The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-04-29


RECRUITS FOR THg THIRD BATTERY
Captain Edward Devlin. of the Third Wiscon
sin, in command of part of his company, es-
corting detachment of men, numbering
eighty-four, sent from Milwaukee to join Capt.
Jones' Third Minnesota Battery, came up on
the Keokuk or Friday. These recruits for
the battery are all from the rebel army, desert
ers and prisoners who have enlisted at various
times into different regiments OF the United
States service. Some of them have served in
New York and other regiments for nearly two
years past AS the regiments in which they
enlisted are being sent to the front, 1t was pro
per to relieve them from the danger OF falling
into the hands of the rebels, and being shct for
desertion. They are accordingly permanently
detached from their regiments and sent here to
serve against the Indians. Most OF them are
recommended by the officers who have com.
manded them in our service as trusty men, and
as q body they are intelligent and healthy np-
pearing. Among so many are, of course,
some hard cases These, supplied with liquor
by the deck hands, made little disturbance
ON The way up, with was, however, easily
and quickly Quelled.
The detachment for the battery numbered at
Milwaukee eighty-iive, but one, probably
bounty-iumper, succeeded ineieserting, and, it
ia supposed, has made his way TO Canada.
Capt. Devln aud his men win probably return
to Milwaukee on Sunday.
RATHER HARD oN THE BOYs.--A few
days AGO a detachment of soldiers transferred
from various regiments of New York, Pennsyl-
yania, and other States to serve in the Third
Battery of this State, came up river under es-
cort of q detachment of the 30th Wisconsin, from
Milwaukee. These men wer correctly describ-
ed in the PIONEER of Saturday morning as all
from the rebel army, deserters and prisoners
who had enlisted in various United States regi.
ments: some OF whom have served the United
States, in its army, as long as two years; most
of them are recommended by the Federal Off
GERS who have commanded them as faithful
and trusty; they are an intelligent, healthy
appearing body of men. After learning thus
much of these men from their descriptive rolls
and other official sources we were somewhat
astonished to find the Press representing them
as deserters from both armies, 'mostlya hard
looking lot" some of them retaining secesh
eympathies, and Others recaptured deserters
from the Federal army, and al as not yet hay
ing been trusted with arms. We publish q
short communication from the men spoken Of
weich effectualy corrects the errors of the
Press.
But hardest ofall is the story Brick Pcmeroy
&C. T on Toll xuh
give entire, as follows:
Sixty-three deserters from the rebel army
were taken up the river on the steamer keo-
kuk. this morning, to work on Fort Smelling.
The history of these men is briefly as follows:
Some months since they deserted from the re-
bel army and came within our lines near Nash
vile. they enlisted in different companies of
Federal troops, and after learning all they
cOuld of our plans and contemplated move
ments. deserted buck agOin to join the rebel ar
INV. Outsf about six hundred who have thus
deserted the rebels, Joined our forces, and then
deserted us in turn sixty three have been re-
taken and sent North. The same game has
long been PLAYED in other departments. In
the party which went up this morning on the
Keokuk is young man who has played the
game no less than five times since the COM
Eencement of the war. He says he will be
back South again in twenty days, ready for
another snarl!
The number of the men was eighty-iour, not
sixty-three; they came to join a battery for
service, no; to work on the Fort. Very few, if
any Of thom, came within our lines near Nash
vile; Iaost of them came through in Virginia.
| Not one Of them ever deserted from the Union
| army.
Now Brick might pass for Q Copperhead /;
the Press certainly belongs to the other ex-
| treme. /, it not singular that the two should
| be alike in q carelessness as to facts which is
crnel and heartless, in slandering a body of
| men whose worst crime has been to leave en-.
| forced service in the rebellion and take yolup-
tsry service in the Army of the Union and who
certainly need encouragement as much az any
class of onr brave soldiers.
We can say also, that the commanding officer
at the Fort pronounces these men to have
been duriag the three days they have been
there, as orderly and obedient as any of tbs
troops.