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War Department General Order No. 130 defined the status and qualifications of members of the Veteran Reserve Corps, aka the Invalid Corps"
No. 130. Washington, May 15, 1863.
In executing the provisions of General Orders, No. 105, from this Department, in regard to the selection of men for the Invalid Corps, medical inspectors, surgeons in charge of hospitals, camps, regiments, or of boards of enrollment, military commanders, and all others required to make the physical examination of men for the Invalid Corps, will be governed in their decisions by the following list of qualifications and disqualifications for admission into this corps:
Physical infirmities that do not disqualify enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps:
1. Paralysis, if confined to the left upper extremity, and the man's previous occupation fit him for the duty of clerk, orderly, &c.
2. Simple hypertrophy of the heart unaccompanied by valvular lesion; functional derangement of the stomach (dyspepsia); mild chronic diarrhea; simple enlargement of the liver or spleen; a temporary ailment of the kidneys or bladder.
3. Chronic rheumatism, unless manifested by positive change of structure, wasting of the affected limb or puffiness or distortion of the joints.
4. Pain, unless accompanied with manifest derangement of the general health, wasting of a limb, or other positive sign of disease.
5. Myopia, unless very decided or depending upon structural change of the eye.
6. Stammering, unless excessive and confirmed.
7. Loss of teeth or unsound teeth.
8. Porticollis.
9. Reducible hernia.
10. Hemorrhoids.
11. Stricture of the urethra.
12. Incontinence of urine.
13. Loss or complete atrophy of both testicles from any cause; permanent retention of one or both testicles within the inguinal canal.
14. Varicocele and cirsocele.
15. Loss of left arm, left forearm or left hand, if the man be qualified for duty of clerk or orderly.
16. Loss of leg or foot, provided the man have the inclination and aptitude for service in a general hospital, and is recommended for that duty by a medical officer, or if qualified for the duty of clerk or orderly.
17. Old and irreducible dislocation of shoulder and elbow in which the bones have accommodated themselves to their new relations.
18. Muscular and cutaneous contraction of left arm, provided the man may be employed as clerk, orderly, or messenger.
19. Loss of left thumb; partial loss of either thumb.
20. Loss of first and second phalanges of all the fingers of the left hand.
21. Total loss of any two fingers of the same hand.
22. Total loss of index finger of right hand.
23. Permanent extension of any finger of the right hand; permanent extension or contraction of any finger of the left hand.
24. Adherent or united fingers.
25. Loss of any toe or toes except the great toe; all the toes joined together.
26. Deformities of the toes, if not sufficient to prevent walking.
27. Large, flat, ill-shaped feet that do not come within the designation of talipes valgus.
28. Varicose veins not accompanied with ulcerations.
29. Gunshot wounds or injuries not involving loss of function.
30. None of the foregoing infirmities disqualify officers for service in the Invalid Corps.
In all cases where the physical infirmities of officers or enlisted men come within the provisions of the above list they will be recommended for transfer to, or enlistment in, the Invalid Corps; but no one will be admitted into this corps whose previous record does not show that he is meritorious and deserving, and that he has complied with the provisions of General Orders, No. 105, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, 1863, authorizing an Invalid Corps.
Physical infirmities that disqualify enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps:
1. Manifest imbecility or insanity.
2. Epilepsy, if the seizures occur more frequently than once a month, and have obviously
impaired the mental faculties.
3. Paralysis or chorea.
4. Acute or organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, of the heart or lungs, of the stomach
or intestines, of the liver or spleen, of the kidneys or bladder, sufficient to have impaired
the general health or so well marked as to leave no reasonable doubt of the man's incapacity for
military service.
5. Confirmed consumption, cancer, aneurism of important arteries.
6. Inveterate and extensive disease of the skin.
7. Scrofula or constitutional syphilis which has resisted treatment and seriously impaired the general health.
8. Habitual or confirmed intemperance or solitary vice sufficient in degree to have materially enfeebled the constitution.
9. Great injuries or diseases of the skull, occasioning impairment of the intellectual faculties, epilepsy, or other serious nervous or spasmodic symptoms.
10. Total loss of sight or other serious diseases of the eye, affecting its integrity and use.
11. Loss of nose or deformity of nose, if sufficient seriously to obstruct respiration; ozena,
if dependent upon caries.
12. Deafness.
13. Dumbness; permanent loss of voice.
14. Total loss of tongue; partial loss and hypertrophy or atrophy of tongue, if sufficient to
make the speech unintelligible and prevent mastication or deglutition.
15. Incurable deforniities of either jaw, whether congenital or produced by accident, which would prevent mastication or greatly injure the speech.
16. Tumors of the neck impeding respiration or deglutition; fistula of larynx or trachea.
17. Deformity of the chest sufficient to impede respiration or to prevent the carrying of arms and military equipments; caries of the ribs; gunshot wound of the lung, if complicated with fracture of a rib.
18. Artificial anus; severe stricture of the rectum.
19. Total loss or nearly total loss of penis; epispadia or hypospadia at the middle or nearer the root of penis; stone in the bladder.
20. Confirmed or malignant sarcocele; hydrocele, if complicated with organic disease of the testes.
21. Excessive anterior or posterior curvature of spine; caries of the spine; lumbar abscess.
22. Loss of a thigh.
23. Wounds, fractures, tumors, atrophy of a limb, or chronic diseases of the joints or bone that would prevent marchino siderable muscular exertion
24. Anchylosis or irreducible dislocation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle joint.
25. Muscular or cutaneous contractions from wounds or burns in degree sufficient to prevent useful motion of the right arm or of the lower extremities.
26. With the exception of those paragraphs which refer to the total or partial loss of an extremity, the foregoing disabilities disqualify officers as well as enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps.
In all cases where the physical infirmities of an officer or enlisted man come within the provisions of this list, or where his previous record shows that he is not entitled to be received into the Invalid Corps, he will, if in service, be discharged, and if an applicant to re-enter, his application will be disapproved.
Whilst the Government is most anxious to provide for and employ to the best of their abilities those faithful soldiers who, from wounds or the hardships of war, are no longer able to perform active duty in the field, yet it can upon no account permit men undeserving or totally disabled to re-enter its service. Those faithful soldiers whose physical infirmities are too great to admit of their being of any use in the Invalid Corps will, nevertheless, receive the pensions and bounties provided by law.
It is further announced that no officer or enlisted man shall be entitled to or receive any pension, premium, or bounty for enlistment, re-enlistment, or service in the Invalid Corps. They will receive all other pay and allowances now authorized by law for the U. S. infantry, except the increased pay for re-enlistment. Claims for pensions or bounties which may be due for previous service will not be invalidated by enlistment in the Invalid Corps. But no pensions can be drawn or accrue to the benefit of any man during his service in said corps. The officers and men will be organized into companies of infantry of the same strength as is now authorized by law for the U. S. infantry. No organized brigades, regiments, companies, or parts of companies will be accepted as such. Enlistments in this corps will be for three years, unless sooner discharged.
By order of the Secretary of War:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
_______
GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE,No. 130. Washington, May 15, 1863.
In executing the provisions of General Orders, No. 105, from this Department, in regard to the selection of men for the Invalid Corps, medical inspectors, surgeons in charge of hospitals, camps, regiments, or of boards of enrollment, military commanders, and all others required to make the physical examination of men for the Invalid Corps, will be governed in their decisions by the following list of qualifications and disqualifications for admission into this corps:
Physical infirmities that do not disqualify enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps:
1. Paralysis, if confined to the left upper extremity, and the man's previous occupation fit him for the duty of clerk, orderly, &c.
2. Simple hypertrophy of the heart unaccompanied by valvular lesion; functional derangement of the stomach (dyspepsia); mild chronic diarrhea; simple enlargement of the liver or spleen; a temporary ailment of the kidneys or bladder.
3. Chronic rheumatism, unless manifested by positive change of structure, wasting of the affected limb or puffiness or distortion of the joints.
4. Pain, unless accompanied with manifest derangement of the general health, wasting of a limb, or other positive sign of disease.
5. Myopia, unless very decided or depending upon structural change of the eye.
6. Stammering, unless excessive and confirmed.
7. Loss of teeth or unsound teeth.
8. Porticollis.
9. Reducible hernia.
10. Hemorrhoids.
11. Stricture of the urethra.
12. Incontinence of urine.
13. Loss or complete atrophy of both testicles from any cause; permanent retention of one or both testicles within the inguinal canal.
14. Varicocele and cirsocele.
15. Loss of left arm, left forearm or left hand, if the man be qualified for duty of clerk or orderly.
16. Loss of leg or foot, provided the man have the inclination and aptitude for service in a general hospital, and is recommended for that duty by a medical officer, or if qualified for the duty of clerk or orderly.
17. Old and irreducible dislocation of shoulder and elbow in which the bones have accommodated themselves to their new relations.
18. Muscular and cutaneous contraction of left arm, provided the man may be employed as clerk, orderly, or messenger.
19. Loss of left thumb; partial loss of either thumb.
20. Loss of first and second phalanges of all the fingers of the left hand.
21. Total loss of any two fingers of the same hand.
22. Total loss of index finger of right hand.
23. Permanent extension of any finger of the right hand; permanent extension or contraction of any finger of the left hand.
24. Adherent or united fingers.
25. Loss of any toe or toes except the great toe; all the toes joined together.
26. Deformities of the toes, if not sufficient to prevent walking.
27. Large, flat, ill-shaped feet that do not come within the designation of talipes valgus.
28. Varicose veins not accompanied with ulcerations.
29. Gunshot wounds or injuries not involving loss of function.
30. None of the foregoing infirmities disqualify officers for service in the Invalid Corps.
In all cases where the physical infirmities of officers or enlisted men come within the provisions of the above list they will be recommended for transfer to, or enlistment in, the Invalid Corps; but no one will be admitted into this corps whose previous record does not show that he is meritorious and deserving, and that he has complied with the provisions of General Orders, No. 105, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, 1863, authorizing an Invalid Corps.
Physical infirmities that disqualify enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps:
1. Manifest imbecility or insanity.
2. Epilepsy, if the seizures occur more frequently than once a month, and have obviously
impaired the mental faculties.
3. Paralysis or chorea.
4. Acute or organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, of the heart or lungs, of the stomach
or intestines, of the liver or spleen, of the kidneys or bladder, sufficient to have impaired
the general health or so well marked as to leave no reasonable doubt of the man's incapacity for
military service.
5. Confirmed consumption, cancer, aneurism of important arteries.
6. Inveterate and extensive disease of the skin.
7. Scrofula or constitutional syphilis which has resisted treatment and seriously impaired the general health.
8. Habitual or confirmed intemperance or solitary vice sufficient in degree to have materially enfeebled the constitution.
9. Great injuries or diseases of the skull, occasioning impairment of the intellectual faculties, epilepsy, or other serious nervous or spasmodic symptoms.
10. Total loss of sight or other serious diseases of the eye, affecting its integrity and use.
11. Loss of nose or deformity of nose, if sufficient seriously to obstruct respiration; ozena,
if dependent upon caries.
12. Deafness.
13. Dumbness; permanent loss of voice.
14. Total loss of tongue; partial loss and hypertrophy or atrophy of tongue, if sufficient to
make the speech unintelligible and prevent mastication or deglutition.
15. Incurable deforniities of either jaw, whether congenital or produced by accident, which would prevent mastication or greatly injure the speech.
16. Tumors of the neck impeding respiration or deglutition; fistula of larynx or trachea.
17. Deformity of the chest sufficient to impede respiration or to prevent the carrying of arms and military equipments; caries of the ribs; gunshot wound of the lung, if complicated with fracture of a rib.
18. Artificial anus; severe stricture of the rectum.
19. Total loss or nearly total loss of penis; epispadia or hypospadia at the middle or nearer the root of penis; stone in the bladder.
20. Confirmed or malignant sarcocele; hydrocele, if complicated with organic disease of the testes.
21. Excessive anterior or posterior curvature of spine; caries of the spine; lumbar abscess.
22. Loss of a thigh.
23. Wounds, fractures, tumors, atrophy of a limb, or chronic diseases of the joints or bone that would prevent marchino siderable muscular exertion
24. Anchylosis or irreducible dislocation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle joint.
25. Muscular or cutaneous contractions from wounds or burns in degree sufficient to prevent useful motion of the right arm or of the lower extremities.
26. With the exception of those paragraphs which refer to the total or partial loss of an extremity, the foregoing disabilities disqualify officers as well as enlisted men for service in the Invalid Corps.
In all cases where the physical infirmities of an officer or enlisted man come within the provisions of this list, or where his previous record shows that he is not entitled to be received into the Invalid Corps, he will, if in service, be discharged, and if an applicant to re-enter, his application will be disapproved.
Whilst the Government is most anxious to provide for and employ to the best of their abilities those faithful soldiers who, from wounds or the hardships of war, are no longer able to perform active duty in the field, yet it can upon no account permit men undeserving or totally disabled to re-enter its service. Those faithful soldiers whose physical infirmities are too great to admit of their being of any use in the Invalid Corps will, nevertheless, receive the pensions and bounties provided by law.
It is further announced that no officer or enlisted man shall be entitled to or receive any pension, premium, or bounty for enlistment, re-enlistment, or service in the Invalid Corps. They will receive all other pay and allowances now authorized by law for the U. S. infantry, except the increased pay for re-enlistment. Claims for pensions or bounties which may be due for previous service will not be invalidated by enlistment in the Invalid Corps. But no pensions can be drawn or accrue to the benefit of any man during his service in said corps. The officers and men will be organized into companies of infantry of the same strength as is now authorized by law for the U. S. infantry. No organized brigades, regiments, companies, or parts of companies will be accepted as such. Enlistments in this corps will be for three years, unless sooner discharged.
By order of the Secretary of War:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
Bringing the