Thought this was interesting enought to get Mr. Sherman's permission to pass it on. Deborah Byrd > Talking about the value of $$$$. My ggrandfather, Captain J. Owens Berry, > CSA, was in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. He led Company G of the Eighth > Virginia Volunteer Infantry and survived the battle. I have a copy of his > pay voucher (from LDS) showing his salary throughout the war while he was a > Captain. For the month 30JUN1863 until 31JUL1863 (Gettysburg), his pay was > the same as usual--$130 per month. According to the value factor posted: > (An equivalent amount of $85000 in 1860 dollars would be $1530987.29 in 1999 > dollars.) > He would have been making the equivalent of 18 X $130 = $2340 per month. Or > $28,080 per year. This means his pay for the day he charged with Pickett was > $75 by today's standards. He was paid $75 to walk across THAT field and face > those Yankees. It wasn't for the money. He later said they had a "Cause" > which was larger than life, and it had nothing to do with slavery or money. > Respectfully posted, > Edgar Sherman > Governor, Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of South Carolina >