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U. S. MILITARY ASYLUM, OR SOLDIERS' HOME,
WASHINGTON, D. C.

BY LEWIS H. STEINER, INSPECTOR, U. S. S. 0.

The object of this institution, which was established in accordance with an Act of Congress, passed March 3d, 1851, is to provide a comfortable home for invalid and disabled soldiers of the army, who have served their country faithfully, and who shall be entitled to the benefits of the institution. The buildings are located on the Riggs Mansion farm, some two miles outside the city limits, and consist of three dwellings for the officers, the asylum building proper, and a hospital, with suitable out-houses. The grounds are handsomely laid out -- a thick grove of trees near the buildings furnish pleasant retreat from the heat of the sun in summer, while the farm proper and the garden afford opportunities for occupying the inmates with recreation and profitable labor.

The Board of Commissioners consists of three officers of the army, who are ex-officio members of the same. These are the Adjutant-General, the Surgeon-General, and the Commissary-General. The constitution of the Board is objectionable, because the members have these duties superadded to those belonging to their positions as heads of departments, which require all their time and attention. One thing may be said in its favor -- that such a constitution of the Board protects it from the evil effects of partisan-appointments.

The officers of the asylum are -- a governor, deputy-governor, secretary, treasurer, and surgeon. The duties of the secretary and treasurer are equivalent to those of quartermaster and commissary in the Held. Dr. Benjamin King, U. S. A., holds both these offices, and also acts as surgeon. There is no governor. Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander, Fifth Infantry, is at present the deputy-governor, and in command of the post.

In addition to these officers, there are five non-commisioned officers (an orderly-sergeant, two sergeants, and two corporals) selected from the inmates, and one hospital steward, enlisted in the regular army.

Soldiers are admitted to the asylum from three classes:

1. Those who have honestly and faithfully served twenty years in the regular army.

2. All who are enjoying a pension from Government; but "all pensioners who may desire to avail themselves of the advantages of the asylum, are required by law to surrender their 'pensions to the institution' during the time they may remain therein, and continue to receive its benefits."

3. Those who have been disabled in the service.

Applicants, according to the regulations, are required to produce evidence of their service in the army. "They must state their age, place of birth, and physical condition; the company, regiment, and corps in which they have served (and when practicable, will produce the certificate of an army surgeon, that the applicant is not able to support himself by manual labor)."

Such members of the asylum as have families, and desire to live with them, are allowed a pension of eight dollars per month, and are permitted to live beyond the limits of the asylum. In case of misconduct, the acting governor has the privilege of suspending the allowances granted. The sum of eight dollars is sometimes made up by an addition to the pension drawn from Government. This class of members is known as outside-pensioners.

The Army Regulations -- so far as they may be applicable -- and a special set of regulations adopted by the War Department, constitute the laws for the internal government of the asylum.

There is, however, no roll-call, but the non-commissioned officers are expected to see to the presence of the men at the proper place, whenever a roll-call would be required in the army.

The inmates may be required, "at the discretion of the governor, to perform such duties in and about the buildings and grounds of the institution as, in his judgment, their age, physical condition, and abilities will allow." Such of them, however, as are employed on the farm, are entitled to the allowance of twenty cents per day for the days actually employed in the work. Whether employed on this kind of labor or not, each inmate is allowed, during good conduct and the faithful performance of light duties about the asylum, such as may be ordered by the Governor, one dollar per month, as pocket money. With this, tobacco, and such luxuries as they may require, can be purchased. The orderly sergeant receives ten dollars per month, the sergeants eight, and the corporals seven. Formerly tobacco was supplied, but as some of the men were found engaged in selling it, this had to be stopped and pocket-money substituted. There is a place for smoking, in the winter, in the upper story of the main building, where the fumes are carried away without entering any of the apartments.

As regards clothing, they are allowed this in quantity not to exceed the allowance to the army in the field. Under no circumstances whatever, is it permitted to an inmate to dispose of his clothing. The regulations require that "there shall be established a neat and comfortable uniform (both for dress and fatigue), which shall be worn by all inmates of the Asylum. All clothing in the possession of the inmates at the time of admission, will be delivered to the Steward, by whom it will be safely kept and returned to the owner whenever he may be discharged from the institution; and no clothing other than the established uniform will be worn by any inmate of the Asylum while he remains therein." Each soldier is supplied with a chest for his clothing and other articles belonging to him, and has an iron bedstead, with neat and suitable bedding, in a ward calculated to hold five to eight. These wards are well ventilated and look exceedingly comfortable.