CHAP. CVIII. – An Act amending the Act entitled “An Act granting Half Pay to Widows or Orphans, where their Husbands and Fathers have died of Wounds – received in the Military Service of the United States,” in Case of deceased Officers and Soldiers of the Militia and Volunteers, passed July fourth, eighteen hundred and thirty-six.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the provisions of the first section of the act entitled “An Act granting half pay to widows or orphans, where their husbands and fathers have died of wounds received in the military service of the United States, in certain cases, and for other purposes,” approved July fourth, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, shall be applicable to all widows and orphans of officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and soldiers of the army of the United States, who were in the army of the United States on the first day of March, eighteen hundred and forty-six, or at any subsequent period during the present war between the United States and Mexico.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all widows and orphans of officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, whether of the regular army or of volunteers, who have died since the first day of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six, or who may die during the war with Mexico, from wounds received or from disease contracted while in the line of duty, shall be entitled to the same rate of pension as is provided for in the first section of the before-mentioned act, under like limitations and restrictions: Provided, Said death has occurred, or may hereafter occur, while said officers, noncommissioned officers, musicians, or privates, were in the service of the United States, and in the line of duty; or while returning to their usual place of residence in the United States, after having received a discharge upon a surgeon’s certificate for disability incurred from wounds received, or disease contracted, while in the line of duty, or while on their march to join the army in Mexico: And provided further, That this act shall not be applicable to the widows and orphans of such officers, non-commissioned officers; musicians, or privates, who have not served in Mexico, or at posts or stations on the borders of Mexico; except where such officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, or privates, have died while on their march to join the army in Mexico. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all pensions under this act shall be granted under such rules, regulations, restrictions, and limitations as the Secretary of War, with the approbation of the President of the United States, may prescribe. APPROVED, July 21, 1848. |