Mr. NESMITH. This is a very peculiar case, and as a member of the ComMilAffrs I had occasion to investigate the subject when it was before the committee. It was the only case of the kind that was presented. If other cases exist, as the Senate“ from California and the Senfrom Nevada state, and as doubtless do exist, it seems to me they should have been presented to the consideration of the committee as this case was. The facts in this case, Iapprehead, will vary very much from the facts in the cases to which they allude. The facts in this case are substantially these: this regiment was marched to Utah and was kept there for some time after the expiration of its term of service. The evidence submit ted to the committee went to show that in February last, in the dead of winter, the regiment was paraded, and the proposition was made to them whether they would consent to be mustered out at that point, Fort Bridger, or Salt Lake, or whether they would refer to be retained 2 months more beyon their time, and be marched back to the frontier. The men had become tired of the service. They had served for some time over their term of enlistment, and they supposed that in any event their transportation would be paid to the frontier. Upon this proposition being submit ted tothem, the majority of them came to the conclusion that they would refer to be mustered out, under the impression that they were to be transported back to the place of enlist ment. When the paymaster came to pay them off, he aid them commutation at 6 cents a mile from Fort Bridger to the place of enlistment. There were no means of their getting back in small squads. Their road was through a dense wilderness, full of hostile lu dians, with no subsistence on the route, no hotels or places where they could be accommodated; the traveling exceedingly bad and no steamboat or railroad line or facility of that kind for traveling. They received $118 70 a piece to pay their commutation from Salt Lake City and Fort Bridger back to Michigan, where they were mustered in; while the stage fare, the only mode of travelin by that road was $300 from Salt Lake to the issouri front ier, leaving them there out of pocket the difference between $118 70 and the mere stage fare, to say nothing of their subsistence, and then entirely destitute of funds to transport themselves from Atchison, in Kansas, to their homes in Michigan. Ordinarily I should be opposed to giving any additional compensation beyond that allowed by law to troops for returning home; but as I stated before, there are peculiarities about this case which deserve consideration. It was a very great hardship, I think, to leave men des titute in the middle of awilderiiess country, and in the dead of winter, under such circumstances. Why, sir, if those men badundeitaken to make the march on foot the only mode the had of making it except by stage coach the commutation which they were allowed of $118 70 would not have been sufficient to pay for their meals on the route, even if there were facilities for obtaining them, allowing that they marched 20 miles a day for the distance of 1200 miles. Those who got to the frontiers were in a very destitute condition, and arrived there without an means to pay their transportation back to eir homes. There was great suffering among the men. They had behaved gallantly during1 the war. They were a fine regiment. They ad served over their time without any comlaint. They were marched 1200 miles beyond the frontiers after the exiration of their term of service; and I thin all the circumstances taken to ether make it the strongest possible case, an I believe the Government should remunerate them. This amendment only gives them the difference between $118 70an $325. I do not believe that the allowance of $825 would take them home. That allowance would only take them to Atchison, in Kansas, and leave them to pay their expenses from there home; but the appropriation is limited to $325, and I trust it will he grantedas amatter of jus tice to these allant men who served the country so willing y and uncomplainingly. I passed through the country when they were there on duty. They were behaving well; they were the best soldiers I say in the country. think, as a matter of justice of these gallant men, that the Government should make them this compensation for the amount they were deprived of by its own unjust decision.