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NARA0289

War Department,
Adjutant General's Office,
Washington, D.C., December 15th, 1875

   This description, or extract from the official records, is to be considered strictly confidential, and is furnished to the disbursing officer to enable him to detect frauds.  He should question each claimant fully as to his military history, and, in cases of deceased soldiers, the heirs should be questioned as to the military history of husband, father, brother, or son, as the case may be. 
   Before making payments the disbursing officer should be fully satisfied that the parties claiming the money are the persons they represent themselves to be. In case of doubt as to the identity of the soldier, payment will be refused, and the disbursing officer will reduce to writing the questions and answers, and at once transmit the same to the Adjutant General of the Army, with a full report.

Thomas M Vincent
Assistant Adjutant General.

623998 CONFIDENTIAL.

Charles Whittington Pvt

Late J Co., 114 Reg't U.S C.T