Samuel Blatchford

“ Congress had the same right to change the claimant's rank and pay, by reducing them, that it had to change the rank and pay of Gen. Crawford, by section 1 of the act of 1875, by increasing them, the standard in both cases being the actual rank held by the officer at the time he was wounded. The offices of both were left untouched. The pay of retired officers is a matter entirely within the control of congress, and so is their rank. ”

“ These views appear to us to be sound. Gen. Wood, holding the office of a colonel of cavalry in the army, his retirement with the rank of major-general, under the act of 1868, did not confer on him the office of major-general. He remained in the office of colonel of cavalry, and acquired a higher rank, and higher pay, as a retired officer. Such rank not being an office, congress could change his rank, and with it his pay, as it did by the act of 1875. ”

“ Thomas J. Wood, colonel Second United States cavalry, having, at his own request, been ordered before a board of examination, and having been found by the board to be physically incompetent to discharge the duties of his office on account of wounds received in battle, and the finding having been approved by the president, his name will be placed upon the list of retired officers of that class in which the disability results from long and faithful service, or some injury incident thereto. ”