Over 100,000 veterans lived in government-funded homes after the Civil War. Although these veterans sacrificed their bodies for the preservation of the nation, they ultimately lost the right to vote because of their status as residents of charitable institutions. Their disenfranchisement challenges the conventional wisdom that disabled veterans occupied a privileged position in society, politics, and law. In fact, state laws equated veterans’ disabilities and reliance on public funds with dependence. These laws rendered veterans placeless and voteless citizens as a result.