Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-02

in regaining deserters. inspired the sergean
with great audacity ; insomuch that, from
seizing soldiers who had really absconded
he proceeded to drag to his rendezvous. un
der the pretext of enlistment and desertion
the honest and Industrious inhabitants. He
took care, however. not to molest the more
rich or wealthy but laid violent hands on
the poor and laboring class. These he would
Immediately march off, to be mustered for
the army; which, by such means, was quick>
ly and greatly augmented. The practice
becoming grievance. whole families being
thus deprived of their protectors and sup
port, the masistracy inte Tered to put a stop
to r. abuse. The principal justice of the
peace OF the place was deputei to confer
with the sergeant's superior officer. Arriv-
ed at his quarters, the deputy laid CONS
plant before him IN form; demanding. at
the same time, the Immediate release Of the
inh .hitants whom the sergeant had seized.
The officer made answer, thar the Nation
was engaged in war that desertion had a
tendency to impair the military service that
the sergeant had a right to re. take men aft
ter enlistment If they went off ; that it was
very difficult to discriminate between the re-
cruit and the inhabitant; that if the inhabi-
tants, alleged to have been seized, could be
i - -
proved not to be enlisted as soldiers. they
should be discharged and he made use of a
| great many observations Of a similar kind
1.-The justice replied, that the war in which
the nation was engaged was no doubt very
interesting to it, but that the rights of the
viliager were no less dear to him |; that de.
sertion had, most unquestionably, a tenden-
cy to enfeeble the military service, but that
the service was not. therefore, to be invigo-
| rated by the seizure Of men :yho were not
deserters that whatever right the sergeant
had to take men who ran off after enlist.
NEXT, he had none 20 lay violent hands on
those who had never enlisted and that if it
was difficult to discriminate, that very cir~
cunistance ought to induce the recruiting
sergeant to forbear, lest he might Cypress
the innocent. Laying aside, however. all o.
Their considerations, the justice, for the sake
of good order and quiet, told the officer he
would go home and obtain the proof requir
ed. In the mean time. nevertheless, the SER
geant went ON with the abuse of the poor VIII
layers, and carried the practice SO far, that
he roamed about among the neighbouring
! towns, entered houses without any search
warrant or other legal authority, and carri-
ed off, to serve in the army, both young and
old. Other recruiting sergeants followed
the example. and individuals were torn from
their families in every quarter, to fight in
the wars. AS redress had been promised
upon proof being produced, some patience
still prevailed among the people. Thejus
ticc, having collected the necessary doca
: ments, repaired again to the quarters of the
superior officer. But here new obstacles a.
: rose. Some of the documents were not spell
. according to the rules Of 6rthography Sc.
veral of the persons whose release was
claimed, had died on the frontier in battle
others could not be found at the posts where
i they were supposed to be; some. induced
!. Thy severe usage and suffering, had taken the
bounty; whilst others had married soldiers
wives. A thousand evasive pretexts were
: used to avoid the release ofthe villagers
. Few were liberated; many were retained; 8
: the practice of Selling them was continued
. with fresh aggravations. The magistracy
determined at length to curb the outrage By
!. force: The people were reused; the re-
: cruiting parties were assaiied, and SHARP
conflict ensued. Who ought to triumph ii
f such a contest' The recruiting sergeant
;. and their superior officers, or the injured vii
:. lagerse
9 MILITEs.