The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-03-29
Proclamation to Deserters.
WAR DEPARTMENT
PIovosr MARSHAL GENERALS OFFICE,
WAsMIxGr0X, Marcel II, 1850. }
CtRcrLAR1

CIRCULAR
Nc. q.
In conformity with the Proclamation Of the
President herewith Published, all officers and
employees Of this bureau are instructed I"
give prompt attention TO the receiving AMI
forwarding Of such descrtcry az present them
selves in accordance with its provisions.
'.By tie Ir,s;dc"tcfiAs E"i'>d States ci .im'rica:
- rR0LLAMATiOS.
"Whcrcas the lwcnty.iirst section Of the
act of Congress. approved on the third in.
slant, entitled AN act TO amend the several
acts heretofore passed to provide for the eli.
rolling and calling ont the national forces.
and for other purposes, requires 'thai in nd.
,ltiOn to the other lawful penalties OF the
crime of dcscrton from the military OF naval
service, MI persons who have deserted the mil.
i,ary or naval service Of the United States
who shall no, return to Said service, "r report
themselves to n Provost Marshal within sixty
DAYS after the proclamation hereinafter men
toned, shall be deemed and taken to have vol
unfairly rclinuuishcd md forfeited their
rights Of citizenship and their rights I"
become citizens #nd such dcscrtcrs shall
be forever incapable Of holding any Office OF
trust or profit under the United States, or Of
VI SiA'"'ho 'hSiSVA "hN
all persons who shall hereafter desert the
military or naval service. and all persons who.
being duly enrolled, shall depart the jnrisiic-
ton Of the district in which he is enrolled or
20 beyond the limits Of the United States with
intent to uvoid any draft into the military or
naval service, duly ordered shall he liable I"
the penalties Of this section. And the Prcsi.
dent is hereby authorized and required forth.
IL, a., L.. /,
proclamation setting forth the provisions Of
this section, in which proclamation the Pres.
idcnt if requested TO notify all dcserlcrs re-
turning within sixty days, as aforesaid, that
they shall he pnrdoncd on condition Of re-
turning TO their regiments and companies, or
to such other organizations rs they may be as.
signed to, until they shall have served for n
period Of time equal 10 their original term Of
enlistment
snow, therefore, be it known that I, Abra-
ham Lincoln, President Of the United Stntcs,
Ito issue this my proclamation, as required by
said act, ordering and requiring all descrt0rS
to return to their proper posts; and do here
by notify them that all dcsertcrs who shall,
within sixty days from the date Of this Proc
iumution, viz: on or before the 10Th day Of
May, 1865, return to service. or report them
selves to Provost Marshal, shall be pardoncd,
on condition TINT they return to their regi-
mcnts and companies, or to such other organ.
izations rs they mny he nssig ncd to, and serve
the remainder Of their original terms OF en-
lSmcnt. and, in addition thereto, period
equal 10 the time lost by dcsertion.
"In testimony whereof, have hcrcunto SET
my hand, and caused the seal Of the United
States TO be affixed.
"Done ut the City Of Washington, this elcv.
enth day Of March, in the year Of our
r.. ST. Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-fve, and Of the independence Of
the United States, the cghty.ninth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
" BY the President:
"WILLIAM II. SEWARD, Sec'y Of State
The records and returns Of these dcsertcrs
will be made up in the same manner rs is pro-
vidcd for in other cases by existing rcgula-
tons, except that it will be noted OH the book
of The deserters arrested, opposite the name Of
the doserter, the fact Of his having voluntarily
surrendered himself in conformity with the
Presidents Proclamation; and the number
thus surrendcring themselves to be separately
stated on the report to this office.
The Secretary Of War directs that no re.
ward be paid for the arrest Of deserters who
may be arrested subsequent to tho receipt Of
this order by the District Provost Mnrshnls.
JAMES B. FRY,
- proros. Mqrshdl General.