The following is a transcription of the letter from the War Department, Adjutant General's Office to the Commissioner of Pensions as transcribed by Marlow Bumpus on 12/30/02.

Samuel Bumpus, a private in Company G, 8th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, was enrolled on the 5th day of September 1861 at Indianapolis. Ind.

For 3 years and is reported: on roll from enrollment to Oct. 31, 1861 absent, detailed as Wagoner Oct. 22, 1861.Nov. and Dec. 1861, absent, sick at Sarcoxie, MO.

(Dec. 21, 1861) same to Feb. 28, 1962.

March and April 1862, present, same to Aug. 31, 1862.Sept and Oct., absent, Sick at St Louis, MO. Sept 29, 1862,Nov. and Dec. 1862, Present, same to April. 30 1863.

May and June 1863, Present (with remark) Sick May 3 1863.July and Aug. 1863. Absent, sick at St Louis MO., July 16, 1863, same to Dec. 31, 1863.Jan and Feb 1864, Transferred to IRC.He was transferred to Co. J. 8th Reg't I.C. (sub 35th Co. 2nd Battalion V.R.C.) Oct 12, 1863, at St Louis MO. Cause not stated.

Is reported present Aug 31, 1864.Mustered out on Invalid M.O.R As private, Sept 5, 1864 at St Louis MO.

To date from Sept 4, 1864.The records of this office show no further evidence of disability.

R.C. Drum, Adjutant General I.C.= Invalid Corp.Samuel was wounded at the siege of Vicksburg in the left leg below the knee on May 16, 1863 in the battle of Champion Hill. His leg became "poisoned" and he was sent to the hospital at St Louis MO.

That must have been the Hospitalization that lasted from July 16 to Dec. 31, 1963. That's 5 ½ months.

By the way, the bullet missed the bone according to a latter examination in Carthage MO.

There are more transcriptions of this sort. I wonder how much money and time was spent in avoiding giving poor Samuel and his wife a Pension. Some things never change.