Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-04-04
From Washington.

| Npcct0t UtsPdfeh 20 Me Ddaihio'e o"'"I
| The Wea Tirgima DesertTs- General But
lers Charges against he President Refutsd
--D0HaeR'ary EtideRce.
WAsHINHTOS. March 3l.-General Buffers
charge, made last Friday, that the President
upon the letter Of a democratic candidate IN
West Virginia, pardoned one hundred andnlne-
/ ty-three deserters for the purpose OF enabling
these deserters TO vote the democratic ticket, Is
| abont as wide of the mark aimed at as many
other Of thecharges Of corruption made against
Mr.. johnson and recently proved to be utter
ly untrue.
The President never received 4 letter on the
subject from the democratic candidate named,
nor a the papers on any file in the Executive
aud War Departments indicate that the candl-
date had ANYTHING u do with the matter, aud
he certainly bad not so far as known in either
Of these Departments.
The application, aud the sole paper on which
the executive action was based, was the follow
ing letter Of the late surgeon Of the division in
which the alleged deSerters served
Washington. d. O., October 22d, 1866
To his ExceilelCy Andrew johnson, President
of the United StateS.-Sir; The soldiers whose
names viii be found on the accompanying list
were nearly all marked absent without leave
in the wear 1864. during that terrible campaign
to Lynchburg, under command Of MaBr Cen
eral Hunter. In the cavalry those SO marked
had their horses killed, and were obliged, like
the disabled infantry, TO make their way
back within our lines or hide in the mountains
until the command returned
If a soldier is absent at three roll-calls, and
the officers do not know where be is, he Is
marked deserter When that record is made,
a trial by court-martial is necessary to remove
the charge. This opportunity these men never
had. They reiDined their respective commands
and served nobly TO the end Of the war; when
mustered out Of the service they were unable
to draw their pay due them.
You will perceive there has been selection
made of the deserving men from each regiment.
The small number taken from each is proof OF
this fact. DO not consider these men desert
ers. They certainly never intended OF thought
Of DESERVING. and justice requires that the
charges should be removed, and thus restore
them to all the rights and privileges Of soldiers
and citizens. These men are registered and
want 10 vote, but will be debarred unless the
disability Is removed.
Most resp'y yours, NJ. McEwEN, NJ. D.
Late surgeou-in-chief 81 cavalry division,
and brevet colonel United States army.
The President referred this letter u the Secre-
tary Of War, with an order TO remit penalties,
&c, attached b. the men if the facts were as
stated. The Presidents order was Of October
2Sd. 1866. The ele, ton in West Virginia took
place on the 18th Of October, two days after
date Of order.
The Secretary Of War did not release the
| supposed deSerters until nearly month after,
viz: November 2lst, and Adjutant General
| Townsend states that there were some discus
| sions in the Department about the case of men
who were reported as having deserted TO the
enemy Only one case Of that kind was found
| and his nane was not included in the order
which was issued in accordance with the Presi-
! dents instructions. Such are the real facts IN
the case. and they do not support the charges
made by Gen. Butler
The writer of this note is well acquainted
with DR.. McEwen, a Bv't Brig General Of
Volunteers, and recollects hearing from his own
lips the facts recited above, at the time Of the
application. Col. Capehart. who commanded
one of the West Virginia regiments, was CO.
operating with Dr. McEwen in this effort TO
Fsliavs the Struggling and disnersed soldiers OF
Gen. Hunters mountain campaign from the
odium and penalties Of desertion, and to secure
for them their pay and bounty. This was the
avowed object and if their votes were needed
it was for the benefit Of the Radical candidates,
but the dates show that there was no time for
help in that way. Nobody but the venomous
Butler could extract from this proceeding any
charge against the President. Buffers blum
derbusSeS are all Of the TIudbr1Stic order:
/ "when aimed at duck or plover,
! They're sure TO kick the owner over"