But the soldiers didn't always get paid on time. Often they would not get paid for 3 or 4 months. I know this made things difficult for my Civil War ancestor's wife at times. She with 2 daughters when hubbby left for war and a son born several months later. She didn't get much of the pay until she traveled from Winterset IA to Keokuk IA in a horse drawn wagon to haul his body home for burial (he died of abcess of wound in the knee...no penicillin then). From his letters and pension file, she was apparently given back pay when she picked up the body. (this from the Union side). By the way...he did make a bit more than the $13/month as a 1st Lt.