Military Data of Cass County, MN

Edward Harris
S 3645. Edward Harris, of Akely, Minn., the claimant under this bill, was pensioned by special act at the rate of $12 per month (certificate No. 1007863) during the first session of the Fifty-sixth Congress, the report from the Senate Committee on Pensions, giving the facts in his case, being as follows:
The purpose of the bill is to pension Edward Harris on account of a wound of the left elbow joint received in an engagement with the Bear Island Indians at Sugar Point, Leech Lake, Minnesota, October 5, 1898.
The claimant was the marshal of the village of Walker, Minn., and on the above-named date he accompanied United States Marshal O'Connor and a number of deputies and assistants with Gen. Bacon's command to Sugar Point for the purpose of arresting a number of Indians for whom warrants had been issued by the United States court. A fight ensued between the Indians and whites, and several persons were killed and wounded. Among the wounded was this claimant, who was shot through the left arm, the ball passing through the elbow joint. Dr. T. F. Rodwell, of Walker, Cass County, Minn., treated claimant for the wound, and describes the same, under oath, as follows:
"The bullet entered the outer side of olecranon process, passing through said process, fracturing the same, and injuring all the articular portions of joint touched by bullet, and cutting off or so injuring the ulnar nerve that motion and sensation are impaired, and the ring and little fingers are completely paralyzed."
Dr. Rodwell adds that he had claimant under his care and attention for two months, and that ankylosis of the joint has followed, together with much withering of the hand and arm, causing claimant to be permanently crippled.
The circumstances attending the receipt of the wound, as detailed above, are fully substantiated by the affidavits of R. T. O'Connor, late United States marshal for Minnesota, and Robert Morrison and Hiram S,. Tallman, deputy marshals, all of whom were present at the time. Marshal O'Connor swears that claimant was employed by him to accompany the expedition for the purpose of identifying the Indians for whom the warrants were issued, said claimant being acquainted with the Bear Island Indians, and personally knowing many of those for whom witness had warrants, and it was while in the strict performance of his duty that claimant was wounded.
Mr. Harris resides at Walker, Minn.
It is shown by evidence on file with the bill that the claimant was wounded while assisting a United States marshal and a detachment of United States troops in an engagement with the Bear Island Indians in Minnesota, October 5, 1898, which brings his case within the provisions of rule 7 of this committee, he having performed military duty in an emergency and been wounded. Said rule reads as follows:
"Bills proposing to pension men who were not mustered into the military service, except in cases where in emergencies they performed military duty and were wounded or unless some special or extraordinary service was rendered in connection with the Army, are not admissible."
Your committee therefore reports the bill back favorably with a recommendation that it pass.
Claimant is 75 years of age and medical evidence filed with the committee is to the effect that he is totally disabled from chronic rheumatism; that this rheumatism has developed in the last two years and that it is necessary for him to have assistance in dressing. Also evidence that claimant has been unable to work for a long time past; that he is destitute, except for the small pension he is now receiving; that he is a man of good habits, a deserving citizen, and sadly in need of relief; and that he has been in serious physical condition on several occasions during the past year.
[Source: Pensions and increase of pensions for certain soldiers and sailors of the regular Army and Navy, etc. February 22, 1917, Serial Set Vol. No. 7113, Session Vol. No.B, 64th Congress, 2nd Session H.Rpt. 1532 - Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Terry Wages]

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