consideration. Here are a few relevant sources from the period prior to and during the Gettysburg campaign in mid-1863:

(Private Wesley Boyle, 143rd Pennsylvania) We ought to be paid the first of July, but it always runs two weeks after before the Paymaster comes around. We will have $52, four months pay, up to the first of July.

(Diary of James McCleary, Battery B, Pennsylvania Artillery) April 23 - we feel rather disappointed at the paymaster not making an appearance. Think we will have to wait a couple of months yet. April 27 - Paymaster Major Preston [delivered] four months pay. June 1 – paid for two months, up to May 1, by Major Preston.

(John B. Noyes, 28th Massachusetts) June 3, Paymaster, Major Farnsworth, at the Colonel's tent. Before night greenbacks were plenty enough in camp.

(Almond E. Clark, 27th Connecticut) July 2 [while the battle of Gettysburg was in progress], the paymaster arrived to pay the regiment.

(Surgeon James D. Benton, 111th New York) February 1863, Major Austin, Paymaster. We have received our pay for two months. Took him to Washington and he said he was assured by the Department that we should receive our money regularly hereafter. Carried a trunk of greenbacks.

(Diary of Captain George Lockley, 1st Michigan) January 2, 1863, mustered for six months' pay. February 1, 1863, Major Bull paying the regiment today. June 16, paymaster here paying off, paid me $226.74, should have been $253.26, … to be stopped $27.42.

(Diary of Private John T. McMahon, 136th New York) June 10, our regiment was paid two months pay today – I got $26.

(Diary of John Diltz, 66th Ohio) June 7, paymaster arrived at 3 p.m. and commenced paying the regiment, continued all night. July 17, busy working on pay rolls all day.

(History of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry) July 6, a rebel paymaster with a guard of 15 men was captured, bearing important dispatches from Richmond, and a considerable amount of rebel money.

Thank you so much for your informative reply!

In this letter home, Lt AW Black mentions the arrival of the paymaster at winter camp to hearty shouts and cheers from the troops, as well as his own responsibility to have the men sign the payroll to receive their pay.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter to Evaline from A.W.Black Series 1 File 51
April 6 1863
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camp on Cripple Creek
Near Murfreesboro, Tennessee April 6th 1863

Dear wife, after so long a time, I set down to write you a few lines. I am well at present, and I hope that these few lines may find you well and the rest of the family. I have been so busy here of late that I have hardly had time to eat, let alone writing to any person. I received your letter that you wrote to me on the 29 of March. I was glad to hear from you, but sorry to hear that Johnny was unwell. You spoke of going to Xenia, but did not want to go until you heard from me. Don't stop on my account. Go and enjoy yourself the best you can. Don't stay at home for fear of me coming home, for God knows when I will come for I am sure I don't.

The paymaster is here and is a-going to pay us four months pay. He was welcomed here with shouts of cheers. Liney, I wrote Gilbert Terrell a letter. You get that and read it after he gets through. You will see in that what I have been doing for the past eight or ten days. I feel today like some old broke down stage horse, and I don't feel like writing so I must close.

You must excuse my short letter, for I have got to go to work and have the boys sign the payrolls so as they can get their money. Give my best wishes to Kate and Marg. Liney, my love to you and my children. So farewell for this time. Write soon. This is from your companion.

A.W. Black

Amazing to read a soldier's letter. He sounds so weary. Thanks for the response!

When you see pictures of soldiers dead on the battlefield their pockets are nearly always turned inside out , Looting was common form simply because most soldiers carried their money with them.

Theft carried a very hefty penalty as it does now in the army nowadays to be disowned by ones own comrades is the worst form of punishment but if you were caught thieving in the ACW you would get the lash or branded with a T on the cheek.

I see. I wonder if it was considered okay to loot the other side's dead or whether it was still considered stealing?

 

[Audrey]

Men who died in hospital had their cash counted as part of the list of belongings left behind. You can find these notices among the medical records at Fold3. Belongings and monies were supposed to be sent to the deceased soldier's next of kin.

Men sometimes sent money home with a friend who was on furlough. I've seen a copy of a letter online telling a wife that she had money coming to her with my great-great-grandfather. He was sent home to Mississippi after becoming too ill to serve in Virginia.

Thank you.

 

[7thWisconsin]

One of the most common themes of letters is whether the family received money that was sent, or if they would send money. At that time, people just stuck cash in an envelope and sent it off, assuming it would arrive at the other end. (Of course, that´s why stagecoach robbers took the mail bag and not just the strongbox.) Checking accounts were kind of a new thing, necessitated by the rise of bad paper currency printed by private banks or towns without specie to back their currency. Direct deposit was not even on the horizon. So soldiers received pay when they were stopped for any appreciable length of time such as at the end of active campaigning, or winter quarters, etc. The paymaster literally came around with boxes of cash and the ledgers, got a temporary guard of soldiers and an additional duty officer, and the men lined up by companies. The individual solder approached the paymasters table, saluted and said ¨Rank and Full Name, reporting for pay, Sir.¨ It´s counted out, deductions taken and he collects it up and goes on his way. It´s up to him what he does with it after that. (Some things never change. The payday formation became a US Army tradition. When I was a platoon leader, I didn´t have anything pressing for my troops on a Friday. So I held a uniform inspection and fell them out for payday activities, which meant they all went home for the weekend. After lunch, the CO queried ¨LT, where is 1st Platoon.¨ Payday activities,Sir.¨ He looked at the training schedule, which he had approved and signed, laughed and said ¨Ask me next time.¨ 30 years ago, we were paid in cash once. I don´t know why because it was peculiar by that time. I cued up with my command, looked over and saluted a lieutenant who was my junior and intoned ¨CPT _______, reporting for pay, Sir.¨)

 

[Scott1967]

I see. I wonder if it was considered okay to loot the other side's dead or whether it was still considered stealing?

Spoils of War as the saying goes.

I remember reading about a mortally wounded Union officer near the Dunker Church at Antietam he sat with his back to the fencepost waiting to die checking his silver pocket watch every couple of minutes while Confederates would shout out to him "You Dead Yet" As they retreated he got into a tug-o-war with a rebel over his watch that only stopped when a Reb Officer intervened scolding the Reb soldier , As it happens the Union officer was not mortally wounded and survived.

 

[Don Dixon]

The U.S. Army paid in cash as late as 1971. There was no direct deposit established yet and you had the option of receiving a check or cash. A lot of the older personnel preferred cash. While I was waiting for my class to start at Fort Huachuca, AZ, I was obligated to pay the officer holding company to which the students and school staff were assinged. I signed for about a half million dollars in cash and checks from the finance office, and drew a 1911 and several magazine of ammunition.

 

[Audrey]

Spoils of War as the saying goes.

I remember reading about a mortally wounded Union officer near the Dunker Church at Antietam he sat with his back to the fencepost waiting to die checking his silver pocket watch every couple of minutes while Confederates would shout out to him "You Dead Yet" As they retreated he got into a tug-o-war with a rebel over his watch that only stopped when a Reb Officer intervened scolding the Reb soldier , As it happens the Union officer was not mortally wounded and survived.

Oh my God, how awful. Glad he lived.

 

[Audrey]

One of the most common themes of letters is whether the family received money that was sent, or if they would send money. At that time, people just stuck cash in an envelope and sent it off, assuming it would arrive at the other end. (Of course, that´s why stagecoach robbers took the mail bag and not just the strongbox.) Checking accounts were kind of a new thing, necessitated by the rise of bad paper currency printed by private banks or towns without specie to back their currency. Direct deposit was not even on the horizon. So soldiers received pay when they were stopped for any appreciable length of time such as at the end of active campaigning, or winter quarters, etc. The paymaster literally came around with boxes of cash and the ledgers, got a temporary guard of soldiers and an additional duty officer, and the men lined up by companies. The individual solder approached the paymasters table, saluted and said ¨Rank and Full Name, reporting for pay, Sir.¨ It´s counted out, deductions taken and he collects it up and goes on his way. It´s up to him what he does with it after that. (Some things never change. The payday formation became a US Army tradition. When I was a platoon leader, I didn´t have anything pressing for my troops on a Friday. So I held a uniform inspection and fell them out for payday activities, which meant they all went home for the weekend. After lunch, the CO queried ¨LT, where is 1st Platoon.¨ Payday activities,Sir.¨ He looked at the training schedule, which he had approved and signed, laughed and said ¨Ask me next time.¨ 30 years ago, we were paid in cash once. I don´t know why because it was peculiar by that time. I cued up with my command, looked over and saluted a lieutenant who was my junior and intoned ¨CPT _______, reporting for pay, Sir.¨)

Thank you for all the info and your own memories!

 

[Audrey]

The U.S. Army paid in cash as late as 1971. There was no direct deposit established yet and you had the option of receiving a check or cash. A lot of the older personnel preferred cash. While I was waiting for my class to start at Fort Huachuca, AZ, I was obligated to pay the officer holding company to which the students and school staff were assinged. I signed for about a half million dollars in cash and checks from the finance office, and drew a 1911 and several magazine of ammunition.

Wow!

 

[John Winn]

BTW, few people had bank accounts at that time (other than very wealthy people and perhaps some businessmen).

 

[Audrey]

BTW, few people had bank accounts at that time (other than very wealthy people and perhaps some businessmen).

I see, thanks!