Veterans Benefits during the Revolution

General Nathanael Greene

Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene wrote to future War Secretary and President John Adams on multiple occasions urging him to incorporate a veterans benefits system into the new government.

The peculiar situation of American affairs renders it necessary to adopt every measure that will engage people in the service. The danger and hardships that those are subject to who engage in the service, more than those who do not, is obvious to everybody which has the least Acquaintance with service, tis that which makes it so difficult to recruit. The large force that is coming against America will make it necessary to Augment our forces. If I am to form a Judgment of the success of Recruiting from what is past, … to engage people in the service there must be some new motives.

From the Approaching danger recruiting will grow more and more difficult. If the Congress was to fix a certain support upon every Officer and Soldier that got maim’d in the service or upon the families of those that were kild it would have as happy an influence towards engageing people in the service and inspire those engagd with as much courage as any measure that can be fixt upon. I think it is nothing more than common Justice neither. It puts those in and out of Army upon a more equal footing than at present. I have not time to add any thing more. Major Frazier now waiting—for this. The desperate game you have got to play and the uncertainty of War may render every measure that will increase the Force and strength of the American Army worthy consideration. When I have more leisure I will presume so much upon your good nature as to write you upon some other matters. Believe me to be with great respect yours.

In August 1780, the Continental Congress extended pensions to surviving spouses of officers (not enlisted soldiers) killed in the line of duty. The pensions, first granted for seven years, were later granted for life for officers and widows.

That the resolution of the 15 day of May, 1778, granting half-pay for seven years to the officers of the army who should continue in the service to the end of the war, be extended to the widows of those officers who have died, or shall hereinafter die in the service; to commence from the time of such officer’s death, and continue for the term of seven years.

Journals of Continental Congress, xvii, page 773

“An Act Providing for the Payment of Invalid Pensioners of the United States”