Bill Granting a Pension to Harriet Tubman Davis
1/19/1899
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During the Civil War, abolitionist and former slave Harriet Tubman Davis served as a scout in the Union Army, earning the distinction of being the first American woman to lead American troops into battle. She also served as a nurse, cook, and spy. After the war she received a pension as the widow of Union veteran Nelson Davis who had served as a private in the Eight United States Colored Infantry.
Tubman later petitioned Congress for additional benefits for her own service. Congress received numerous documents and letters supporting Tubman’s claim. On January 27, 1899, the House of Representatives passed the bill seen here, H.R. 4982, with an increase in Tubman’s pension from $8 to $25 a month.
H.R. 4982 was then sent to the Senate, which referred the matter to the Committee on Pensions. After consideration, the committee made its recommendation in Senate Report #1619. The Senate noted that very few nurses earned a pension of $20 per month. Ignoring her work as a cook and spy, the Senate stated that "there are no valid reasons why this claimant should receive a pension of $25 per month as a nurse, thus opening a new avenue for pension increases." The report ended with the recommendation that the Senate amend the House bill to lower the pension amount to $20.
Tubman later petitioned Congress for additional benefits for her own service. Congress received numerous documents and letters supporting Tubman’s claim. On January 27, 1899, the House of Representatives passed the bill seen here, H.R. 4982, with an increase in Tubman’s pension from $8 to $25 a month.
H.R. 4982 was then sent to the Senate, which referred the matter to the Committee on Pensions. After consideration, the committee made its recommendation in Senate Report #1619. The Senate noted that very few nurses earned a pension of $20 per month. Ignoring her work as a cook and spy, the Senate stated that "there are no valid reasons why this claimant should receive a pension of $25 per month as a nurse, thus opening a new avenue for pension increases." The report ended with the recommendation that the Senate amend the House bill to lower the pension amount to $20.
Transcript
55th CONGRESS,3d Session.
H. R. 4982.
[Report No. 1774.]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
December 14, 1897.
Mr. Payne introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Invalid Pensions and ordered to be printed.
January 19, 1899
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Whole House,
and ordered to be printed.
[Amend the title.]
A BILL
Granting a pension to Harriet Tubman Davis, late a nurse in the
United States Army.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place on [crossed out: upon] the pension roll [crossed out: of the United States] the name of Harriet Tubman Davis, [inserted: widwon of Nelson Davis] late a nurse in the United States Army, and pay her a pension at the rate of twenty-five dollars per month in lieu of all other pensions.
Amend the title so as to read: "A bill granting an increase of pension to Harriet Tubman Davis."
[Report No. 1774.]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
December 14, 1897.
Mr. Payne introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Invalid Pensions and ordered to be printed.
January 19, 1899
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Whole House,
and ordered to be printed.
[Amend the title.]
A BILL
Granting a pension to Harriet Tubman Davis, late a nurse in the
United States Army.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place on [crossed out: upon] the pension roll [crossed out: of the United States] the name of Harriet Tubman Davis, [inserted: widwon of Nelson Davis] late a nurse in the United States Army, and pay her a pension at the rate of twenty-five dollars per month in lieu of all other pensions.
Amend the title so as to read: "A bill granting an increase of pension to Harriet Tubman Davis."
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives.
National Archives Identifier: 306578
Full Citation: H.R. 4982, A Bill Granting a Pension to Harriet Tubman Davis, Late a Nurse in the U.S. Army; 1/19/1899; Accompanying Papers of the 55th Congress; (HR 55A-D1-6); Accompanying Papers, 1865 - 1903; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/granting-pension-harriet-tubman, December 8, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
