The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-08-13
The Absentees from the Army

Letter from General Pope to Captain Har-
rison-Ttoo Licutenants Advertised as
Desertefs.
| HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
~ Warrenton, Va, July 30, 1862. !
Captain Samuel l.. Harrison, Ninety fifth
regiment New York Volunteers
Your communication of July u is re-
|eeived. ;, ir $50 .5s.-e,.ss,s 1.I
It is not necessary to inform you that a
commissioned officer, by absenting him
self, without leave, is guilty of desertion,
as well as a non-commissioned officer or
private, and is subject to the same pro-
cess of recovery, and to the same punish
ment for the offence. Nor do you need
to be told that neither your colonel nor
any other officer, except such as are de-
signated by law and regulation, has any
right to accept your resignation, nor, un-
der existing orders of the War Depart
ment, to give you any leave based on snch
rendered resignation. You state that tyou
received some injury on the railroad, and
that the medical officers of your regiment
advised you to resign This may be true;
but until your resignation be accepted by
proper authority you are not discharged
from your obligation as an officer of the
army. Neither your resignation, the cer-
tifcates of the medical officers Cif there
were any, nor any other papers bearing
on the subject, have ever reached this
office. oas o8 tr.s ~ .ss
1t is needless to tell you, as you must
of necessity know it, that under these
circumstances you are deserter from the
service of the United States. In time of
active operations in the face of the enemy
it is not possible to try an officer for such
offences, especially is it not so where he is
beyond the Immediate reach of the militia
ry authorities of this army, and his COM
pany is about to march upon the enemy
without q captain. It is therefore my de-
liberate intention to adopt the course
which seems most effective to preventsuch
desertions. Every officer. Of this army
absent without authority viii be advers
tised in the public papers, and disgraced
before his people, if it is possible to do SO.
No resignation of any officer whatever
viii be accepted except upon medical GER
tifcate of. the most conclusive character,
or proof of worthlessness It is there
fore to be distinctly. understood that any
officer of this army whose resignation has
been accepted without medical certificate
has proved himself worthless and incom-
petent. - s'H@'4 - ~
Neither with credit to himself nor with
any sort Of fair dealing towards the pri-
gate soldier can any volunteer officer ten
der. his resignation. The soldier has
agreed to go into the service of the United
States with the understanding that certain
persons who persuaded him to enlist shall
continue to command him. IF he had
thought otherwise there is no doubt that
in many cases he would have declined to
volunteer When he has been sworn in
be is bound for the whole term Of service,
and there can be no reason why his officer
should be exempt; nor SO far as can con-
troll this army, shall he be exempt from
the same restriction in that respect which |
has been imposed on the private soldier,
A large part Of the dissatisfaction Justly
felt by the private soldiers Of the volun- +
teer regiments has arisen from this very
practice. Aslsoon as commissioned off
Ger grow tired Of the fatigue and Hardship
Of service he tenders his resignation, and
IN very many eases he has found means To-
Haae sas4