A farmer with ambitions of becoming an officer joined a New York regiment as a private. At the end of that term, he enlisted in the 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry as a Lieutenant at age 19 [Company G] and was promoted to Captain on December 7, 1864 [Company I]. In Spring 1865 he returned to New York on furlough and got married. The war ended. Instead of reporting to duty at the end of his approved absence, he stayed in New York. Big mistake: Absence Without Leave and Dishonorable Discharge.
— Compiled military service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops [microform]: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry (1997). Reel 0014 – 1st United States Colored Cavalry: Tines, Archer – Wheldon, Charles M. (online at http://www.archive.org/details/compiledmili0014akesunit) Vandervoort’s Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) can be viewed at n393-n427.
Years later, a woman pleaded with President Woodrow Wilson on the soldier’s behalf.
Invalid — 1,291,842 / —
Declaration of Invalid Pension, David Vandervoort, 11 October 1902
58 years old, “resident of the town of Sydney, Delaware County, state of New York who was enrolled on the 22d day of August,1861, in Co. E. 3d Reg. NY Cav Vols as a private … honorably discharged at Newport News, Va. on the 8th day of January 1864 and was afterward re-inlisted [sic] and appointed captain of the first Reg. U.S. Colored Cav and assigned his commission on Mch 24, 1865 but never received a discharge; That he is now unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of disability which he has contracted during his army service and said his discharge consisting of rupture and rheumatism …. also personally appeared Alfred Phelps, residing at Franklin, Otsego, New York, and Rawson B. Hultz, residing at Otsego, Otsego County, New York, [acquainted with claimaint] 30 years and 25 years, respectively”
Letter from Mrs. E.M. Burghdorf, 24 Dean Street, Deposit, New York, to President Woodrow Wilson, January 1916
“President Wilson, Hon. Sir,
“I am about to ask a great favor of you. It will not be much for you to do but will mean so much for the person for which I plead.
“David Vandervort [sic] was enrolled Aug 19, 1861, served faithfully until March 1865. Was three times promoted on account of bravery and March 1865 rec[eived] a furlough, came home and married the beautiful young lady that had waited so long, and from whom he had long been seperated [sic].
“Lee surrendered, the war was over, & he did not report or go back to get his discharge. And in Oct 17, 1865 he was discharged by Special Order 551 War Department. Now the favor I ask is that he be restored to the rolls by special order so he can get a pension.
“He is an old man now and helpless, nearly, with rheumatism and has no means of support.
“It seems to me that a grand soldier, that served so long and faithfully should be forgiven & restored when he had no idea he was doing wrong.
“Please go over the matter carefully & put yourself in his place, and restore him. He will not live many years but it would be such a comfort to him to know he was restored and to have a pension so he would not have to depend upon charity.
“I have just lately found out that he was dropped by S.O. If he could be dropped by S.O. he could also be restored by S.O.
“If you could see him I know you would grant this request. Be merciful for it means so much to him.
“I shall in no way be benefited by this. Am only trying to get justice for a brave & noble old soldier.
Yours very truly [signature & address]
“P.S. David Vandervort [sic], Co E 3d Reg. N.Y. Cavalry private – corporal, 1863 commissioned as 1st Lieutenant in 1st Reg. U.S.C. Cavalry promoted to Captain Co. I same regiment.”
[Note: The letter’s author underlined several words in her letter to the President — Leslie]
Letter from E.C. Tieman, Deputy Commissioner to Mrs. E.M. Burgdorf, 24 Dean Street, Deposit, New York, 11 January 1916
“Dear Madam,
“Your letter addressed to the President has been forwarded to this Bureau and filed with the other papers in the claim 12911842 of David Vandervoort who served in Company E, 3rd New York Cavalry and Company I, 1st United States Colored Cavalry, and whose claim under the Act of June 27, 1890 was rejected in November, 1902 for the reason that his service was not honorably terminated, he having been dismissed the service because of absence without leave.
“So long as the law remains unchanged, he will not be allowed pension under the Act of June 27, 1890 or any act passed since that date.”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 