Capt. Monroe J. Potts

Monroe J. Potts served in the Union Army during the American Civil War in Company G, 31st Illinois Infantry Regiment. He entered service on 2 Sep 1861 and mustered in on 18 Sep 1861 in Cairo IL with the rank of Corporal. He re-enlisted and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 17 May 1863 in Black River, MS. He was promoted to Adjutant on 18 Dec 1864 in Savannah, GA. He was promoted to Captain of Company G on 6 Apr 1865 in Goldsboro, NC. He mustered out on 19 Jul 1865 in Louisville, KY.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/31st_Illinois_Volunteer_Infantry_Regi... Monroe J. Potts, of Soldiers' Home. Quincy, 111., the claimant in this case, was a good soldier and has an honorable military record. He enlisted in the Union Army September 2, 1861, as a corporal in Company G, Thirty-first Illinois Infantry, and served nearly four years, being honorably discharged and mustered out with rank of captain July 19. 1865.

He was originally pensioned under the act of June 27. 1890, at $8 per month from April 7,1892. which was increased to $10 from April 6, 1904, and to $12 from January 31, 1906. He is now pensioned at $15 per month under the age or service act of February 6, 1907. His claim for a pension under the general law was rejected, because he could not furnish the necessary evidence to connect his disabilities with the military service.

Claimant is now nearly 72 years old. The report of his last medical examination, taken January 31, 1906, showed that he was disabled by rheumatism, disease of heart and rectum, injury of left forearm, enlarged prostate, and senile debility, and the examining surgeons, as far back as that date, reported him as wholly unable to perform manual labor. Medical and other evidence filed with this committee shows that claimant is now helpless from paralysis of left side, with which he was stricken about four years ago; that he is totally disabled and requires the almost constant care and attendance of another person. It is further shown that claimant is in destitute circumstances, being entirely dependent upon his pension for support. His case is worthy of favorable consideration, and the committee are of opinion he should have increase of pension to $30 per month, as proposed in the bill.

• Source - Congressional Serial Set