Bounty For Soldiers: 1861-1864

Arkansas City Traveler, April 3, 1878.
An item has been floating around among the newspapers some time to the effect that all soldiers who re-enlisted for three years, between January 1, 1861, and April 1, 1864, having previously served nine months, were entitled to $400 bounty, or so much thereof as remains unpaid.
The item turns out to have been worthless. A number of soldiers engaged an attorney to examine into the matter, and he immediately wrote to the proper department at Washington, and in a day or two received the intelligence that:
“There have been no bounty laws passed of general character since July 28, 1866, and the statement referred to is buncombe.
“The bounty referred to in published statement was payable in installments, and these installments were all paid as fast as they accrued, and when the men were discharged, they received all there was due up to their discharge.
“Where the soldiers died in the service, and the heirs have not yet received the remaining installments, then they are entitled thereto.”