Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-11-28
A warming 10 DcIInquent Orficers.

| General Halleck has ordered to ADOPT the most
stringent measures for compelling officers to pay
that attention to their duties which national
pride and sense of duty would seem ia too many
cases unable TO enforce. Delinquent commits
stoned officers are to be taught by prompt and
nexorable punishment that their superior rank
and the higher intelligence it should argue will
only be regarded az an aggrevaton of every
fault they may commit, it being resolved that
the soldiers and non-commissioned officers of our
armies shall have no reason to complain of being
held accountable for offences which are com
mitted with impunity by those who should set
the example of strict subordination and discip-
line. Provost Marshals, DEPUTIES, Military Po-
licemen and officers specially detailed for the
purpose are now beingsent to all the principal
cities and over all the lines of railroads through
out the country to collect the names Of The Off
GERS absent from the armies in the field and in
garrison, and all officers found absent without
the proper and specific authority prescribed in
General Orders Of the War Department will be
either immediately and ignominiously dismiss
sed the service, or will be placed on trial for de-
sertion while in the presence of the enemy 1t
/ is understood that long list of names for dis
mlssai has been already prepared, and that num-
erous disniseals for cause will be made in a few
! days.
/ Indeed, the rumor prevails, and there is rea-
son to believe it, that more than thousand com
missioned officers are absent without leave, aud
if it is so reported, all Of them viii be dismissed
under circumstances attaching disgrace to their
names and leaving them no possibility for re-
turn to the service, any other employment
under the national government. One Of the
-favorite subterfuges practiced by officers anx-
ious to slSulk from their duties has been 10 quit
their commands on surgeons s certificate or on
pretended leave of absense. signed by some
subordinate, or Colonel or Brigadier General
who bad no power to give it, and then if dscov-
cred, urge the plea of ignorance ofthe orders and
regulations on this subject. All leaves of abb
sense, to be of avail, must emanate from the very
highest source as prescribed in General orders;
and all officers absent medical certificates
must be sure they are issued by competent an-
thority, and that they do not remain absent one
day after being sufficiently rc-established to
rejoin their command, even, though not reestab-
lished for A full return to active duty.
While these steps arc being taken in regard to
officers, measures of an equally stringent and
effective character are in progress to arrest the
numerous number of deserters now scattered
through the country and to hold them 10 the
severest penalties prescribed by military law
for their offences. 1T is the determination of the
authorities to make examples which win cause
every soldier to consider seriously before expOs-
ing himself TO the chances of an infamous death,
as the penalty for deserving his standard. Many
OF the men now absent are deseFters from the
army IN the field, and not few Of them, have
eRlistments as they win be taught 10 no excuse
foF their dsseFtiaR. And all officers Of tho re-
Gently raised regiments, knowing such deserters
to beiin their ranks, and not sending them back
under guard 70 their Old eomiaaJis. Ein be held
strictly responsible. Others Of those nov 1ab-
sent are men who were diseharged frqIn the lsos-
pitals to.retnEB 70 their regimsnts but who have
sknlked 70 Their hoaiesi r - 49, ~ 80.
/ lAh Of the above class are deseFting, and win
bs pnpished as such. But there Is annfher class
and oBe 60 which no mercy will he shown.
namely, those who Joined new regimentzraceut-
| ly, receiving the enormous bounty given, and
then Sleserfn before their regiments had been
! plaeed in The keid The country has suffered
most deeply from this hitter class, the various
States having paid bounty FOR their hlll quotas
While tiieif effective force reported at head
quartera ofthe arrny IS sill short BY many
thousands of the required number Il Is said.
in high authority, that the President on being
shown By the Secretary ofWar and General-iR-
Chief the Immense sts Of deserters and roll ealis
Of abseptees strrniy pledged himself hereafter to
I pursue the most yigorous paliey wi1i these Of
fenders and that By executions, disfnissals. bali
aud chain labor for the whole term Of their en-
listment aHd. 0thar q Ghe,serdFf oeuaIties-he
~ resolved 10 deprive Che nebelsoftlle freat ID
vantage hey have hsreiafogs Sni6F ed oTsE-ns in
the means necessary 10 pflssrse diseipliae and
prevent the pHaefire or Struggling. absentees and
fesertion.s IN view Of these facts the hope II
ekpresped that the pU5ls viii constitute itsslf
a great Moral policet0 expose aud shame back 70
dHty ali9ifieers and men who cannot prove m
contestfbly thai they hare tha antho1itT reouir.
ed By army sndeIe and Eegnlations f0f thiir ab-
asnos frsin tlieir. coihruand .--.I J sr.-f.
al.- =. ff..