Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-17
The Two Deserters.

beacon the following interesting nara
tive Of the adventures Of two young men,
IL behalf Of the Union. 1t will be read
HIth great interest:
The subjects Of this notice were men Oc-
cupying high social position, of intellec-
tusl culture and moral refinement, Daniel
Buckingham, of Portage county, and Sex
ton Williams from Kentucky. The out
break Of the rebellion found them in Cali
fornis, whittier, like thousands Of others,
they had gone to court the favors Of dame
Fortune, but not to receive her constant
smiles.
The news of our defeat ct Bull Run de-
cided them to enlist at once, to bear 9
humble part in restoring to its proud posi-
tion the dishonored flag Of our country.
They enlisted with the understanding that
they should be transferred to the seat Of
war. For some reason the government
did not fulfill it's agreement, and they
were sent to do garrison duty ct Fort on
the Pacific coast, half way to Oregon.
Here they led an inglOrious life, for bravo
men, skirmishing with cowsrdly Indians,
until February 1863 Chafng under re-
strsint not contracted for, after giving
their Captain due notice that they Weuld
not continue in that service, they deserted.
They had journey, here, Of $50 miles over
one Of the most mountainous countries in
existence, at an Indictment season Of the
yoar-8 season in which the mountains
are covered with deep snow, and under the
necessity of avoiding the Travelled routes
for fear Of pursuit. They struck the head
waters Of the Sacramento river down that,
and from thence to Fortress Monroe.
| Without toking time to visit friends, they
Immediately reportep themselves to Sec
retsry Stanton as deserters from - reg
| iment in California. A detail Of the cir
cumstances drew forth the Wsrme5t COM
mendation Of the Secretary for their pa
triotism. Red tape laws were not made for
such men. Positions which they were well
qualified to FIJI scceptsbly, were declined;
they simply wanted positions as privates,
/ for the present, where their familiarity
with the rife could be Of the most avail in
striking down the foes Of their country.
They accordingly received positions as
thigh privates in Berdsn's I'd Regiment
Of Sharp Shooters.
At the battle Of Charlottesville, Will
Iisms received terrible wound through
his hip, the ball lodging in his wrist. He
walked about hundred yards, before fall
ing, carrying his target rifle with him.
He was conveyed to an old, dilapidsted
cabin, and left in the hands Of the rebels.
His tall commanding figure had made him
g conspicuous mark, being 6 feet inches
high, and well proportional. The rebel
sharp shooters had seen him often, and sf-
ter finding him in their hands, congratu-
lated themselves in having at last diss-
bled one whose unerring rife had often
sent death into their ranks. His only sub
sistence here, for five days, was corn which
| the mules had scattered at the door. This
he managed to crawl to, and by scrsping
together few chips and an old tin cup he
managed to keep soul and body together.
After being fourteen days in the enemy's
hands, he found himself in hospital among
friends where by good treatment he was
restored to health again. he took his
place again in the regiment at Mesde's ad-
vance, and for three days and nights did
duty in the front at Mine Creek, where all
the fighting was done by sharp shooters,
though his heslth was not sufficiently re-
stored to enable him to participate in the
battle Of Gettysburgh.
Buckingham, though in feeble health,
maintained his position through the three
days fight. He early received wound in
the arm which would have justified his
leaving for the rear, but he continued TO
empty the contents Of his unerring rife
into the ranks, in psrt Of the fight firing
ten rounds from q secure position and
the enemy not hundred yards distant.
Armed with Sharp's improved bresch-load-
ing rife, good for q man ct six hundred
yards, and capable Of firing with unerring
aim several times in minute, he said, "If
did not hit, it wss because l missed glo-
rious opportunities" But the excitement,
the toll and the loss Of blood, was succeed
ed by prostration and disease, which was
sought in vain to be removed in the
hospital, where he gradually failed, and
from whence reluctantly he concluded to
try the effects of home nursing, change Of
air, &c. A physician vas detailed to &C
company him 10 his home in Hiram, Port
age county, where after adding snother
month to his sufferings, he is gathered 10
the future resting place Of all the living. |
His companion, Williams, re-enlisted as a |
veteran, obtained thirty days furlough, and |
comes to visit the grave and family of his |
friend, where / had the pleasure Of form |
ing his acquaintance, and obtaining as |
many oft particulars Of his part in the |
struggle as his modesty would allow him |
to communicate. He is native Of Ken |
tucky, his mother a slsveholder, and, to- |
gether with his whole family, violently Sc.
Cesh. His position upon our national sf-
fairs, should put to shame (were that pos
sible) many Ofour neighbors, who are so
very anxious to save all the constitutional |
rights Of the south-whioh especially |
means the right to retain the cause Of sll |
our trouble-to nurse back to life the viper |
that has sought to sting our nation to the
heart, and to again deluge our land with |
blood. With him it is " country first and |
last" whstever lies in our way to unity, |
remove, and as slavery is incontestibly the |
cause Of our national Galsmity, he would |
leave no vestige Of it behind.
Instead Of requiring bounty to stimu-
late them, they expended hundreds Of dol
lars to get to point where they could en-
list they ran the risk of capture and |
punishment as deserters; they travelled $50 |
miles over an inhospitsble country, paid |
their own passage to Washington, 70 lay
their services and their lives upon the al
tar of their country. Who shall fear our
foes, while such men remain to defend cur
national honor
AFiddIab,,v,, Tonro-y, ooth 7ooA